Department of Plant Sciences Assistant Professor Barbara Blanco-Ulate represented her department for the second consecutive year in the annual Undergraduate Research Week, which lasted from October 12 to October 16. Coordinated by the Undergraduate Research Center (URC), the week-long celebration aims to develop interest in research opportunities for UC Davis students by inviting faculty members to celebrate the work of their undergraduates. Within Plant Sciences, the interest was strong: all 14 students nominated to present their research accepted the honor.

The Department of Plant Sciences welcomes J. Grey Monroe to UC Davis as an assistant professor of climate adaptation with an emphasis on plant genomics.

The University of California flag will be flown at half-staff at the Memorial Union, Mrak Hall and the UC Davis Airport Oct. 13-15 in honor of Dena Gilday, beloved administrative staff with the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences.

Gilday, who managed travel reimbursements and gift and cash collections for the department, passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 8. The plant sciences community expressed an outpouring of love and loss for their friend and colleague.