Will A Trip to Mars Lead to Pre-Mature Infertility?

Sending astronauts on deep space missions is a future goal of both NASA and the private sector.  Unfortunately, little is known about the ramifications of long-term exposer to cosmic radiation on most physiological functions, including reproduction. Professor Ulrike...

Prestigious Award and Membership Given to Distinguished Neuroscientist

Distinguished Professor Bruce L. McNaughton (Neurobiology and Behavior) was awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) award and named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.  An appointment to the Royal Society of Canada is the highest honor a scholar can achieve...

Distinguished Faculty Member Recognized During World Mosquito Day

Distinguished Professor Anthony A. James (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics) was recognized by The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) on this year’s World Mosquito Day.  World Mosquito Day was first established August 20th,...

Commentary: Why Spraying Pesticides for Mosquito Control is a Bad Idea

Professor Bruce Blumberg (Developmental and Cell Biology) has recently commented on a proposal for mosquito control from the Orange County Vector Control District (OCVCD), featured in the OC Weekly.  The OCVCD’s plan involves spraying Duet, a synthetic pesticide,...

Ambry Genetics Founder Joins the Dean’s Leadership Council

Recently, the president and founder of Ambry Genetics, Charles “Charlie” L. Dunlop, joined the DLC in order to help build new opportunities for School of Biological Sciences students and faculty.  “We are proud to have Charlie join the DLC,” says Dean LaFerla, “He...

Student Spotlight – Daniel Winkler

Daniel Winkler is a Ph.D. student in the lab of Professor Travis E. Huxman, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.  Daniel was recently awarded the Exploration Fund grant and designated a Mamont Scholar by the Explorers Club for his proposed project to study climate change...

New Insights into Water Polo Head Injuries and Concussions

Director of the Exercise Medicine and Sport Sciences Initiative, Professor James W. Hicks, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, along with Steven L. Small, Chair of Neurology and Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior, worked with their colleagues to survey over 44,000...

Uncovering the Genetic Code of a Carnivorous Plant

Professor Rachel W. Martin, Chemistry and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and her collaborator Professor Carter T. Butts, Sociology and Statistics, have sequenced the genome of the carnivorous plant, Drosera capensis, which is related to the Venus flytrap, and is...

Commentary: A New Discovery in Lichen Biology

Professor Kathleen K. Treseder, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, is an expert in the biology of fungi and studies how the species affects the broader ecosystem.  Professor Treseder has recently commented on a new study published in the journal “Science” that sheds...

Faculty Spotlight: Justin Shaffer

Justin F. Shaffer, Ph.D., is an Assistant Teaching Professor in Developmental and Cell Biology and the recent awardee of the 2016 Golden Apple Award for outstanding teaching. “Everything that I do as a teacher comes down to the fact that I want my students (and...