Announcements

Our group members have been very fortunate to have received many honors and awards. Please browse through these announcements to learn more about the researchers' individual accomplishments.

May 2008: Huilan Han selected for campus Biotechnology Fellowship

Doctoral graduate student Huilan Han was selected to receive 2008-2009 fellowship support from the UC Davis Biotechnology Training Program. This is a prestigious award that is very competitive here on campus. Huilan will receive an annual scholarship stipend along with full tuition this upcoming year, and is potentially renewable for a second year. The UC Davis Biotechnology Training Program is a program on campus that allows Ph.D. students to be trained in the area of biotechnology, and encourages interdisciplinary research.

April 2008: Huilan Han receives campus fellowship

For a second consecutive year, doctoral graduate student Huilan Han was awarded a campus fellowship entitled "UCD Science and Humanities Graduate Research Award" which is used to support her dissertation research. This cash award is potentially renewable for each year until she graduates, and it can be used to purchase materials and supplies in support of her dissertation research.

April 2008: Nick Strand awarded Department of Defense Fellowship

Master's graduate student Nick Strand was awarded a fellowship from the Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program which has been established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The program aims to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories. The DoD offers this scholarship for service to individuals who demonstrate outstanding ability and special aptitude for a career in scientific and engineering research and product development, express interest in career opportunities at DoD laboratories, and are pursuing a specific degree in science or engineering. Over 2000 applicants applied for fellowships this year, and only 200 students nation-wide were selected for the program. After graduation, Nick will be working with one of the national laboratories pursuing defense research at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

April 2008: Abhinav Bhushan accepted into prestegious medical school MRCTP training program

Postdoctoral fellow Dr. Abhinav Bhushan was accepted into the UC Davis Mentored Clinical Research Training Program (MCRTP). The Mentored Clinical Research Training Program (MCRTP) provides a solid foundation for clinical / patient-oriented research for junior faculty, clinical and pre-clinical fellows, and post-doctoral scholars. The MCRTP centers around three core elements, didactic instruction, mentored research, and special experiences, leading to a Masters of Advanced Study (MAS) in Clinical Research. The goal of the MCRTP is to prepare trainees for clinical/translational team-science research through a multi-layered, multi-disciplinary, didactic curriculum and mentored research experience.

February 2008: Mary Molina receives travel grant to present research at CAMP symposium

Undergraduate researcher Mary Molina received a travel grant to present her research at the California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) Statewide Undergraduate Research Symposium. University of California, Irvine; Beckman Center of the National Academies. February 22-24, 2008.

December 2007: Alex Sutherland awarded UC President's Undergraduate Fellowship

Undergraduate researcher Alex Suterland was awarded the University of California President's Undergraduate Fellowship. Alex is currently earning his B.S. in Chemistry. His fellowship award funds for 2007-2008 will cover materials and supplies for his project. His proposal was selected through a very competative process to receive funding from the President's office.

October 2007: Professor Cristina Davis receives service award

Professor Cristina Davis was presented with an award for "Outstanding Service as a Competition Judge" from the Siemens Foundation and the College Board. She has served as an initial judge for the Siemens Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition for over 5 years. The Siemen's competion for Math, Science and Technology recognizes remarkable talent early on, fostering individual growth for high school students who are willing to challenge themselves through science research. Through this competition, students have an opportunity to receive national recognition for science research projects they complete while in high school. It is administrated by The College Board, in Princeton, NJ. The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 5,400 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT®, and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns.

October 2007: Dr. Abhinav Bhushan accepted into LMI program

Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Abhinav Bhushan was recently accepted into the prestigious UC Davis Laboratory Management Program for Postdoctoral Scholars (2007-2008). A total of twenty seven Postdoctoral Scholars were selected from the entire campus to participate in the third year of this program, which has received international recognition in journals such as Nature, Cell and The Scientist. The UC Davis Laboratory Management Institute (LMI) Certificate Program in Laboratory Leadership and Management is offered through UC Davis Extension and the Offices of Research and Graduate Studies. It provides a learning laboratory for postdocs to practice leadership and management skills essential to advancing their scientific careers. For those looking to eventually assume scientific leadership positions as faculty or in industry, it will enhance their ability to run a laboratory efficiently and effectively.

October 2007: Mary Molina receives travel grant to present research at SACNAS

Undergraduate researcher Mary Molina received a travel grant to present her research at the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference: Stretching the Imagination to Support Leadership and Sustainability (Kansas City, MO), October 11-14, 2007. Mary will earn her B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in June 2008.

July 2007: Professor Crisina Davis selected for National Academies Keck Futures Initiative

Professor Cristina Davis was selected to attend the 5th Annual National Academies Keck Futures Initiative entitled "The Future of Human Healthspan: Demography, Evolution, Medicine and Bioengineering." The National Academies Keck Futures Initiative is a 15-year effort to catalyze interdisciplinary inquiry and to enhance communication among researchers, funding organizations, universities, and the general public. The Initiative's objective is to enhance the climate for conducting interdisciplinary research, and to break down related institutional and systemic barriers. The Initiative builds on three pillars of vital and sustained research: interdisciplinary encounters that counterbalance specialization and isolation; the asking of new questions; and communication bridging languages, cultures, habits of thought, and institutions. Toward these goals, the multifaceted Futures Initiative incorporates three core activities each year: Futures Conferences, Futures Grants and National Academies Communication Awards. The National Academies also conducted a study on Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research. The National Academies Keck Futures Initiative is funded through a generous grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation.

May 2007: Stephanie Pulford awarded fellowship

Doctoral student Stephanie Pulford was awarded a "Howard Hughes Medical Institute - Integrating Medicine into Basic Science" training grant fellowship. This is a very competitive award for stipend support, tuition and travel support, and is potentially renewable. As a part of the fellowship, she will take part in an intensive 5 week Summer Institute in "Introduction to Clinical Medicine" at the UC Davis Medical Center. The UC Davis-Howard Hughes Medical Institute (UC Davis-HHMI) training program Integrating Medicine into Basic Science, introduces highly-qualified and highly-motivated PhD students in biomedical research and engineering to the world of clinical medicine. UC Davis-HHMI scholars will become future leaders in translating scientific discoveries into clinical applications to improve human health. This premier training program is one of only 13 such funded HHMI training programs in the nation and is intended to train a cadre of new researchers who are committed to working at the interface of biomedical science and clinical medicine and who will develop the skills to participate in and lead translational research teams to improve human health.

May 2007: Mary Molina awarded fellowship

Undergraduate researcher Mary Molina was awarded a stipend fellowship from the NSF-funded "California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP)" program. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), CAMP represents the California arm of the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program that aims to increase the number of under-represented/economically disadvantaged students graduating with bachelor's degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. CAMP is hosted on eight of the UC campuses, with the lead campus for the California Alliance centered at UC Irvine (CAMP Statewide). CAMP provides monetary support to undergraduate students in the form of research stipends for work conducted under the direction of a UC Davis faculty member. Mary is currently completing her B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, and she will graduate in June 2008.

March 2007: Huilan Han awarded scholarship

Doctoral graduate student Huilan Han was awarded a scholarship entitled "UCD Science and Humanities Graduate Research Award" in support of her dissertation research. This cash award is potentially renewable for each year until she graduates, and it can be used to purchase materials and supplies in support of her dissertation research. Huilan is completing her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, and her research focuses on novel bioMEMS devices.