Department News
- Davide Donadio helps to reveals how graphite "hijacks" diamond formation through unexpected crystallization pathways! The study uncovers surprising behavior during diamond synthesis and could reshape how we think about carbon materials. Read more about it here!
- Professor R. David Britt has become the new Department Chair (interim). Many thanks to Dave for taking on this important responsibility!
- Congratulations to Prof. Whitney Duim for receiving the 2025 College of Letters and Science Teaching Award! This award recognizes faculty for their outstanding contributions to teaching and mentoring within the college.
- Congratulations to Jada Bezue for being awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship! This fellowship is awarded to outstanding students pursuring research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM.
- Associate Professor Jesús Velázquez is named as a faculty speaker in the 2025 commencement!
- The Velázquez lab develops breakthrough method to capture CO₂ and produce cement precursors from air! Check out the story!
- Big congrats to Professor Ozcan Gulacar for receiving the L&S Faculty Award for Mentoring Students! This award recognizes his exceptional commitment to student mentorship. He’ll be honored at the L&S Representative Assembly on June 5. Congrats, Ozcan!
- Researchers from the Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics (IPN) develop an LSD analogue with potential for treating schizophrenia. Check it out!
- Big congrats to Yara Khatib, graduate student in the Olsen Lab at the Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, for being named the 2025 UC Davis Grad Slam Champion - and for going on to win 2nd place at the UC-wide Grad Slam! Check out the story!
- Assistant Professor of Teaching Whitney Duim was selected to receive a Faculty Development Award for 2025-26. Administered through the Office of the Provost, these quarter-long awards "release recipients from teaching duties and service responsibilities for one quarter, thereby allowing them to give undivided attention to scholarly or creative pursuits.
- The 2025 Richard Larock Undergraduate Research Conference is now accepting abstracts! More information here!
- Congrats to Assistant Professor Elizabeth Neumann who has a chapter detailing her personal and professional journey in STEM recently published in "Women in Life Sciences: Pioneers of Progress and Innovation". Check it out!
- Be sure to read a recent Letters & Sciences article about Assistant Professor Elizabeth Neumann efforts to advance imaging technology to improve medicine and health outcomes.
- Cheers for the Franz lab receiving a new STAIR grant for Developing innovative vaccine platforms for the livestock population, check out the recent article about this exciting research!
