News in Genetics

  • Geneticist appointed as Hughes investigator

    Neil Hunter, a professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at the University of California, Davis, College of Biological Sciences, has been named as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, an honor reserved for scientists who exhibit exceptionally original thinking. Hunter studies the most fundamental processes of how genes are shuffled and passed to the next generation.

    The HHMI will pay Hunter's salary and research laboratory expenses, including salaries for research staff, for five years. He will then have an opportunity to apply for renewal of the grant. Read more...




  • Prestigious National Position Awarded to UC Davis Geneticist

    Neil Hunter, associate professor of microbiology and of molecular and cellular biology, was selected from among 2,000 scientists who applied for the 50 positions. This new HHMI initiative is designed to provide the country’s most promising young researchers “the freedom to explore [their] best ideas without worrying about where to find the money to fund those experiments,” according to a press release from the institute.

    With his appointment, Hunter becomes the first UC Davis faculty member to join the prestigious ranks of HHMI faculty. Read more...


  • GGG Winter 2009 Seminar Schedules

  • (September 2008) - The Annual Report of the Genetics Graduate Group (MS Word) & a Program Review Executive Summary for the Genetics Graduate Group (MS Word).

  • Student & Alumni Accomplishments in the UC Davis Genetics Graduate Group

    (June 2008) - Download a list of impressive honors, awards, and publications from genetics graduate group students and alumni over the past four years (PDF file).

  • GGG faculty member, Assistant Professor Paul S. Knoepfler, receives prestigious "New Faculty Award"

    Paul S. Knoepfler(August 2008) The California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded a grant of more than $2 million over the next five years to UC Davis Health System researcher Paul S. Knoepfler, who is exploring ways to ensure that certain types of stem cells can be safely used in medical treatments.

    Knoepfler, an assistant professor of cell biology and human anatomy, will receive one of the institute's New Faculty awards, which support promising M.D. and Ph.D. scientists in the early stages of their careers as a way to foster the next generation of California stem cell scientists. His research proposal, entitled "Molecular Mechanisms Governing hESC and iPS Cell Self-renewal and Pluripotency," was approved by CIRM's 29-member governing board during a meeting today on the Stanford University campus.

    Knoepfler also holds a position at the Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine at Shriner's Hospital for Children Northern California. He earned his doctorate in molecular pathology and specializes in stem cell and cancer-related research. Much of his work has focused on deciphering how stem cells are programmed and how that programming can go awry, thereby causing birth defects or cancer.

  • UC Davis Graduate Student Wins National Council of Graduate Schools "Distinguished Dissertation Award"

    Image: Cristobal Uauy

    (April 2008) - UC Davis Graduate Student, Cristobal Uauy, was awarded the national “Distinguished Dissertation Award” by the Council of Graduate Schools and University Microfilms International. Cristobal’s dissertation, “Positional Cloning of Gpc-B1, a Wheat Quantitative Trait Loci Affecting Senescence and with Pleiotropic Effects on Grain Protein, Zinc, and Iron Concentration,” was the sole winner under the Biological and Life Sciences field category.

    The distinguished award was presented to Cristobal at the Council of Graduate Schools’ annual meeting, held on December 6, 2008 in Seattle, Washington.

    Cristobal was also the 2007 Allen G. Marr Prize winner— awarded through the Office of Graduate Studies for dissertation excellence and presented to Cristobal at the June 13, 2007 Graduate Studies commencement ceremony.



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