math phd uc davis

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Graduate Information

The Department of Mathematics at UC Davis is widely recognized for its dynamic and innovative approach to mathematics. With an active research program in both pure and applied mathematics, opportunities to work closely with faculty, a university library system that is one of the finest in the nation, and a desirable location halfway between the Bay Area and the Sierra Nevada, the University of California, Davis has much to offer the dedicated student of mathematics.

The department offers programs leading to these degrees: M.A. (Mathematics Program), M.S. ( Applied Mathematics ), and Ph.D. (both the Mathematics and the Applied Mathematics programs). For all programs, admission is limited and selective. Students entering the Department of Mathematics graduate programs can work in any of the areas in mathematics and applied mathematics represented by the Department faculty.

Basic courses are available in most of the principal branches of pure and applied mathematics: algebra, analysis, differential equations, geometry, topology, numerical analysis, optimization and probability theory. In addition, special topics courses and seminars allow the student to reach the frontiers of current mathematical knowledge. This wide variety of offerings permits graduate students to design a program best suited to their interests and needs.

The Department of Mathematics consists of over 40 faculty members as well as a large number of postdoctoral scholars and visiting faculty, with about 15-20 in residence each year. Over 100 graduate students study in one of the campus' Mathematics graduate programs. Faculty, visitors and graduate students at Davis come from around the world.

Consult the individual program web sites for their brochure and further details.

More general information on graduate studies can be found at the UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies page. The campus also provides a Virtual Tour of UC Davis with photos and descriptions of areas of interest on campus.

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UC Davis Graduate Studies

Mathematics, about the program, learn more about the program.

Students gain advanced knowledge of algebra; analysis; applied mathematics; combinatorics; differential equations; geometry; harmonic analysis; mathematical physics; mathematical biology; numerical analysis; optimization; probability; quantum computation; and topology. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in theoretical and applied mathematics.

College of Letters and Science

Admissions and Fellowship Information

UC Davis General Admission Requirements Program Admissions Requirements

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Program contact information, primary program contacts.

Program Coordinator Marji LeGrand [email protected]

Program Coordinator Jennifer Lehner [email protected]

Department Chair Bruno Nachtergaele (530) 752-0827 | [email protected]

Graduate Program Chair Laura Starkston [email protected]

Additional Contacts

Advisor: Admissions and General Evgeny Gorskiy Mathematics [email protected]

Advisor: Admissions and Primary Contact Bruno Nachtergaele Mathematics (530) 752-0827 | [email protected]

Advisor: Admissions and Primary Contact Laura Starkston Mathematics [email protected]

Internal Fellowship Analyst Heidi West (530) 754-9473 | [email protected]

Senior Academic Advisor Sarah Hamid (530) 752-0650 | [email protected]

External Fellowship Analyst Yvette Garcia [email protected]

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Graduate students.

Applied Math Graduate Students Name E-mail Office Class Office Hours Kayleigh Adams [email protected] MSB 3206 Alana Bailey [email protected] MSB 3202 Wilder Boyden [email protected] MSB 2117 MAT 17A T 11am-1pm (MSB 2117), 1-3pm (EPS 1317) Alvin Chen [email protected] MSB 2125 Mat 16b F 2-4p (EPS calc room) Xiaotie Chen [email protected] MSB 3229 Xuxing Chen [email protected] MSB 3219 MAT 127CC R 3-4 Yifeng (Allen) Chen [email protected] MSB 2107 Kyle Chickering [email protected] MSB 3123 MAT 22A T: 1-2p Shuting Dai [email protected] MSB 2131 Gregory DePaul [email protected] MSB 2139 MAT 170 Wednesdays 3-4 PM in 2139 Zhiqian (Simon) Du [email protected] MSB 2129 MAT 127B Tue 6-7p; Fri 5-6p Casey Duckwall [email protected] MSB 2131 Aidan Epperly [email protected] MSB 2229 Xuan Fei [email protected] MSB 2229 Xue Feng [email protected] MSB 3131 Valerie Fong [email protected] MSB 3217 Jonathan Forstater [email protected] MSB 2117 Benjamin Godkin [email protected] MSB 2125 MAT 128B T 5-6p Avishai Halev [email protected] MSB 2107 Duc Hoang [email protected] MSB 3137 MAT124 R 3:30-4:30 Xiaohan Hu [email protected] MSB 3219 Shouwei Hui [email protected] MSB 2107 Katelin Jones [email protected] MSB 2232 Arthur Kalb [email protected] MSB 3129 MAT 185A M 11-12 Brian Knight [email protected] MSB 3129 Camille Korbut [email protected] MSB 2232 Ojesh Koul [email protected] MSB 2107 MAT16A F 12-1(21 calc room), 3-5(16 calc room) Girish Kumar [email protected] MSB 2125 Appilineni Kushal [email protected] MSB 2123 Acadia Larsen [email protected] MSB 3139 Hyun Soo Lee [email protected] MSB 3219 Michael Lewis [email protected] MSB 2232 MAT 21B T 3-5pm (Calculus Room in MSB) Jiaxiang Li [email protected] MSB 3131 Kelli Loritsch [email protected] MSB 2141 Vincent Lovero [email protected] MSB 2204 MAT 128A T 10-11am Yu Luo [email protected] MSB 2229 Yu (Anna) Luo [email protected] Yuan Luo [email protected] MSB 2137 Abdulla Mammadsoy [email protected] MSB 2229 Makayla McDevitt [email protected] MSB 2141 MAT 17C Calc Room F 11-12 Guga Mikaberidze [email protected] MSB 3131 Lauren Mossman [email protected] MSB 3202 Jorge Murillo [email protected] MSB 2232 Chuong Nguyen [email protected] MSB 2232 MAT 135 Tuesday 3-4PM, Thursday 9-10AM Henry Nguyen [email protected] MSB 2131 Yuan Ni [email protected] MSB 3129 Jeffrey Nichols [email protected] MSB 2107 MAT 17A Tuesday 2-3pm (calc room) Salvador Ochoa Zavalza [email protected] MSB 2232 Jennifer Paige [email protected] MSB 3202 Jane Park [email protected] MSB 3125 Joshua Petrack [email protected] MSB 2123 Chen Qian [email protected] MSB 2204 MAT 17B M 11:00 - 13:00 Adam Rose [email protected] MSB 3229 Marco Ruiz [email protected] MSB 3217 Ana Sammel [email protected] MSB 3217 MAT 22A Th 2-3pm Junhui Shen [email protected] MSB 2137 MAT 128B M 3:10 - 4 PM Kaia Smith [email protected] MSB 2232 Darian Sorenson [email protected] MSB 2141 Alaina Stockdill [email protected] MSB 3202 Matthew Stone [email protected] MSB 3217 MAT 19C R 2:30-3:30p Milton Stookey [email protected] MSB 2229 Selma Madison Strango [email protected] MSB 2141 MAT 12 & MAT 98 W 2-4pm (Dutton 3218) Issa Susa [email protected] MSB 3217 John Walker [email protected] MSB 3219 Qianhui(Stella) Wan [email protected] MSB 3129 MAT 22B F 11am-12pm Zhijie Wang 5309657700 [email protected] MSB 3137 Tait Weicht [email protected] MSB 2125 Noah Wiesner [email protected] MSB 2204 Shizhou Xu [email protected] MSB 3137 Zhenhan Zhao [email protected] MSB 2137 Ruicong (Claire) Zheng [email protected] MSB 3125 MAT 21D W 9:30-10:30am

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Degrees awarded from 1995 to present.

Doctorates | Masters

UC Davis Graduate Studies

Sharing Knowledge And Connecting Minds

Uc davis graduate studies launches inaugural interdisciplinary graduate research exhibition.

• by Gordy Sauer
• April 22, 2024

On Thursday, April 11, Graduate Studies hosted its inaugural Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Exhibition sponsored by the  Graduate Alumni Network (GAN) . 

Nearly 30 selected graduate students from across the disciplines joined over 40 graduate alumni, faculty and staff on the North Lawn of Walker Hall for two hours late Thursday afternoon to discuss their research and scholarship. Students either displayed their projects on large-scale posters or used iPads. Alumni, faculty and staff had the opportunity to walk around the different displays and talk with the students about their research – and talk about other research or industry opportunities that could be invaluable to the students’ careers post-graduation.

At one display, there was a discussion of using microfluidic technology to create organ environments that can fit on platforms the diameter of a human hair, which would enable researchers to study how the human immune system fights cancer. At another, there was a description of how video recordings from the remote forests of Panama could help us study tool use in capuchin monkeys, a good correlation for better understanding the way people use tools.

Later, everyone was invited inside Walker Hall to a buffet-style dinner, where the conversations continued among the round tables. 

Showcasing impact

As one of the first major initiatives of the Graduate Alumni Network, the Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Exhibition aimed to highlight the diverse and innovative research being conducted by UC Davis graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. 

“Last summer, when we had the idea for the Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Exhibition, we wanted to curate an opportunity that would bring current and former graduate students together in celebration of the incredible research and scholarship happening here,” said Jean-Pierre Delplanque, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies. “We have a global community of graduate education alumni and graduate students doing remarkable things. And we have this wonderful building – Walker Hall – that is dedicated exclusively to the UC Davis graduate education and postdoctoral scholarship community. So we brought all of these things together, and the exhibition was born.”

The exhibition – the first of what is intended to be an annual event – was held during an already celebratory week for graduate student research. April 8 through April 13 was designated this year’s  Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week . And on Friday, April 12, Graduate Studies hosted its annual  UC Davis Grad Slam competition . The UC Davis Grad Slam competition is part of the annual UC Grad Slam competition, where master’s and doctoral students are invited to share their research in a compelling presentation that is three minutes or less.

Graduate students spend years doing the kind of transformative research that propels their graduate degrees. And while there are often opportunities to communicate and network with faculty, staff and colleagues within degree programs, those opportunities tend to stay within the walls of the laboratories and classrooms initiating them. In sponsoring this event, the Graduate Alumni Network, in partnership with Graduate Studies, wanted to bring these conversations and interactions out into the open – literally. They wanted to create a more public sphere that would carry those interactions across disciplinary and functional lines that can too often divide researchers and their innovative work.

Building a network of people and ideas

The Graduate Alumni Network was established in 2022 with the goal of creating a vibrant community for graduate alumni and postdoctoral scholars of UC Davis. This is an open network for social and professional networking, mentorship and professional development support for  graduate education alumni. It is also intended as a resource for current students, recent graduates and scholars as they start  their academic and professional journeys. 

As President and Founder of the Graduate Alumni Network, Sundeep Dugar, Ph.D. ’84, helped steward this charge over the last couple of years. Sundeep is an international scientific and business expert who has decades of experience in founding and growing several drug discovery and development companies. He earned his Ph.D. in chemistry. 

“GAN is a place specifically created for graduate alumni and scholars of UC Davis where they can assemble and re-connect with long-lost peers, make new connections with other alumni, learn and teach, pay forward and get support, explore new ideas and possibilities, plan adventures and even restart a new career,” said Dugar. “It is meant to be an open place where we keep the discourse professional, cordial and supportive, and where originality is encouraged. The graduate education community is unique, and this network aims to reflect that.”

While the Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Exhibition is not GAN’s only initiative, it is its first major initiative. What better way for the UC Davis graduate education community to come together, learn from each other and forge connections that can benefit everyone involved – and even benefit people and communities far beyond this campus?

While addressing the crowd at the dinner portion of the exhibition, Dugar spoke directly to this value. 

“I’m a chemist,” he said. “That’s my expertise. But today I learned about grapevine roots and drought tolerance, and I learned about fusion energy. I didn’t really know anything about these research areas until today. The Graduate Alumni Network created the event that made this knowledge possible. That’s the power of a network like this.”

Join the Graduate Alumni Network

Be part of a vibrant community that fosters connections, collaboration and innovation among the UC Davis graduate education community

College of Biological Sciences

Meet the 2023-24 cohort of uc davis prep scholars.

Diverse postbaccalaureate scholars will move into graduate programs across the United States

• by Evan White
• April 23, 2024

The UC Davis Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP@UC Davis) promotes diversity in biomedical sciences, preparing scholars for success in Ph.D. programs. 

Since its inception in 2017, PREP@UCD has supported students who seek to increase their maturity as scientists and researchers and reflects the UC Davis commitment to fostering a vibrant learning community. The program , which is funded by the US National Institutes of Health, with additional support from the College of Biological Sciences, relies on collaboration among faculty, postdocs, and graduate students who mentor scholars in host laboratories, which provides access to cutting-edge research tools and experiences. In addition, other faculty and graduate students from across the life sciences at UC Davis share their experiences with scholars in professional development panels.

“PREP empowers aspiring scientists with the tools and mentorship they need to thrive,” said Joanna Chiu, a professor of entomology and nematology, and the program’s director. “By fostering diversity and providing a supportive community, PREP catalyzes positive transformations in both individuals and the scientific landscape.”

Scholars spend 75% of their time on research in mentor labs, and 25% on professional development, including training in science communication. Tailored seminars and workshops refine skills important for a scientific career and foster a strong scientific identity in scholars.

A legacy of impact and excellence

This year, PREP@UCD bids farewell to its longtime coordinator Carole Hom, who is retiring after 38 years at UC Davis. During her tenure, Hom nurtured generations of scholars by facilitating their transition into graduate research. Her work focused on the recruitment and retention of students from historically marginalized groups, and has helped bridge the gap between undergraduate institutions and UC Davis through dynamic research training programs and enriching summer experiences. 

Said Dan Starr, a professor of molecular and cellular biology, and the co-director of PREP@UCD, “Carole’s mentorship has left an indelible mark on the program's legacy and throughout the environmental and life sciences at UC Davis. She will be missed, but we’re all thrilled to see her close out such a successful tenure on campus.”

“Carole’s retirement marks the end of an era,” said Mark Winey, dean of the College of Biological Sciences. “She can enjoy her retirement knowing that she has played a significant role in shaping the future of biomedical research, one scholar at a time.”

Meet this year’s PREP Scholars

Dianah Anderson

PI:  Gerardo Mackenzie , Department of Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Dianah Anderson graduated in 2023 with a B.S. in biology from Savannah State University and joined  PREP@UC Davis to enhance her preparedness for graduate school. Throughout the program, Anderson expressed a broad interest in studying nutrition while developing the necessary tools and skills to ensure success in both graduate studies and her future professional endeavors. In her eventual career, Anderson hopes to bring a diverse perspective rooted in her unique background and experiences as an African American woman. She will begin a Ph.D. in integrated life sciences at the University of Georgia in the fall with funding from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Andrew Barber

PI: Sean Collins, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics

Andrew Barber graduated from North Carolina Central University in 2023 with a B.S. in biomedical science. During his undergraduate education, he conducted research through the National Science Foundation Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program and as a McNair scholar, focusing on the toxicological effects of air pollutants and the neurological effects of alcohol dependency. Pursuing postbaccalaureate education in  PREP@UC Davis , Barber aimed to refine his scientific focus and enhance his research skills. As a PREP scholar, he delved into the molecular mechanisms of the immune system and solidified his aspiration to join a neuroimmunology graduate program. Barber aspires to address disparities in STEM representation and foster inclusivity within the scientific community. He will begin a Ph.D. in immunology at Johns Hopkins University in the fall, with support from the Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative of Johns Hopkins University and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Elliana Damonzonio

PI: Wolf Dietrich-Heyer, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics

Elliana Damonzonio is a current biochemistry and molecular biology major at UC Davis. She joined PREP@UC Davis in the fall of 2023 as an undergraduate affiliate, which is an opportunity available to exceptional undergraduate students who excel in research and seek a biomedical Ph.D. As an affiliate of the program, Damonzonio   has gained valuable experience in advance of graduation. Damonzonio conducts research on the DNA binding properties of BRCA2, which is responsible for the suppression of tumors in humans. After graduating from UC Davis in spring, Damonzonio will join the cancer biology track of the UC Irvine Cell and Molecular program.

Daniela Hernandez 

PI: Anna La Torre, Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine

Daniela Hernandez graduated from California State University Fullerton with a B.A in psychology and a minor in cellular molecular biology. Joining  PREP@UC Davis provided both a supportive environment and alignment with her academic aspirations. Throughout her time in the program, Hernandez honed her scientific writing skills and boosted her confidence in communicating her research effectively. Driven by her experiences as a first-generation student from a historically marginalized community, she aspires to break down barriers and make science more accessible and relatable through outreach efforts. In the fall, she will begin a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences at the University of Michigan with funding from the Rackham Merit Fellowship and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

PI:  Theanne Griffith , Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, School of Medicine

Emari Mann earned a B.S. in biochemistry from Claflin University and joined  PREP@UC Davis to pursue her passion for research. Throughout her time in the program, Mann explored areas of research within the biological sciences while maintaining interest in chemistry. For her,  PREP@UC Davis has been instrumental in clarifying her long-term academic and career goals. Looking ahead, Mann aspires to make meaningful contributions to the academic and professional communities she is a part of. She will begin a Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Delaware in the fall with funding from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Cassandra Morris

PI: Dan Starr and Gant Luxton, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology

Cassandra Morris completed a B.S. in neuroscience in May 2019 at the University of Minnesota. In her postbaccalaureate career at UC Davis, she aimed to enhance her scientific communication skills and focus her research interests on exploring the intricacies of dystonia. Envisioning  PREP@UC Davis as a crucial stepping stone towards her long-term academic and career aspirations, Morris appreciated its role in honing her communication skills and fostering collaboration with peers, mentors and researchers across campus. Morris plans to study psychiatric disorders, and aspires to become a professor so that she can help mentor future scholars. She will begin a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology at the University of Wisconsin in fall 2024.

Christian Torres Lopez

PI:  Ben Montpetit , Department of Viticulture and Enology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Christian Torres Lopez earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Northeastern Illinois University. Inspired by UC Davis's supportive environment, Torres pursued postbaccalaureate research experiences to further his academic pursuits. Recognizing the significance of earning a Ph.D. in the fulfillment of his professional ambitions, Lopez viewed  PREP@UC Davis as instrumental in providing graduate-level research experience as well as personal and professional preparation. As a first-generation college graduate, a member of the Latino community, and a member of the LGBT community, Torres brings a unique perspective to the research environment that is shaped by his experiences and cultural background. Torres will continue research as a PREP scholar in 2024-2025.

Cameron Vasquez

PI: John Albeck, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology

Cameron Vasquez earned a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from UC Davis, where he focused his research as an ADNR and CAMP scholar on the regulation of animal circadian rhythms. He was drawn to  PREP@UC Davis by a desire to delve deeper into his research interests surrounded by a supportive community, and sought to hone his skills for a successful transition to graduate study. As a PREP scholar, Vasquez conducted research on cellular responses to environmental stimuli using state-of-the-art imaging technologies. In addition to advancing our understanding of cellular biology processes implicated in health and disease, he also aims to foster diversity in STEM through outreach and mentorship. In the fall, he will begin a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences at the University of Michigan, with funding from the Rackham Merit Fellowship.

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UC Davis Leadership

Checking in with chancellor may: our transfer student success.

• by Gary S. May
• April 19, 2024

To the UC Davis Community:

Today, thousands of future Aggies will open their email to the exciting news they have been accepted as transfers at UC Davis. They join our vibrant community of almost 8,000 transfer students and will continue their path toward an undergraduate degree in a community eager to welcome them.

Our transfer students come from every walk of life and experience. Some are first-generation students, some are returning to college after serving in the military or raising families, and some are transitioning from one career to the next.

While every transfer has a unique story, they are joined in their desire to get a world-class education at UC Davis.

Brenda Chavarin Lizama is a thriving first-generation student who transferred to UC Davis. A political science major, she’s a peer advisor for other transfer students, excited about a summer internship in Thailand and a year from graduation. Unsure about finances and academic focus, she said she didn’t see herself here right after high school. Encouragement from her community college professors and a UC Davis transfer counselor helped her realize that she is as right for UC Davis as it is for her.

UC Davis has an incredible track record of supporting transfer students, with some of the highest graduation rates in the state. In fact, 88% of transfer students graduate within four years , and in winter 2024, our two-year graduation rate jumped to an all-time high of 65%.

ASUCD Transfer Student Representative Kaito Clarke welcomed the “clean slate” Ohlone College offered to jumpstart his pursuit of a political science degree. The first-generation college student chose UC Davis because it is an inclusive environment that recognizes and celebrates every student's journey to campus.

Pathways for success

For many students, the story begins at a California community college. The University of California’s Transfer Admission Guarantee promises that students who fulfill the academic requirements in almost every major will be admitted to UC Davis or five other institutions.

At UC Davis, we’re committed to welcoming transfers. UC Davis has one of the highest transfer admit rate in the UC system, reaching 70% for California community college students in fall 2023.

Transfer admissions are essential to expanding opportunities for California students. The vast majority of our transfers come from one of the state’s community colleges, and 89% of our transfer admissions are from California.

Many students are from historically underrepresented groups, and 44% of transfer admissions are the first generation in their families to attend college.

We’ve expanded our partnership relationship to 42 community colleges in California through the Transfer Opportunity Program . It connects students with a cohort group across the state, explains the admission process and matches students with Student Outreach Ambassadors at UC Davis.

Members of our Aggie community

Transitioning from community colleges can often feel intimidating. However, our programs help transfers immediately establish connections. Events like Discover UC Davis, Aggie Day and Picnic Day draw students to campus to learn more about our community and its unique spirit. Aggie Orientation sets the stage for transfer students to connect to the community and jump into campus and academic life.

Once students enroll, the Transfer and Reentry Center, or TRC, provides vital social and emotional support. Transfer Coordinator Dasha Sidenko said relationships are at the heart of the TRC, connecting students with networks of peer advisors, staff advisors and fellow students.

Director of Transfer and Veterans Services Hope Medina said the TRC helps students navigate the challenges of larger campus life. When students have questions about anything from housing to financial aid, the center’s open-door policy means staff can often walk them right to the office they need to visit to find support.

Students can also get assistance from the Academic Assistance and Tutoring Centers, or AATC, which support thousands of undergraduates each year with subject-specific tutoring, classes, workshops and writing support services. Appointment and drop-in tutoring support is available in biology, chemistry, economics, math, physics and statistics.

Get engaged

Speaking of ways to be part of our community, I hope all undergraduate students — including transfers — will vote in next week’s ASUCD elections . It’s a vital way to have a say in the way the university’s student government is run, including who will fill leadership roles like president, six senate seats, transfer student representative and more. The ballot also contains a proposal to reinstate a student fee to fund a program that supports campus sustainability projects. Voting will take place online Monday (April 22) through April 26.

Academic support

UC Davis supports the academic transition as well.

The College of Biological Sciences is one example of our colleges offering programs that connect transfer students to their academic cohort and research opportunities. Helen Schurke Frasier, assistant dean for student success initiatives, described their approach as one focused on creating multiple mentorship opportunities to build a strong foundation for student success.

Their goal is to have every transfer student participate in significant experiential learning in and beyond the classroom during their time at UC Davis. As Professor J. David Furlow said, transfer students choose UC Davis because of our research mission to “not only teach but discover.”

All freshman and transfer students attend a BioLaunch Seminar to connect them with academic life and immediately engage in research projects. The Mentor Collective , one of the largest in the country, connects students with peers to help them find study spaces, learn how to engage with professors and handle exams.  And Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience, or CURE , puts students in labs as scientific investigators conducting practical research to uncover the unknown. The college has launched an initiative to dramatically expand CURE offerings with the goal that every transfer student will have a seat in this transformative, research-intensive course.

For students in biology, engineering , or medicine , Avenues B, E and M offer pathways all the way from community college to careers.

Across our colleges, transfer students are linked to opportunities that will help them meet their career aspirations.

Patty Garcia , a transfer student who will graduate this spring with an English degree, credits UC Davis support for parents, from diapers to daycare, as an indispensable part of her success. She said her experience in the Washington Program as a Congressional intern for Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa) helped her develop networking skills she’ll need to make a difference in her community. Garcia, a first-generation student with two children, hopes to return to UC Davis to study law.

Graduation and beyond 

Garcia’s story is the story of so many of our transfer students. Once students are admitted to UC Davis, they succeed here.

Dustin Lower , a reentry student, came to UC Davis after first entering college 20 years ago. After a career and time caring for his family, Lower hit the ground running at UC Davis, where he will continue his studies toward his Ph.D. after graduating with a degree in plant biology this spring. Lower, who recently won a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for his mycology work, says that UC Davis’ support for research and invested faculty made all the difference.

He said there was a direct throughline from the Avenue B program to winning the fellowship, a path that led to his first hands-on lab experience running his own study to the Dean’s Circle Summer Undergraduate Research Program .

Our transfer students embody my goal that every student leaves UC Davis with a job offer or graduate school placement in hand, inspiring others to realize they can do the same. Clarke, who will graduate this June, said he could only graduate from UC Davis because of his community college transfer experience, and he’s been touched to see that his brother — who wasn’t thinking about college before — is now talking about attending UC Davis.

Congratulations to our successful transfer applicants on this special day in your academic career. We couldn’t be happier welcoming you as scholars, leaders and Aggies!

Gary S. May Chancellor

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Checking In With Chancellor May: Our Transfer Student Success

• by Chancellor Gary S. May
• April 19, 2024

To the UC Davis Community:

Today, thousands of future Aggies will open their email to the exciting news they have been accepted as transfers at UC Davis. They join our vibrant community of almost 8,000 transfer students and will continue their path toward an undergraduate degree in a community eager to welcome them.

Our transfer students come from every walk of life and experience. Some are first-generation students, some are returning to college after serving in the military or raising families, and some are transitioning from one career to the next.

While every transfer has a unique story, they are joined in their desire to get a world-class education at UC Davis.

Brenda Chavarin Lizama is a thriving first-generation student who transferred to UC Davis. A political science major, she’s a peer advisor for other transfer students, excited about a summer internship in Thailand and a year from graduation. Unsure about finances and academic focus, she said she didn’t see herself here right after high school. Encouragement from her community college professors and a UC Davis transfer counselor helped her realize that she is as right for UC Davis as it is for her.

UC Davis has an incredible track record of supporting transfer students, with some of the highest graduation rates in the state. In fact, 88% of transfer students graduate within four years , and in winter 2024, our two-year graduation rate jumped to an all-time high of 65%.

ASUCD Transfer Student Representative Kaito Clarke welcomed the “clean slate” Ohlone College offered to jumpstart his pursuit of a political science degree. The first-generation college student chose UC Davis because it is an inclusive environment that recognizes and celebrates every student's journey to campus.

Pathways for success

For many students, the story begins at a California community college. The University of California’s Transfer Admission Guarantee promises that students who fulfill the academic requirements in almost every major will be admitted to UC Davis or five other institutions.

At UC Davis, we’re committed to welcoming transfers. UC Davis has one of the highest transfer admit rate in the UC system, reaching 70% for California community college students in fall 2023.

Transfer admissions are essential to expanding opportunities for California students. The vast majority of our transfers come from one of the state’s community colleges, and 89% of our transfer admissions are from California.

Many students are from historically underrepresented groups, and 44% of transfer admissions are the first generation in their families to attend college.

We’ve expanded our partnership relationship to 42 community colleges in California through the Transfer Opportunity Program . It connects students with a cohort group across the state, explains the admission process and matches students with Student Outreach Ambassadors at UC Davis.

Members of our Aggie community

Transitioning from community colleges can often feel intimidating. However, our programs help transfers immediately establish connections. Events like Discover UC Davis, Aggie Day and Picnic Day draw students to campus to learn more about our community and its unique spirit. Aggie Orientation sets the stage for transfer students to connect to the community and jump into campus and academic life.

Once students enroll, the Transfer and Reentry Center, or TRC, provides vital social and emotional support. Transfer Coordinator Dasha Sidenko said relationships are at the heart of the TRC, connecting students with networks of peer advisors, staff advisors and fellow students.

Director of Transfer and Veterans Services Hope Medina said the TRC helps students navigate the challenges of larger campus life. When students have questions about anything from housing to financial aid, the center’s open-door policy means staff can often walk them right to the office they need to visit to find support.

Students can also get assistance from the Academic Assistance and Tutoring Centers, or AATC, which support thousands of undergraduates each year with subject-specific tutoring, classes, workshops and writing support services. Appointment and drop-in tutoring support is available in biology, chemistry, economics, math, physics and statistics.

Get engaged

Speaking of ways to be part of our community, I hope all undergraduate students — including transfers — will vote in next week’s ASUCD elections . It’s a vital way to have a say in the way the university’s student government is run, including who will fill leadership roles like president, six senate seats, transfer student representative and more. The ballot also contains a proposal to reinstate a student fee to fund a program that supports campus sustainability projects. Voting will take place online Monday (April 22) through April 26.

Academic support

UC Davis supports the academic transition as well.

The College of Biological Sciences is one example of our colleges offering programs that connect transfer students to their academic cohort and research opportunities. Helen Schurke Frasier, assistant dean for student success initiatives, described their approach as one focused on creating multiple mentorship opportunities to build a strong foundation for student success.

Their goal is to have every transfer student participate in significant experiential learning in and beyond the classroom during their time at UC Davis. As Professor J. David Furlow said, transfer students choose UC Davis because of our research mission to “not only teach but discover.”

All freshman and transfer students attend a BioLaunch Seminar to connect them with academic life and immediately engage in research projects. The Mentor Collective , one of the largest in the country, connects students with peers to help them find study spaces, learn how to engage with professors and handle exams.  And Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience, or CURE , puts students in labs as scientific investigators conducting practical research to uncover the unknown. The college has launched an initiative to dramatically expand CURE offerings with the goal that every transfer student will have a seat in this transformative, research-intensive course.

For students in biology, engineering , or medicine , Avenues B, E and M offer pathways all the way from community college to careers.

Across our colleges, transfer students are linked to opportunities that will help them meet their career aspirations.

Patty Garcia , a transfer student who will graduate this spring with an English degree, credits UC Davis support for parents, from diapers to daycare, as an indispensable part of her success. She said her experience in the Washington Program as a Congressional intern for Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa) helped her develop networking skills she’ll need to make a difference in her community. Garcia, a first-generation student with two children, hopes to return to UC Davis to study law.

Graduation and beyond 

Garcia’s story is the story of so many of our transfer students. Once students are admitted to UC Davis, they succeed here.

Dustin Lower , a reentry student, came to UC Davis after first entering college 20 years ago. After a career and time caring for his family, Lower hit the ground running at UC Davis, where he will continue his studies toward his Ph.D. after graduating with a degree in plant biology this spring. Lower, who recently won a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for his mycology work, says that UC Davis’ support for research and invested faculty made all the difference.

He said there was a direct throughline from the Avenue B program to winning the fellowship, a path that led to his first hands-on lab experience running his own study to the Dean’s Circle Summer Undergraduate Research Program .

Our transfer students embody my goal that every student leaves UC Davis with a job offer or graduate school placement in hand, inspiring others to realize they can do the same. Clarke, who will graduate this June, said he could only graduate from UC Davis because of his community college transfer experience, and he’s been touched to see that his brother — who wasn’t thinking about college before — is now talking about attending UC Davis.

Congratulations to our successful transfer applicants on this special day in your academic career. We couldn’t be happier welcoming you as scholars, leaders and Aggies!

Gary S. May Chancellor

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Two Graduate Students Selected for U.S. Department of Energy Research Program

• by Jessica Heath
• April 23, 2024

Abigail Hering and Hudson Shih, Ph.D. students in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Davis, have been selected for this year's Office of Science Graduate Student Research, or SCGSR, program from the U.S. Department of Energy, or DOE. 

The SCGSR program provides opportunities for students to conduct part of their graduate thesis research at a DOE laboratory or facility in collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist. Hering and Shih are two of the 86 awardees from 57 different universities who will conduct their research at national laboratories. 

Abigail Hering

Hering, a third-year Ph.D. student, will be stationed at LBNL's Molecular Foundry, where she will work with Carolin Sutter-Fella, an LBNL staff scientist and expert in inorganic nanostructures, in her Materials for Energy Conversion lab to fabricate halide perovskite thin films using a fully automated robotic fabrication system called the SpinBot. 

In her research in the Leite Lab , led by Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Marina Leite , Hering has focused on characterizing the optical properties of halide perovskites, which are promising materials for a renewable, reliable and low-cost alternative for solar cells . However, halide perovskites can degrade faster than silicon solar cells when exposed to environmental stressors like humidity, temperature, oxygen and light. 

Using the SpinBot system, Hering will be able to fabricate more perovskite thin film samples with a higher degree of control and precision than she can at UC Davis. She will also be able to test the sample qualities immediately after creating them, creating large datasets that can then be analyzed using machine-learning models to predict and classify the degradations that occur. 

"I am very excited about the opportunity to work in Dr. Sutter-Fella's lab and to be part of the collaborative and innovative environment of a national lab," said Hering. "The unique SpinBot system will allow me to advance my research significantly to understand the long-term stability of these materials, which is essential to their implementation as commercial solar cells." 

Hudson Shih

Shih will conduct his residency at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, or LBNL, National Center for Electron Microscopy, or NCEM, where he will use high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, or TEM, to observe phase transitions in strontium cobaltite. 

Using advanced TEM techniques such as in-situ TEM and 4D-STEM, Shih aims to deepen the understanding of how oxygen diffusion facilitates the transition between transition phases, which could lead to informing the design of strontium cobaltite oxide-based memristors, themselves promising candidates for dense memory systems in neuromorphic computing.  

Shih, who is in his fourth year pursuing his Ph.D. under the advisement of materials science and engineering professors Yayoi Takamura and Seung Sae Hong , looks forward to working with the researchers at NCEM, who have the knowledge and expertise with these specialized techniques. 

"I am excited to work with experts like Rohan Dhall and Colin Ophus at NCEM who are among the best microscopists in the world," Shih said. "NCEM is known for its pioneering role in electron microscopy, particularly in deploying cutting-edge techniques like 4D-STEM."

Read the DOE announcement

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Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program at UC Davis

PREP cohort in the news!

• by Carole L Hom
• April 23, 2024

The College of Biological Sciences wrote a iovely profile of the 2023-2024 PREP@UCD cohort ! Check it out when you have a chance!

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Cultivating a win at uc davis food & ag business challenge.

How we built a business plan for HM.CLAUSE in under 12 hours

• April 20, 2024

UC Davis Graduate School of Management recently hosted its Food & Ag Business Challenge, which brought together teams from multiple universities to make recommendations on a case study for HM.CLAUSE , a global seed company.

My team’s journey through the competition was like cultivating a successful crop from seed to harvest.

The Business Challenge

Late on a Friday afternoon, we were thrust into the heart of HM.CLAUSE’s real-world business challenge: reimagining its Life Sciences Innovation Center (LSIC) to become a more valuable asset to its business.

 Armed with a 30-page dossier detailing HM.CLAUSE's business and competition in the global seed market, we were eager to dive into a night of brainstorming and strategizing…but first, we had to have dinner!

At dinner with fellow student teams from UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and UC Riverside, faculty, and competition judges, we learned more about HM.CLAUSE during a keynote speech from Vincent Asiago , director of R&D Portfolio and Innovation. We didn’t know it until later in the night, but a simple question about the Life Science Innovation Center's financial return during Vincent’s keynote Q&A session gave us the hook we needed to frame the problem.

Planting the Seeds: Strength in Diversity

One of my team’s greatest strengths was the diversity of our backgrounds, and we have Lecturer Julie Morris ’ Food & Ag Industry Immersion experience to thank for bringing us together. The Immersion courses have been some of my favorites so far and were instrumental in preparing us for the competition.

My classmate Min Zhu and I took both the Food & Ag Pre-Immersion Field Study and Immersion courses together in the fall and winter, and we realized our different backgrounds would make a great team. Min has a background in food science and is focusing her Full-Time MBA program studies on finance. I have a background in consumer insights and food trends and am focusing my Online MBA studies on product management and marketing.

Our third teammate was Marie Klein , a UC Davis Ph.D. candidate in the Horticulture and Agronomy Graduate Group of the Department of Plant Sciences. Min had met Marie at the ASTA seed conference in Monterey. Marie rounded out our team with knowledge of both science and the world of plant breeding.

Nurturing Growth: From Ideation to Presentation

After dinner, we got to work on our case. Proposals were due by 7:30 a.m. the next morning, so we had to make the most of our time—less than 12 hours if we wanted to sleep!

We spent the first part of the night brainstorming. What was the problem? What aspects of this center were important to maintain? What could we reinvent from the ground up? What structure of the center would create the most value for HM.CLAUSE?

This brainstorming session gave us the space to think creatively and planted the seeds (pun intended) for our final idea. This is where Vincent’s comment came in--it was the perfect anecdote to set up the business problem!

The clock kept ticking so we divided and conquered.

We had a general structure of how we wanted to present: what was the problem, what is our solution, and what were the components of the solution.

I built out our introduction and conclusion. Marie detailed our plan for an academic partnership with HM.CLAUSE and UC Davis. Min crunched numbers and laid out our venture capital strategy. Slowly but surely, our presentation came together.

Beyond applying our education to a business problem, the competition was a challenge of collaboration, time management, and mindset.

 These three things helped us bring our plan from ideation to presentation:

1.      Embrace Different Perspectives: Our diverse backgrounds were our greatest strength. Marie, Min, and I each brought a different perspective to the table, which helped us be more creative, and lean on each other to drill down into areas of expertise.

2.      Trust Your Gut: Building a new business plan is an ambiguous challenge. Instead of second-guessing if what we came up with was what the judges were looking for, we focused on our unique perspective and creative solutions. This helped us be confident in our proposal.

3.       Enjoy the Ride: Working for hours straight, we needed to find a way to stay motivated. Embracing the competition as an exciting opportunity to contribute to meaningful change in the food industry fueled our determination throughout the night. It helped us enjoy the moment and even have fun with it!

Presenting the Fruits of our Labor to Industry Leaders

Saturday morning was a blend of anticipation and excitement as it was time to present to the judges. For the first round, we shared our plan with judges from E. & J. Gallo Winery , venture fund The March Group , Mezzetta , and HM.CLAUSE. For the second and final round, we, along with the other two finalist teams, presented in front of executives from HM.CLAUSE.

Making it to the final round and winning first place was a happy surprise. 

It was rewarding to receive the judges' recognition for our team's unity and our ability to apply our education to real-world situations. That’s why we’re here in the first place!

Reflections on the Experience

The UC Davis Food & Ag Business Challenge is one of the most engaging and rewarding experiences of my MBA journey so far. My MBA has given me some incredible seeds, including my business education and a dream team. The competition created an opportunity to nurture them and see the fruits of our labor.

It was a wonderful opportunity to draw on learnings from the Food & Agriculture Industry Immersion. I met and collaborated with smart, interesting students, talked with food industry executives, and took a deep dive into an engaging business problem! I want to thank my teammates, UC Davis, HM.CLAUSE and all the judges for making this experience happen!

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