2022 | A Giant Leap for Depression Research | 6,7 | Frank M. LaFerla, PhD
Michael J. Stamos
Pramod Khargonekar | Dean, Dunlop School
Dean, School of Medicine
Vice Chancellor of Research | Now, thanks to a $55 million gift from the estate of Audrey Steele Burnand,
UCI will soon be making inroads in the study and treatment of depression. | Depression, research, grant |
2022 | The Mind Connection | 8,9 | UCI MIND | N/A | This past year, Dunlop School researchers developed a new genetically engineered mouse model based on the most common form of Alzheimer’s disease, an advancement that holds promise for making new strides against the diseases cases continue to soar. | Alzheimer’s, Mouse Model, UCI Mind |
2022 | The Science Behind Maternal Grief | 10,11 | Michael Yassa, PhD
Dr. Tallie Z. Baram | Faculty
Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics | Baram and Yassa examined fMRI scans of willing participants and what they found corroborated the mothers’ accounts of what amounted to serious cognitive issues. They saw that indeed the wiring of their brains looked remarkably different
from the brains of those who did not experience child loss. | Maternal, Grief, Neurobiology |
2022 | The Best Way to Grow Old | 12,13 | Dr. Claudia Kawas
Josh Grill, PhD | Co-Principal Investigator, 90+ Study
Faculty | Dr. Kawas and Professor Grill aim to understand how and shed light on ways in which
everyone else might better their chances at living long and healthy lives. | Aging, wellness, neurobiology |
2022 | Bugged About Climate Change | 14,15 | Kailen Mooney, PhD | Faculty | Professor Mooney and his colleagues have been looking at how climate change and other human impacts affect insects in Southern California coastal sage scrublands. | Climate change, insects, plants |
2022 | Making it Personal: Climate Change in Your Backyard | 16,17 | Travis Huxman, PhD | Faculty | To make climate change more of a public priority, it is paramount that we educate
the average person on how climate change will impact individuals. | Climate change, education, future |
2022 | Proud Heritage, Bright Future | 18,19 | Quinn Arius Iñiguez | Student | A first-generation Mexican American, Iñiguez recognized how fortunate
he was to work toward a degree, so he made sure he found the best opportunity | First-gen, student life, EASE |
2022 | Transforming the Learning Experience, From Classroom to Office Hours | 20,21 | Brian Sato
Rachael M. Barry, PhD | Faculty | Known as “active learning,” this approach and other academic innovations are crucial to how Dunlop School is shaping education to train biologists to solve the future’s
great challenges. | Active learning, academic, innovation |
2022 | A Passion for Graduate Students | 22, 23 | R. Michael Mulligan, PhD
Craig Walsh, PhD | Former Associate Dean of Graduate Education
Associate Dean of Graduate Education | In stepping away from the post this year, Professor Mulligan leaves Dunlop School in a superb position to continue its trajectory in graduate education under his successor,
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Professor Craig Walsh. | graduate, leadership, mentoring |
2022 | A Great Time is Part of Great Graduate Education | 24,25 | Craig Walsh, PhD | Associate Dean of Graduate Education | As Professor Walsh assumes the role of Dunlop School associate dean of graduate education this year, a major focus is constantly enhancing the student experience. Doing so will help reinforce the School’s standing as the ultimate destination for life sciences graduate education, he says. | Graduate, student, enhance |
2022 | The Benefits of Diversity to Society and Science | 26,27 | Michael Yassa, PhD (pictured) | Dean of ODEI | Over the last year, ODEI has collected comprehensive data, which informed several new initiatives, including student-led mentoring programs, inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ community, outreach programs to K-12 students, and educational and training activities focusing on diversity and inclusion. | Diversity, equity, initiatives |
2022 | An Evergreen Interest in Research | 28,29 | Anne Johansen, PhD
Annele Virtanen, PhD
Barbara Finlayson Pitts, PhD
Celia Faiola, PhD | Faculty, Central Washington University
Faculty, University of Eastern Finland
Faculty
Faculty | Among the plant emission processes that Professor Faiola’s lab studies include understanding how plant volatile emissions will adjust in a changing climate, and how the chemical interactions of dozens of emitted compounds compare to existing predictive climate change models that were built from studies of much
simpler chemical systems. | Ecology, climate, plants |
2022 | Leading the Virus Hunters | 30,31 | Thomas Lane, PhD | Faculty | Professor Lane now leads the UCI Center for Virus Research after studying coronaviruses for over two decades. | Coronavirus, immune system, health |
2022 | The Evolution of Activities in Retirement | 32,33 | John C. Avise, PhD | Retired Faculty | When Avise is not photographing birds or writing letters of recommendation, he can be found tending to his garden in University Hills and planning post-pandemic travel. | Retirement, photography, wildlife |
2022 | 2021-2022 Faculty Retirement | 37 | Peter Bowler, PhD | Retired Faculty | As a biologist and environmental educator, Professor Bowler guided countless students through Southern California’s ecosystems, many Earth Day tree-planting events, 16 annual Colorado River canoe trips, and numerous hikes, grunion runs and foraging sessions. He also taught various subjects such as limnology and
freshwater biology, restoration ecology, sustainable landscaping,
environmental ethics, desert ecosystems, and more. | Retirement, marsh, ecology |
2022 | In Memoriam | 39 | Frances Lynn Carpenter | emerita professor | Frances Lynn Carpenter, emerita professor and the first female faculty in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, was a dedicated ecologist whose
research included the foraging patterns of hummingbirds
and reforestation, for which she was most known. | Memoriam, hummingbirds, emerita |
2022 | Giving Back to Move Students Forward | 44 | David Abiva
Amelia Ooi
Olivia Stroud | Mentor
Mentee
associate director of development | By connecting mentors and mentees like David and Amelia, Dunlop School offers a unique opportunity for undergraduates to explore career paths, receive personalized guidance, and develop an appreciation for the value of mentorship. | Mentor, mentee, guidance |
2022 | A Gift That Keeps on Giving | 46,47 | Hung Fan
Michael Feldman | Professor Emeritus, Donor
Donor | This generous gift from Professor Fan and his husband, Michael Feldman, — their largest gift to date — will fund vital research projects and programs for years to come. | gift, impact, endowments |
2021 | New Associate Deanship Furthers Commitment to Social Justice | 6,7 | Michael Yassa, PhD
Raven Baxter, PhD | Associate dean of diversity, equity & inclusion
Director of diversity initiatives | To address the growing call for social reform, Dunlop School decided to develop a
comprehensive approach to improving institutional policies and practices. In
October 2020, the school established the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,
or ODEI, headed by a new associate dean dedicated to this crucial issue. | social reform, policy, comprehensive |
2021 | Pandemic’s Remote Learning is Shaping Instruction for the Future | 8,9 | Brian Sato, PhD
Pavan Kadandale, PhD
Raju Metherate, PhD | Faculty
Faculty
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education | As the world moves toward a new normal, many institutions are looking at whether changes they made during the pandemic could enrich in an ongoing way the communities they serve. At the School of Biological Sciences, we are closely examining this question as part of our responsibility to provide the best possible education. | pandemic, education, community |
2021 | Speaker Urges Class of 2021 to Change the World | 10 | Angeline Dukes, MSc | PhD Candidate | Believe in yourself. Help others. Commit to ending systemic racism. This call to Dunlop School’s Class of 2021 came from commencement speaker Angeline Dukes, MSc., a neuroscience PhD candidate at the school. | racism, commencement, help others |
2021 | “If You Believe, You Can Do It” Says Dunlop School’s Youngest 2021 Grad | 13 | Kylie Munson | Student | Kylie Mudson, 15 year old Dunlop School grad, discusses her fast journey to a bachelor of science in biology. | journey, bachelor’s |
2021 | Innovative Science Powers COVID-19 Vaccines | 14 | Ilhem Messaoudi, PhD | Faculty | Vaccinations were vital for fighting many diseases throughout the 20th century and are proving their power now during the pandemic. We are thankful for the hardworking people who save lives and make history by developing and testing
COVID-19 vaccines. | vaccine, diseases, pandemic |
2021 | The Many Faces of SARS-COV-2 and COVID-19 | 16,17 | Michael Buchmeier, PhD | Faculty | Viruses mutate as they move from host to host, and mutations occur due to the error-borne nature of RNA replication and because of this, we must continue to remain vigilant in tracking mutations of the virus and steadfast in implementing our safety protocols. | mutations, RNA, virus |
2021 | Penetrating Long COVID’s Brain Fog | 18 | Thomas Lane, PhD | Faculty | Faculty including Neurobiology and Behavior Chancellor’s Professor Thomas Lane are working to uncover what causes “long COVID”. | COVID, nerves, brain fog |
2021 | Building a Better Mouse Model to Understand SARS-COV-2 | 20 | Eric Pearlman, PhD
Grant MacGregor, PhD
Kim Green, PhD
Thomas Lane, PhD | Faculty, UCI School of Medicine
Faculty
Faculty
Faculty | Scientists from the UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences and the UCI School of Medicine are working together to develop animal models that will help uncover COVID-19’s mechanisms and fight the symptoms | COVID-19, animal model, medicine |
2021 | COVID-19 Treatment Research Blossoms from Plants that Prey | 22 | Adam Kreutzer
Brenna Norton-Baker
Carter Butts, PhD
Fatemeh Safizadeh
Gemma Takahashi,
James Nowick, PhD
Liz Diessner
Marc Sprague-Piercy
Rachel Martin, PhD
Vesta Farahmand
Zixiao Zong | Collaborator
Researcher
Faculty
Researcher
Researcher
Faculty
Collaborator
Researcher
Faculty
Researcher
Collaborator | Carnivorous plants have inspired a group of UCI scientists
to conduct promising research into treatments for people with COVID-19. | Carnivorous plants, treatment, COVID-19 |
2021 | Pandemic Doesn’t Stop Students’ Environmental Fight | 24,25 | Ashley Green
Ariane Jong
David Banuelas
Steven Allison, PhD
Phoebe Dawkins | Student
Student
Student
Faculty
Student | Fortunately, a group of graduate students could carry out
critical environmental investigations despite pandemic protocols limiting much
scientific activity at UCI in 2020. This spring, they reported on their work and
experiences in conducting research during the global outbreak. | environment, pandemic, investigation |
2021 | Crucial New Research Questions Rise from Wildfire Ashes | 26,27 | Jennifer Martiny, PhD
Julie Coffey
Kathleen Treseder, PhD
Moises Perea-Vega
Priscilla Ta
Sarah Kimball, PhD
Steven Allison, PhD | Faculty
CEB Staff
Faculty
CEB Staff
CEB Staff
Faculty
Faculty | The Silverado Canyon fires destroyed research sites for Professors Steven
Allison, Jennifer Martiny and Kathleen Treseder, as well as CEB staff
Moises Perea-Vega, Julie Coffey and Priscilla Ta. All of them quickly
swung into action to move forward from the disaster with new lines
of investigation. | fires, research sites, investigation |
2021 | Pandemic Puts Emeritus Professor in an Unexpected Place | 30,31 | Larry Marsh, PhD | Emeritus Professor | Larry Marsh didn’t plan to go back into the classroom after retiring from UCI
Dunlop School. But then the pandemic struck, and the retired emeritus professor from the
Department of Developmental and Cell Biology found himself once again facing
students. This time, though, the learners were his four small grandchildren. | retirement, pandemic, grandchildren |
2020 | A Special Surprise for the Dunlop School 2020 Class…Dr. Anthony Facui | 6,7 | Dr. Anthony Fauci | NIAID Director, Commencement Speaker | Transcript of Dr. Fauci’s commencement speech to Dunlop School’s class of 2020. | Speech, Commencement, Celebration |
2020 | UCI BIOSCI 2020 COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER…
CHALLENGING TIMES CREATE SURPRISING
OPPORTUNITIES | 8,9 | Wajdie Ahmad | Commencement speaker | While Dunlop School’s class of 2020 is graduating during an unconventional time, challenging moments create unexpected opportunities. Commencement speaker Wajdie Ahmad illustrated this point by telling the inspiring story of his own career journey. | Speech, Commencement, Celebration |
2020 | Dunlop School Community Aces Remote Learning’s Challenges | 10,11 | Gavin Newsom
Howard Gillman
Raju Metherate, PhD | CA Governor
UCI Chancellor
Associate Dean of UG Education | In an astonishing display of inventiveness and sheer grit, Dunlop School faculty and staff completed the transition to distance learning in a matter of days, just ahead of the governor’s stay-at-home order | Quarantine, Pandemic, Remote Learning |
2020 | Graduating Students Will “Always Remember the Great Moments” | 12,13 | Philip Farahat | Student | Dunlop School student Philip Farahat describes his transition to remote learning and how he will always cherish the great moments of his life at Dunlop School. | Quarantine, Pandemic, Remote Learning |
2020 | The Microbe Stunning the World: Coronavirus | 14-17 | Michael Buchmeier, PhD | Faculty | Scientists and clinicians at Dunlop School and around the world are working intensively to answer many ongoing questions concerning COVID-19, including those surrounding immunity, surveillance and vaccination. | COVID 19, disease, virus |
2020 | Can COVID-19 Go To Your Head? | 18,19 | Thomas Lane, PhD | Faculty | Some patients have reported losing their sense of smell and taste as well as experiencing significant headaches and altered mental state. Professor Lane’s new research seeks to explain these and other pressing issues in the fight against COVID-19. | COVID 19, disease, neurobiology |
2020 | How Those with Alzheimer’s Can Help the Fight | 20,21 | Joshua Grill, PhD | Faculty | Associate Professor Joshua Grill, a clinical trials expert, says Alzheimer’s patients’ participation is crucial to the process of turning laboratory discoveries into new medicines that could one day vanquish the disease. | Laboratories, Alzheimer’s, Patient Participation |
2020 | Heroes and Herd Immunity | 22,23 | Ilhem Messaoudi, PhD | Faculty | In a collaborative effort led by Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Professor Ilhem Messaoudi and colleagues from the School of Public Health and the School of Nursing, researchers are examining blood samples for the presence of antibodies against COVID-19 as well as tracking the virus using nasal swabs. Through this work, she and her team are investigating herd immunity, which occurs when
a population has enough resistant individuals to slow the spread of infection. | COVID 19, antibodies, testing |
2020 | Mobilizing the Body’s First Responders for COVID-19 Combat | 24,25 | Charles Glabe, PhD | Faculty | Professor Glabe and his team have developed a groundbreaking technique to characterize natural occurring antibodies (NAs) and high-affinity antibodies that may also make convalescent plasma a more effective treatment. | COVID 19, antibodies, plasma |
2020 | American Youth Could be Inhaling COVID-19 Risk | 26 | Christie Fowler, PhD | Faculty | With about 40% of U.S. high school seniors currently using vaping devices, Neurobiology and Behavior Associate Professor Christie Fowler is investigating their possible role in the COVID-19 pandemic. | Vaping, respiratory, COVID-19 |
2020 | Building a Roadblock to Halt the Coronavirus | 27 | Aimee Edinger, PhD
Brendan Finicle | Faculty
Graduate Student | Professor Edinger and her colleagues have developed a new molecule that
places a roadblock on crucial cellular highways. After initial success against
a mouse coronavirus, they are now testing to see if their molecule can keep
SARS-CoV-2 from spreading among human cells. | COVID-19, cells, treatment |
2020 | Flushing Out COVID-19 Clues from an Unexpected Source | 28,29 | Katrine Whiteson, PhD
Dr. Jason Rothman
Dr. Theresa Loveless | Faculty
Researcher
Researcher | When the COVID-19 outbreak began in the winter of 2019, Professor Whiteson, Dr. Jason Rothman, and Dr. Theresa Loveless realized they could analyze sewage to see if the virus was present locally and if so, to what extent. The approach would uncover this crucial information before clinical testing was conducted. | COVID-19, wastewater, sewage |
2020 | Global Warming Could Fuel Fever’s More | 30,31 | Charles Zender, PhD
James Randerson, PhD
Kathleen Treseder, PhD
Linh Anh Cat
Morgan Gorris | Faculty
Faculty
Faculty
Researcher
Researcher | Professor Treseder worked with UCI researchers Morgan Gorris and Linh Anh Cat, and Professors Charles Zender and James Randerson to determine if climate change would extend the reach of Valley fever, caused by Coccidioides, past America’s Southwest. | Valley fever, fungi, climate change |
2020 | Professor’s Path Proves Mentoring Power | 32,33 | Roberto Tinoco, PhD | Faculty | Professor Tinoco is researching the disease processes of cancer that claimed his own dad’s life and guiding other young people in making their dreams come true. | Cancer research, mentor, minority |
2020 | A Mentor Grieves When COVID-19 Claims a “Remarkable Human Being” | 50,51 | Dr. James Goodrich
James McGaugh, PhD | Neurosurgeon, UCI Alumni
Faculty | Doctor James Goodrich’s loss was especially personal for Dunlop School Neurobiology and
Behavior Distinguished Professor Emeritus James McGaugh, a founding faculty member and previous dean of the school. He was the longtime mentor of a man he describes as “a remarkable human being.” | Memoriam, Remembrance, COVID-19 |
2020 | Love Among the Petri Dishes | 52 | Dr. Tamera Hatfield
Greg Heintz | Dunlop School Ambassadors | A three-decade romance that has come full circle back to the school. | Giving, ambassadors, student resources |
2020 | COVID-19 Must be the Clarion Call | 56 | n/a | n/a | COVID-19 must be the clarion call to reestablish American preeminence in
basic scientific research. Let us also reaffirm the commitment to educating the newest generation of biologists who will lead us to a better future. | COVID-19, future, new generation |
2019 | Commencement 2018 | 6,7 | John D. Gerace | President of DiaSorin Molecular and co-founder of Calabri Genetics, Commencement Speaker | John D. Gerace was UCI Bio Sci’s 2018 commencement speaker. | Commencement, speaker, celebration |
2019 | Learning “Discoveries Don’t Come Out of Nowhere.” | 9 | Birpartap Singh Thind
Fatima Yusuf
Ksilen Mooney, PhD | Student
Student
Faculty | Each semester, hundred of undergraduate Dunlop School students participate in Bio199, which introduces students to the interworkings of scientific discovery. | Bio199, undergraduate, laboratories |
2019 | Thrilling to the Surprises of Extreme Biology | 10 | Nancy Aguilar-Roca, PhD | Faculty | Professor Aguilar-roca uses the newest teaching techniques to lead the course, Physiology of Extreme Environments at the Anteater Learning Pavilion. | active learning, technology, innovation |
2019 | New Master’s Degree Puts Students on Path to Environmental Leadership | 13 | Jessica Pratt, PhD | Faculty | The newly created course of study, Masters of Conservation and Restoration Science program trains professionals who can guide government agencies, the private sector and the public in working for a greener future. | Ecology, conservation, sustainability |
2019 | Powerful New MRI Center Reveals Clues to Vanquishing Diseases | 16 | Andre Obenaus, PhD
Andrea Tenner, PhD
Frank LaFerla, PhD
Michael Yassa, PhD | Faculty
Faculty
Dean
Faculty | The School of Biological Sciences has teamed up with others on campus to established a specialized MRI facility to search for ways to prevent and treat diseases. This facility is called the Preclinical and Translational Imaging Center. | MRI, disease, neurobiology |
2019 | Mice with Tales: Invaluable Insights into Human Biological Processes | 17 | Andrea Tenner, PhD
Frank LaFerla, PhD
Grant MacGregor, PhD | Faculty
Dean
Faculty | Professor MacGregor has helped oversee the increase production of mice at UCI and nationwide, such as for a project funded by the NIA led by Dean LaFerla and Professor Andrea Tenner involving Alzheimer’s research. | Mice, Alzheimer’s, genetics |
2019 | Resisting the Siren: Song of Relapse | 18 | Marcelo A. Wood, PhD | Faculty | Professor Wood leads a research team that examines the molecular and neurological basis of substance use disorders with a particular focus on relapse. | Drug use, relapse, rehabilitation |
2019 | Stirring the Senses Sharpens Skills for Kids with Autism | 19 | Michael Leon, PhD | Faculty | Animal models of autism spectrum disorder responded well to environment enrichment involving increased sensorimotor stimulation, and Professor Leon was able to translate these findings into an effective treatments for children with autism. | Autism, animal model, enrichment |
2019 | “Ribbiting” Insights Could Help Robot Development | 20 | Manny Azizi, PhD
Sarah Bergbreiter, PhD
S.N. Patek | Faculty
Faculty – University of Maryland
Faculty – Duke University | Professor Azizi and colleagues have studied why frogs can jump farther than their leg muscles allow, which helps scientists better predict theoretical limits of movement. | Amphibians, Robots, Engineering |
2019 | Oldie But Goodie: Putting Classic Drugs to Powerful New Purpose | 21 | David Fruman, PhD | Faculty | The studies by Professor Fruman and his collaborators reveal that combining statins with other drugs can more easily kill cancer cells. | Cancer, treatments, statins |
2019 | Maternal Obesity’s Troubling Link with Baby Immunity | 22,23 | Ilhem Messaoudi, PhD | Faculty | Professor Messaoudi and her collaborator have published work revealing that the immune systems of infants born to obese mothers develop differently than those whose mothers are in the normal weight range. | Infancy, obesity, pregnancy |
2019 | “I’ll Take a Side Salad”: UCI Biologists Identify First Omnivorous Shark | 24 | Donovan P. German
Samantha Leigh | Faculty
Doctoral Candidate | Ms. Leigh and Professor German investigated the digestive system of a group of bonnetheads and discovered that they digested and obtained nutrients from vegetation. | Sharks, omnivores, bonnethead |
2019 | Early Outdoor Adventures Gave Wings to Researcher’s Butterfly Interest | 26,27 | Adrianna Briscoe, PhD | Faculty | Focusing on her work with butterflies, Professor Briscoe has made groundbreaking discoveries regarding the ways color vision and body coloration have changed in animals. | Butterflies, natural selection, ultraviolet |
2019 | New Faculty | 28,29 | Dae Seok Eom, PhD
Gyorgy Lur, PhD
Joleah Lamb, PhD
Roberto Tinocco, PhD
Vivek Swarup, PhD | Faculty | Dunlop School welcomes new faculty. | New faculty, welcome |
2019 | Retiring Faculty | 30 | Timothy Bradley, PhD | Retired Faculty | Professor Bradley served as chair of two departments within the School, as chair of the Academic Senate, and as the director of the Salton Sea Initiative , investigating the complex problems affecting CA’s largest inland body of water. | Retirement, sustainability |
2019 | Retiring Faculty | 30 | Robin Bush, PhD | Retired Faculty | Besides running her own laboratory, Professor Bush worked with researchers at local and federal health agencies to boost disease surveillance and prediction as well as develop vaccines. | Retirement, disease, public health |
2019 | Retiring Faculty | 30 | Harmut Lueke, PhD | Retired Faculty | Professor Lueke discovered the structures of several important proteins over the years, including the protein from the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori. | Retirement, proteins |
2019 | Retiring Faculty | 30 | Stephen Weller, PhD | Retired Faculty | Much of Professor Weller’s work has focused on the evolution of plant reproductive systems. | Retirement, botany |
2019 | In Remembrance | 33 | Steve Carlyle | Deceased Staff | Steve, who retired from his role as Dunlop School’s computing director in 2015, is remembered for his outstanding work and as a wonderful friend. | Remembrance, memorial |
2019 | In Remembrance | 33 | Gayle “Morrie” Granger, PhD | Deceased Professor | Professor Granger’s studies were instrumental in changing assumptions about how cells communicate and he revolutionized cancer treatment. | Remembrance, memorial |
2019 | In Remembrance | 33 | Audrey Schneiderman | Deceased Dunlop School Supporter | A dedicated philanthropist and wife of former Dunlop School dean Howard Schneiderman, Audrey made an impact on many areas of Dunlop School and the University as a whole. | Remembrance, memorial |
2019 | Connections to the Future | 43 | April Taniguchi
Dr. Joseph Chen | Student
Mentor | Student April Taniguchi tells of how supporting her mentor has been throughout the Dunlop School Mentor Program. | Mentorship, support, growth |
2019 | Professor’s Zest for Knowledge Inspires New Fund` | 46 | Gayle “Morrie” Granger, PhD | Deceased Professor | Family and former colleagues of Professor Gayle “Morrie” Granger have established an Endowed Fund to honor his legacy as a scientist, educator, mentor, and friend. | Memorial, scholarship, award |
2019 | A Student’s Award-Winning Fascination with the Brain | 47 | Carol McGaugh
James McGaugh, PhD
Jessica Bolton, PhD
Keshav Balaji
Tallie Z. Baram | Dunlop School Supporter
Faculty
Faculty
Student
Faculty | Keshav Balaji is the 2018 winner of the prestigious Carol and James McGaugh Award. | Memorial, scholarship, award |
2018 | Revving Up the Route from Research to Real Life | 6,7 | Aimee L. Edinger, PhD
Chris W. Hughes, PhD
Richard Sudek, PhD | Faculty | The partnership with Applied Innovation will bring the School’s faculty even closer to achieving the goal of a sustainable and diverse planet without disease, with renewable biofuels and sufficient food for all its people. | Sustainability, innovation, future |
2018 | Commencement 2017: Compassionate Scientists | 9 | Elsa Ramon | CBS/KCAL report + anchor, Commencement Speaker | Els Ramon, a UCI alumna, was the 2017 Ayals School commencement speaker. | Commencement, speaker, celebration |
2018 | Exploring Life’s Interplay, New Majors Advance in Creative Ways | 10,11 | N/A | N/A | In studying the interlacing of the mind, body, world, two new majors train students to improve human wellbeing in creative ways. (Exercise Sciences and Human Biology) | Study, courses, major |
2018 | Why I Give | 11 | Paul and Sydney Balalis | Donors | The Balalis’s explain why they are proud donors to the Ayala School. | Donor, philanthropy, funding |
2018 | Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation | 12 | Allison Najafi
Alyssa Braciszewski
Christine Schneider
Zachariah Reagh | Students | Four UCI Ayala School graduate students received the 2017 ARCS Award. | Students, scholarship, awards |
2018 | Rose Hills Foundation Undergraduate Science and Engineering Scholarship | 13 | Adam Brown
Anais Panossian
Ava Pournejad
Celeste Schoeleh
Yasmine Yadollahi | Students | Five Ayala School students have been chosen as recipients of The Rose Hills Foundation Undergraduate Science and Engineering Scholarships for this academic year. | Students, scholarship, awards |
2018 | Minority Science Programs | 13 | Luis Mota-Bravo, PhD
Marlene de la Cruz, PhD | Faculty | Thanks to director Luis Mota-Bravo, PhD and associate director Marlene de la Cruz, PhD, MSP students conduct research projects with faculty mentors and present their projects at national conferences. | Minority, empowerment, mentorship |
2018 | Why I Give | 15 | Mona Hanouni, M.D. | Donor | Mona Hanouni explains why she is a proud donor to the Ayala School. | Donor, philanthropy, funding |
2018 | Of Mice and Men: Developing New Strategies to Defeat Alzheimer’s | 16,17 | Ali Mortazavi, PhD
Andrea J. Tenner, PhD
David Baglietto-Vargas, PhD
Frank M. LaFerla, PhD
Grant MacGregor, PhD
Kim Green, PhD
Marcelo A. Wood, PhD | Faculty and Dean | An innovative mouse model developed to better research Alzheimer’s drugs has enabled Ayala School scientists to be awarded am $11.4M grant from the National Institute on Aging. Th mouse model was generated in the laboratory on Dean Frank LaFerla. | Mouse model, Alzheimer’s, award |
2018 | Regrowing a Lost Limb: Not So Far-Fetched | 18 | David M. Gardiner, PhD | Associate Dean | Associate Dean David M. Gardiner is working in the field of regenerative medicine, which aims to find a way to regrow tissues, so that damaged or diseased cells compromising our muscles, bones, and connective tissues can be repaired or replaced. | Regenerative medicine, cell reactivation, repair |
2018 | Revolutionary Microscopes Shine Light on Disease Secrets | 19 | Ian Parker, PhD | Faculty | Professor Parker has recently created the Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence microscope, which has contributed to the finding of a dysfunctional protein found in Alzheimer’s disease. | microscope, Alzheimer’s, proteins |
2018 | Macro Push to Understand Micro Life Forms | 20 | Jennifer B.H Martiny, PhD
Katrine L. Whiteson, PhD | Faculty | The UCI Microbiome Initiative hopes to uncover principles linking personal microbiomes and those found in the ocean and soil. | Microbiomes, bacteria, environment |
2018 | Busting Down Roadblocks to New Drug Discovery | 22 | Melanie Cocco, PhD | Faculty | Through seed grants, resource support and expertise, the consortium hopes to tackle many of the current roadblocks to drug discovery. | Drug development, consortium, diseases |
2018 | Taking More Direct Aim at Disease with New Drug Design Approach | 23 | Celia W. Goulding, PhD
Rick Silverman, PhD
Thomas Poulus, PhD | Faculty
Collaborator (Northwestern)
Faculty | Faculty members at the Ayala School are researching molecular structures to help advance the approach to creating pharmaceuticals into a more focused and efficient process. | Pharmaceuticals, Tuberculosis, neurodegenerative disease |
2018 | Mastering the Mysteries of MS | 24 | Craig M. Walsh, PhD | Faculty | UCI’s MS Research Center’s leader, Professor Walsh, has been examine how the immune system develops, functions and maintains stability. | MS, immune system, autoimmune disease |
2018 | Dunlop School’s Impact Feature: Preserving Hawaii’s Stunning Ecology | 25 | Ann K. Sakai, PhD | Faculty | Professor Sakai has dedicated her career to understanding how the islands’ native plants arose and why they are disappearing at an alarming rate. | Environment, ecology, conservation |
2018 | Delving into the Brain to Break Addiction’s Grip | 26 | Christie D. Fowler, PhD | Faculty | Professor Fowler is helping society tackle the challenge of addiction by studying the molecular mechanisms that spark those actions. | Addiction, Nicotine, drug use |
2018 | Short Acronym Brings Big Clout to Alzheimer’s Fight | 27 | Mathew Blurton-Jones, PhD | Faculty | Under the direction of Professor Blurton-Jones, iPSCs offer an important tool for researchers seeking to prevents ad cure progressive and irreversible brain disorders. | Alzheimer’s, iPSCs, neurodegenerative |
2018 | Fast-Forwarding Brain Discoveries | 28 | Craig E.L. Stark, PhD | Faculty | In Addition to running FIBRE, Professor Stark will use the facility for his own investigations into how memories are formed, aging’s impact on the brain and Alzheimer’s disease. | Alzheimer’s, aging, MRI |
2018 | Rocky Mountain High: Retired Professor Savors Outdoors and Teaching | 30 | Jerry E. Manning, PhD
Ruth Wrightsman, PhD | Retired Faculty | During retirement, the pair have continued educating more future scientists through hands-on-work and creation of new programs for Montana students. | Retirement, programs, community outreach |
2018 | The 2017 Dunlop School AAAS Fellows | 31 | Adriana D. Briscoe, PhD
Craig E.L. Stark, PhD
Kathleen K. Treseder, PhD | Faculty | Adriana D. Briscoe, PhD, Craig E.L. Stark, PhD and Kathleen K. Treseder, PhD were named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancements of Science. | Awards, fellowship, honor |
2018 | Why I Give | 39 | John J. Tierney, M.D. | Donor | John J. Tierney explains why he is a proud donor to the Ayala School. | Donor, philanthropy, funding |
2018 | Mentoring Tomorrow’s Biologists | 43 | Denis Kitayama
Dr. Tina Nova | Mentor
CEO of Molecular Stethoscope, Inc | The Ayala School kicked off the 2017-2018 Dunlop School Mentor Program this past November with a celebratory dinner featuring Bio Sci alumna and key-note speaker Dr. Tina Nova. | Mentorship, community, guidance |
2018 | New Student Award Continues Legacy of Esteemed Former Faculty | 46 | Krishna Tewari, PhD
Sujata Tewari, PhD
Dr. Krishnansu Tewari
Dr. Devansu Tewari
Dr. Meagan M. Tewari
Nita Tewari | Emeritus Professors Donors | The new award, Frishna and Sujata Tewari Scholar Award for students demonstrating proclivity and aspirations in science and medicine. | Award, Scholarships, Donors |
2018 | Lifelong Mentor Inspires Gift to the School | 47 | James L. McGaugh, PhD
James T. Goodrich
Judy Goodrich | Faculty
Donor
Donor | The James Tait Goodrich Award for Excellence in Neurobiology in Honor of James McGaugh endows an award recognizing an undergraduate student completing their junior year for outstanding achievement in neurobiology. | Award, Scholarships, Donors |
2017 | Commencement 2016: “Just the beginning…” | 5 | Charles Dunlop | President/founder of Ambry Genetics, Commencement Speaker | Charles Dunop, keynote speaker of Ayala School of Biological Sciences 2016 commencement, captivates those attending with his passion for science and making a difference in the world. | Commencement, Graduation, Speech |
2017 | Investment in Graduate Education Yields Dividends for Society | 6 | Marlene Godoy, D.D.S. | Donor | Our society counts on institutions of higher learning to provide knowledge, jobs, and answers to pressing problems. Investing in PhD and graduate programs helps to ensure this mission is achieved. | Donations, Philanthropy, Graduate Education |
2017 | New Café Brews More Ayala School Possibilities | 7 | Frank M. LaFerla, PhD | Dean | Ayala School opens up a Starbucks to act as a hub where faculty, students, and staff can meet by chance. | Grand Opening, Starbucks, Café |
2017 | STEM Continues to Blossom
Rose Hills Scholars | 8 | Anais Panossiam
Ava Pournejad
Cassidy Nguyen
Devan Nisson
Mercado Mayalen | Students | Five Ayala School students have been chosen as recipients of The Rose Hills Foundation Undergraduate Science and Engineering Scholarships for this academic year. | Students, scholarship, awards |
2017 | The Minority Science Programs | 9 | Luis Mota Bravo, PhD
Marlene de la Cruz, PhD | Faculty | Key to MSP’s success are its director Luis Mota-Bravo, PhD and associate director Marlene de la Cruz, PhD. | Minority, empowerment, mentorship |
2017 | Concussions Rear Their Head in Unexpected Sport | 13 | James W. Hicks, PhD | Faculty | Directed by Professor Hicks, the UCI Exercise Medicine and Sports Initiative participated in research that marks the crucial first step for water polo making the types of rule and equipment changes that other sports have put into place to help protect their players from head injury. | Concussion, Wellness, Sports |
2017 | Inflammation’s Red Hot Role in Alzheimer’s Fight | 14 | Andrea J. Tenner, PhD | Faculty | Professor Tenner is on the forefront of the effort to better understand the link between inflammation, the immune system and dementia. | Alzheimer’s, Inflammation, Chronic Disease |
2017 | Games, Brains and Emotions: New Findings on Memory | 15 | Claudia H. Kawas, PhD
Craig E. L. Stark, PhD
Michael A. Yassa, PhD | Faculty | The World is gaining a new understanding of how memories are formed and lost, thanks to researchers at the Ayala School. | 3D, Aging, Emotion |
2017 | Taking a Lead in Fighting the Addiction Crisis | 16 | Catherine Cahill, PhD
Christie D. Fowler
Francis Leslie, PhD
Marcelo Wood, PhD
Shahrdad Lotfipour
Steve Mahler, PhD | Faculty | With skyrocketing opioid abuse bringing new attention to addiction’s consequences, the Ayala School of Biological Sciences has founded a new school center called Irvine Center for Addiction Neuroscience (ICAN), aimed at better understanding and combating the crisis. | Addiction, Opioids, Drug Abuse |
2017 | Starving Cancer Cells to Death | 18 | Aimee L. Edinger, PhD
Zeba Wunderlinch, PhD | Faculty | Ayala School researchers study why cancer cells become resistant to chemotherapy drugs by focusing on personalized medicine, the genetic makeup of individual tumors, and metabolic changes. | Cancer, Chemotherapy, Cells |
2017 | When a Virus Goes Rogue | 19 | Anthony A. James, PhD
Michael J. Buchmeier, PhD | Faculty | Drs. Buchmeier and James lead research that studies viral zoonoses: Zika virus and Malaria. | Viral zoonoses, Zika, Malaria |
2017 | Can We Predict Death? | 20 | Laurence D. Mueller, PhD
Michael R. Rose, PhD | Faculty | Professors Mueller and Rose have taken an approach to find out if its possible to predict the end of life by identifying a process called “the death spiral”. | Aging, death, life cycles |
2017 | Why I Give | 21 | Maria E. Minon, M.D., F.A.A.P. | Donor | Maria Minon explains why she is a proud donor to the Ayala School. | Donor, philanthropy, funding |
2017 | Real Dirt on Climate Change | 22 | Kathleen K. Treseder, PhD
Steven D. Allison, PhD | Faculty | Professors Treseder and Allison demonstrate that unless climate modelers start paying more attention to fungi, predictions will be inaccurate. | Fungi, climate change, soil |
2017 | Why I Give | 23 | Marsha Vacca | Donor | Marsha Vacca explains why she is a proud donor to the Ayala School. | Donor, philanthropy, funding |
2017 | Bed Bugs: Defeating the Enemy You Sleep With | 24 | Catherine Loudon, PhD | Faculty | Professor Loudon researches why bed bugs have become resistant to pesticides. | Bed bugs, Entomology, pesticides |
2017 | Building a Better Biofuel | 25 | Markus W. Ribbe, PhD
Yillin Hu, PhD | Faculty | Professors Ribbe and Hu have been working on innovative ways to produce renewable biofuels. | Biofuel, hydrocarbon, renewable energy |
2017 | UCI and Tel Aviv University Teaming to Combat Alzheimer’s Around the Worlds | 26 | UCI Mind | N/A | To fight against Alzheimer’s disease, the Ayala School in partnership with UCI Mind is teaming up with Tel Aviv University to research treatment, drugs, and disease modeling for Alzheimer’s. | Alzheimer’s, Tel Aviv, memory impairments |
2017 | Ayala School’s Impact Feature: On the Forefront of the Huntington’s Fight | 27 | Leslie M. Thompson, PhD | Faculty | Professor Thompson’s lab is at the forefront of using stem cells to better understand Huntington’s disease and design new treatments. | Huntington’s Disease, genetic disorder, stem cells |
2017 | A Living Legend: Professor James L. McGaugh | 28 | James L. McGaugh | Faculty | McGaugh’s integrity and academic achievement have won admiration from his colleagues and mentees, establishing him as a living legend throughout higher learning. | Recognition, leader, legend |
2017 | Where are They Now? | 29 | Barbara A. Hamkalo. PhD | Retired Faculty | This article highlights what retired faculty member Barbara A. Hamkalo, PhD has been doing after leaving the Ayala School. | Retirement, faculty, profile |
2017 | Why I Give | 30 | Bert L. Semler, PhD | Donor | Bert Semler explains why he is a proud donor to the Ayala School. | Donor, philanthropy, funding |
2017 | Pew Biomedical Scholar | 31 | Maksim Plikus, PhD | Faculty | Assistant Professor Maksim Plikus was selected as a 2016 Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences. | Award, recognition |
2017 | Dunlop School Professors Capture Prestigious Recognition | 31 | David A. Fruman, PhD
Sheryl Tsai, PhD | Faculty | Professors David A. Fruman and Sheryl Tsai have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancements of Science. | Award, recognition |
2017 | Faculty Retirements | 32 | Luis Villareal, PhD | Faculty | Luis Villareal was founding director of the Center for Virus Research and focused a large part of his research investigating the general role of virus evolution in life. | Retirement, faculty, profile |
2017 | In Memoriam | 33 | Ralph J. Cicerone, PhD | Faculty | Fourth UCI Chancellor | Memoriam, obituary |
2017 | In Memoriam | 33 | Krishna Tewari, PhD | Faculty | Professor Tewari helped create the School’s Master’s program in Biotechnology and was a leading figure in his field. | Memoriam, obituary |
2017 | In Memoriam | 33 | Norman M. Weinberger, PhD | Faculty | Weinberger was a pioneering faculty member at UCI and a leading figure in the field of neurobehavioral research. | Memoriam, obituary |
2017 | In Memoriam | 33 | Robert K. Josephson, PhD | Faculty | Professor Josephson was a dedicated instructor and mentor, compassionate and committed to the success of the School. | Memoriam, obituary |
2017 | In Memoriam | 33 | Jared M. Roberts, PhD | Faculty | Mr. Roberts was a graduate student in the laboratory of Professor Michael Yassa and was a brilliant scientist, gifted mentor, and selfless friend. | Memoriam, obituary |
2017 | Help Mobilize Anteaters Against Alzheimer’s | 41 | Frank M. LaFerla, PhD
Joshua D. Grill, PhD | Dean
Faculty | In joining Anteaters Against Alzheimer’s, you become a part of the team working to bring about the breakthrough needed to make this public health crisis a distant memory. | Donations, Funding, Alzheimer’s |
2017 | Community Spotlight: Lester Ng | 44 | Lester Ng | Community Member | In helping international students succeed, Mr. Ng and the Ayala School International Student Program are making it easier for them to focus on their academic work and chart a smoother course toward their career goals. | Scholarships, philanthropy, awards |
2017 | Award in the Making Help Honor Leader’s Passion | 44 | Norman M. Weinberger, PhD | Faculty | The Norman M. Weinberger Memorial Fund provides financial support to exceptional graduate students in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior. | Scholarships, memorial , awards |
2017 | Dean’s Excellence Fund: Nimble Response to the Unexpected | 45 | N/A | N/A | Please consider giving today to continue our rich history of advancing science and educating students who are at the forefront of making the world better. | Donations, Funding |
2016 | Francisco J. Ayala Monument | 4,5 | Francisco J. Ayala, PhD | Faculty | In June of 2015, the School unveiled a monument to commemorate our renaming as The Francisco J. Ayala School of Biological Sciences. | Monument, Historical, Recognition |
2016 | Beyond 50 | 6,7 | Barack Obama
Greg Louganis | US President
Olympic Diving Champion
(Speakers) | The Ayala School of Biological Sciences will serve as the forefront of research institutions seeking to solve the most serious challenges facing our world. | Commencement, Motivational, Celebration |
2016 | Ayala’s Impact Feature: Distinguished Professor Anthony A. James | 9 | Anthony A. James, PhD | Faculty | Professor Anthony A. James has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in Orange County by the Orange County Register for his research in the field of entomology. | Entomology, Insects, Disease |
2016 | Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Renewed | 10 | Andrea Tenner, PhD
Frank M. LaFerla, PhD
Mathew Blurton-Jones, PhD | Faculty, Dean
Faculty
Faculty | UCI MIND has received a five year, $11M grant from the National Institute of Aging to renew its status as one of only 29 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers in the nation. | Alzheimer’s, UCI MIND, Grant |
2016 | Keeping the Defenders of the Brain on Our Side | 11 | Kim Green, PhD | Faculty | Dr. Kim Green and his team discovered that all microglia in the adult brain were dependent on a single signaling pathway for their survival – the colony simulating factor 1 receptor. | Alzheimer’s, Discovery, Neurobiology |
2016 | What Your Microbiome Can Tell You About Your Health | 12 | Katrine Whiteson, PhD | Faculty | Katrine Whiteson seeks to identify and understand the mechanisms by which human-associated microbes influence and indicate health and disease. | Microbiome, Wellness, Disease |
2016 | Climate Change and its Impact on Biology | 13 | Cascade Sorte, PhD | Faculty | With a grant from the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis and continuing with recent funding from the Albert and Elaine Borchard Foundation, Dr. Sort is working to discover how climate change impacts invasive species. | Climate change, Ecology, Biodiversity |
2016 | Autism Spectrum Disorders: Identifying Biomarkers and a Drug Target | 14 | Ian Parker, PhD
Jay Gargus | Faculty
Director of CART | Professor Ian Parker and Jay Gargus have been investigating alterations in cell signaling pathways in individuals with autism. | Autism, Neurobiology, Cognition |
2016 | Time for some R and R! | 14,15 | Peter Donovan, PhD | Faculty | Scientists at UCI such as Professor Peter Donovan are studying how pluripotent stem cells can be maintained efficiently in the lab, how they can be coaxed into making other specialized cells, how tissue specific stem cells can be formed in early development, and how tissue-specific stem cells play a role in everyday physiological responses. | Stem cells, Regeneration, Pluripotent Cells |
2016 | Peering Into the Smallest Spaces | 15 | N/A | N/A | The IMRI was established to serve as an interdisciplinary and cross-industry nexus for the physical sciences to enable advances in fundamental research. | Microscopy, Subatomic, Molecular Biology |
2016 | Understanding the Complexity of Life through Systems Biology | 16 | Arthur Lander, PhD | Faculty | At UCI’s Center for Complex Biological Systems, director Arthur Lander, PhD focuses on Systems Biology research that has led to models suggesting novel cancer therapies, how organs grow to precise sizes, how cells grow and differentiate, and how birth defects arise. | Systems biology, Cells, Genetics |
2016 | UCI Oceans Initiative | 17 | Adam Martiny, PhD
Cascade Sorte, PhD
Donovan German, PhD
Jennifer Martiny, PhD
Matthew Bracken, PhD
Nancy Aguilar-Roca, PhD
Steven Allison, PhD | Faculty | UCI OCEANS is working to promote urban-ocean research a UCI by leveraging and fortifying the strengths of existing faculty and students through collaborative efforts. | UCI OCEANS, ocean, research |
2016 | Salton Sea Initiative | 18 | Timothy Bradley, PhD | Faculty | The Salton Sea Initiative seeks to harness the university’s research, teaching, and service resources to address challenges facing the Salton Sea region. | wildlife, public health, sustainability |
2016 | Drought | 19 | Peter A Bowler, PhD | Faculty | UCI individuals like Professor Bowler have responded to the drought by providing opportunities to break habits and attitudes about water use and help us re-train ourselves and our expectations. | Environment, sustainability, drought |
2016 | Addressing Capitol Hill: Advocating for Research | 20 | Frank M. LaFerla, PhD
Leah Drew
Mimi Walters
Pat White
Robert Egge
Tom Cole | Dean
Patient Advocate
Congressional Representative
President of ACT for NIH
Executive VP of Alzheimer’s Association
Congressman | During “Alzheimer’s Disease Research: Preventing the Boom that will Bust the US Economy”, Dean LaFerla joined by a team of individuals, testified before a Congressional Subcommittee to increase funding for Alzheimer’s research. | Alzheimer’s, Policy, Funding |
2016 | Empowering Excellence: Minority Science Programs | 24,25 | Francisco J. Ayala, PhD
Luis Mota-Bravo, PhD
Marlene de la Cruz, PhD | Faculty | The Ayala School has received national praise for is efforts in developing programs to increase the preparation of underrepresented students to pursue research careers in the life sciences. | Minority, Empowerment, Mentorship |
2016 | Student Spotlight: The Rose Hills Foundation Scholarship | 28 | Catherine Ly
Karen Bradshaw
Marina Germanos
Mary Sargious
Melissa Huang
Mikayla Mager
Nujhat Ali
Richelle Roelandt Lu Homo
Ryan Ripperdan
Victor Quach | Students | Ten undergraduates from the Ayala School received the prestigious Rose Hill Foundation Undergraduate Science and Engineering Scholarship. | Students, scholarships, leadership |
2016 | Student Spotlight: Drake Dinh | 29 | Drake Dinh | Student | Drake Dihn, fourth-year Biological Sciences major, embodies what it means to be a successful Ayala School graduate. | Students, academics, leadership |
2016 | GPS: A Map for Success | 33 | David Fruman, PhD | Faculty | Funded by a grand awarded to David Fruman from NIH-BEST, GPS-BIOMED equips trainees with the knowledge, skills, and networks to become competitive candidates for the current workforce. | Mentorship, careers, grants |
2016 | Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program | 33 | N/A | N/A | The Ayala School of Biological Sciences, in partnership with the School of Physical Sciences, will offer for the first time a Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program. | Pre-med, physical sciences, certification |
2016 | Community Spotlight | 37 | M. Marlene Godoy, D.D.S. | Community Member | The Ayala School is proud to honor Dr. Godoy for her foresight, generosity, and care. | Scholarships, philanthropy, awards |
2016 | Norman M. Weinberger | 38 | Norman M. Weinberger, PhD | Faculty | The Department of Neurobiology and behavior held a naming ceremony to honor one of its founding faculty, Dr. Norman Weinberger. This space is known as the Weinberger Conference Room. | Honoring, ceremony, renaming |
2016 | A Living Legend | 40,41 | Susan V. Bryant, PhD | Faculty | Because of her leadership, commitment to service, and distinguished research career, Professor Bryant is a highly regarded scientist and one of UCI’s living legends. | Recognition, leader, legend |
2015 | In Ayala’s Honor | 4,5 | Francisco J. Ayala | Faculty | UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences changes its name to recognize Dr. Ayala’s impressive scientific achievements, his international stature, and his decades of support towards the UCI campus. | Francisco Ayala, Name Change, Recognition |
2015 | A Presidential Visit | 6,7 | James McGaugh, PhD
Jessica Pratt, PhD
President Barack Obama | Faculty
Doctoral Student
US President | President Barack Obama spoke to UCI Irvine’s Class of 2014 at a special commencement ceremony. Doctoral Student, Jessica Pratt, presented the graduate student address at this prestigious event. | Commencement, Historical, Special Guest |
2015 | New Chancellor | 8 | Howard Gillman, PhD | UCI Chancellor | Howard Gillman became UCI’s sixth Chancellor on Sept. 18, 2014. | Chancellor, Transitions |
2015 | Faculty Retirements | 9 | Herbert P. Killackey, PhD
Michael T. Clegg, PhD
Ronald L. Meyer, PhD
Rudi C. Berkelhamer PhD | Faculty | Faculty Retirements as of the year 2015. | Retirement, Transitions |
2015 | New Faculty | 10 | Bruce McNaughton, PhD | Faculty | Dr. Bruce McNaughton joined Dunlop School as a Distinguished Professor of neurobiology and behavior. | New Faculty, NBB, Distinguished Professor |
2015 | 60 Minutes Features Three Faculty | 13 | Claudia H. Kawas, PhD
James L. McGaugh, PhD
Larry F. Cahill, PhD | Faculty | In 2014 alone, three faculty were interviewed and featured on the CBS news show 60 minutes. | Media, CBS, News |
2015 | Battling Deadly Diseases | 16 | Anthony A. James, PhD | Faculty | This year, Professor James received a $1M grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation’s medical research program to test evolutionary models for controlling malaria transmission and to understand the long-term effects of these engineered mosquitoes. | Distinguished Professor, Disease, Malaria |
2015 | Sex Matters | 17 | Carl Cotman, PhD, Dana Asward, PhD, Francisco Ayala, PhD. Lawrence Cahill, PhD Timothy Bredy, PhD | Faculty | UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences Professors investigate the influences that sex has on research and medicine. | Medical, Sex, Brain |
2015 | Beyond Diet: Exploring how Environmental Factors Affect Your Weight | 18 | Bruce Blumberg, PhD | Faculty | The work of the Blumberg lab has placed UCI at the leading edge of research into the mechanism of transgenerational effects of environmental exposures and may help provide better treatments for obesity. | Obesity, Transgenerational, Obesogens |
2015 | DNA – A New Key to Controlling Fear | 19 | Christie Fowler, PhD
Leslie Thompson, PhD
Marcelo Wood, PhD
Timothy Bredy, PhD | Faculty | Dr. Timothy Bredy led a new study that sheds light on the process involved in decreasing the impact of fear-related memories, particularly those impacted in conditions such as phobias and PTSD. | NBB, PTSD, Epigenetics |
2015 | Body-on-a-Chip | 20 | Christopher C.W. Hughes, PhD | Faculty | Dr. Christopher Hughes and his team have now created the first beating heart muscle, bone marrow, and brain tissue on a chip that is kept alive by nutrients delivered through living blood vessels. | Tumors, Anti-Cancer Drugs, Technology |
2015 | How Does Coordinated Behavior of Stem Cells Impact Our Bodies? | 21 | Maksim Plikus, PhD | Faculty | Dr. Maksim Plikus is actively studying the mechanisms of regeneration and stem cell control, which includes researching how complex tissues and organs regenerate under normal conditions in response to injury or disease. | Regeneration, Stem Cells, DCB |
2015 | For Caterpillars, Having a Well-rounded Diet can be Fraught with Peril. | 22 | Kailen Mooney, PhD
Michael Singer, PhD (Wesleyan) | Faculty | Dr. Kailen Mooney learned that caterpillars that feed on one or two plant species are better able to hide from predatory birds then caterpillars that consume a wide variety of plants. | EEB, Evolution, Insects |
2015 | Ayala School Field Research Sites, from Campus to Across California | 23,24 | N/A | N/A | Ayala School faculty and students have access to 41 UC Natural Reserves for basic and applied field research. | Field Research, Natural Reserves |
2015 | A Dessert Renaissance | 25 | Timothy J. Bradley, PHD
Travis E. Human, PhD | Faculty | UCI faculty have been instrumental to bringing UC-led sustainability programs including the Salton Sea Initiative, Water UCI Initiative, and UCI Sustainability Initiative to the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center. | Sustainability, Desert, Research Center |
2015 | Exercise Medicine and Sports Sciences | 26 | James W. Hicks, PhD | Faculty | The Exercise Medicine and Sport Sciences Initiative is compromised of a community of scholars led by Professor James Hicks whose mission is to promote and expand scholarly activities and innovative discoveries in all fields associated with movement, exercise, and sport sciences and rehabilitation. | Sports Medicine, Exercise Science, Wellness |
2015 | Seasons and the Sea | 27 | Jennifer Martiny, PhD | Faculty | To understand the role of viruses in ocean nutrient cycling, Dr. Martiny and her colleagues study the diversity of viruses that infect marine cyanobacteria, a major component of the food chain base. | Marine life, Viruses, Microbes |
2015 | Empowering Excellence: Minority Science Programs | 30 | Francisco J. Ayala, PhD
Luis Mota-Bravo, PHD
(Both PICTURED ONLY) | Faculty | The Minority Science Programs (MSP) is an orchestrated effort by the National Institutes of Health and the Ayala School to increase the number of underrepresented groups in biomedical research centers. | Minority, Empowerment, Mentorship |
2015 | Student Spotlight | 32 | Prachi Shah | Student | Prachi, senior biological sciences major, was named the 2014-15 Dean’s Leadership Scholar. | Student, Leadership, Award |
2015 | Expanding Career Horizons | 33 | David Fruman, PhD | Faculty | Dr. Fruman was recently award $1.7M grant from the National Institutes of Health to help graduate students and postdoctoral fellows develop their knowledge and skills in preparation for a multitude of science-related careers | Career, Grant, Student |
2015 | The Howard A. Schneiderman Memorial Bioethics Lecture | 35 | Michele Bratcher Goodwin, J.D., LL.M. | Faculty – UCI School of Law | The 2014 Schneiderman Lecture, entitled “Pregnant Women and the Medical-Legal Divide”, was presented by Michele Goodwin. | Lecture, Law, Bioethics |
2015 | Community Spotlight: Mrs. Audrey Schneiderman | 39 | Audrey Schneiderman | Philanthropist | Audrey has established a scholarship, a fellowship, helped build the Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory and endowed the Schneiderman Lecture Series in Bioethics. | Community, Philanthropy, Benefactor |
2015 | Evanescent Viewpoint | 43 | Ian Parker, PhD | Faculty | Professor Parker has a passion for landscape photography, through which he aims to capture the spirit of wild and remote places. | Photography, wildlife |