Cell-ebrate the Season

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Hello CBS,

Congratulations on completing Fall Quarter 2024! As the quarter wraps up, we want to take a moment to acknowledge and cell-ebrate your hard work and achievements.

As biologists, you know the science involved in finding balance. It's no small feat, and you've done it. You've demonstrated incredible determination, curiosity, and resilience over the past ten weeks while balancing coursework, research, and other commitments. Whether you mastered a complex lab technique, tackled your exams, or explored new concepts in your field, your growth this quarter is worth celebrating.

A special congratulations to our graduating seniors! Earning your degree from the College of Biological Sciences is a remarkable accomplishment. You are now part of a legacy of innovative thinkers and problem-solvers who are shaping the future of science. We hope you look back on your time in CBS with pride and carry forward the skills, knowledge, and friendships you've cultivated here.

As we head into the winter break, we encourage you to recharge and reflect on all you've accomplished. Whether you're preparing for your next quarter or your next big adventure, remember that the CBS community is cheering you on.

Wishing you a joyful and relaxing season!

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Your CBS Undergraduate Deans,

Mark Winey, Michele Igo, Helen Frasier, and Ebony McClain

Snack Attack!

It's time to rock your Fall Quarter finals!

Your partners in the CBS Dean's Office will put a stash of assorted grab-and-go snacks (some healthy, some not so much) on the tables outside 202 Green Hall all week to fuel your study breaks! Take a short walk and stop by.

You've got this! Go #CBSAggies!

>> Click here to find Green Hall

CBS Dean Mark Winey (wearing academic regalia from the University of Wisconsin, Madison) posing with five of the undergraduate award winners from 2023-2024.

Application OPENS 12.18.2024!

2025 CBS Honors & Awards

Are you graduating in 2024-2025? Would you like to be recognized as a Distinguished Scholar, Undergrad of the Year, or the CBS Medalist?

Are you a continuing student? Could a Summer Undergraduate Research or Travel Award help with your summer 2025 research?

>> Learn more & SAVE this link!

Philipp Zerbe (center), graduate student Gabrielle Wyatt (left), and postdoctoral fellow Farida Yasmin (right) are working to uncover the optimal combination of scent molecules that will deter pests and provide the traditional fragrance consumers love and expect. (Sasha Bakhter / UC Davis)

'Tis the Season: CBS research finds Christmas Trees’ Distinctive Aroma Helps Ward off Pathogens and Pests

Each year, nearly 30 million Americans purchase a real tree for the holidays. The Christmas tree industry is worth more than $2.5 billion, but like most crops, it suffers losses from disease, herbivores, and drought. To help breeders improve the trees’ traits and hardiness, Philipp Zerbe, a UC Davis professor of plant biology, and his team are working to uncover the optimal combination of scent molecules that will deter pests and provide the traditional fragrance consumers expect.

Image of a student studying in front of a mural of various insects.

Finals Study Spaces

Fall Quarter 2024

Don't spend your time searching for the perfect spot instead of studying. Many campus spaces offer extended hours and open additional rooms to support your study needs.

Click below to see the schedule of extended hours for campus study spots during finals week.

>> Check out your study space options

UC Davis Chancellor Gary May standing with six students at the annual Moonlight Breakfast where campus leaders serve the students a much-needed meal during finals week.

Wellness Corner:

Fuel up at the Moonlight Breakfast!

Treat yourself to a study break, and let our campus leadership serve YOU at tonight's (12.10.24) Moonlight Breakfast! Chancellor May will be serving up assorted hot and fresh items, including gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and Kosher choices. Wear your CBS gear!

Memorial Union COHO, from 8 - 10 pm!

>> Add to my calendar

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Be a Biologist!

Image of a young woman wearing a laboratory coat while sitting at an experiment table in a lab.

What are YOU Researching?

We encourage every CBS student to engage with the process and academic rigors of presenting your research. Whether you are already involved, or you're seeking opportunities to get involved, SAVE THE DATE for this year's Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference, April 25-26, 2025.

The call for abstracts opens on January 8, 2025!

>> Learn more

The image features a circular design that includes a DNA helix motif in blue and gold as a border. At the center, it prominently displays the text “Dean’s SURP” (referring to the Dean's Summer Undergraduate Research Program), along with the phrase “UC Davis College of Biological Sciences”. The illustration includes festive elements like stars, confetti, and a cheerful cow mascot wearing a suit and bow tie, holding a wand pointed towards a bubbling flask.

What did OTHERS study during SURP?

Are you thinking about applying for a CBS summer research or travel award? The Dean’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) helps provide vital support to students wishing to stay on campus over the summer. The research projects of the 2024 SURP Scholars represented the breadth of disciplines across the college, and engaged students and faculty from every CBS department.

>> Read about SURP

Brie Tripp, assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior in the College of Biological Sciences at UC Davis is pictured looking at a laptop with five students from her lab.

How can I LEAD with my CBS Degree?

The University of California's Summer Institute for Emerging Managers and Leaders (SIEML) offers an all-expenses-paid immersive business and career leadership experience for undergraduate students currently enrolled in their sophomore or junior year at an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution).

Applications are DUE January 8, 2025.

>> Learn about SIEML

A promotional graphic for the 2025 Undergraduate Leadership Conference hosted by UC Davis Undergraduate Education. The theme is 'Clarity: Design a life guided by perspective and purpose.' The date, Jan. 25, is displayed. The design features a gradient blue background with a lightbulb outline on the right containing the text 'Aggies Leading the Way!' accompanied by a silhouette of a horse.

Image of dark blue clouds with the words "Options & Opportunities" in gold font.

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CBS Student Bulletin

UPDATED: 12.9.2024

CBS faculty and staff are really connected. Throughout the year, we receive a plethora of internship and job postings you may not find on Handshake. Bookmark the CBS Bulletin page and check back regularly.

>> Take a look

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Career Center News

Want all of your options at your fingertips on a regular basis? Check out and subscribe to the Career Center's Health & Biological Sciences Newsletter for all of the upcoming events and tips on using Handshake!

>> Subscribe today

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Questions or comments?

You are a part of the CBS community, and the reason for The DNA! Send your questions, ideas and submissions for future issues to Assistant Dean Helen Frasier at: hsfrasier@ucdavis.edu.

The Deans' News and Announcements (The DNA) is a monthly electronic newsletter for undergraduate students in the College of Biological Sciences.

The DNA is published by the CBS Dean’s Office.