Undergraduate Stories

The Art-Science Loop: Creating Worlds with Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity Undergraduate Megan Ma

Since enrolling at UC Davis nearly four years ago, undergraduate Megan Ma has lent her artistic talent to the Aggie community. She’s taught scientific illustration, provided artwork for the BIS 2C lab manual and currently works as a graphic designer for the Center for Leadership Learning, all the while taking classes and rotating through research labs.

Bios Magazine: Spark the Travel Bug

For UC Davis College of Biological Sciences student Kiana Nava, the Dean's Circle Study Abroad Scholarship allowed her to spend the summer studying biology in Ireland as part of the "Bio Sci 2B in Dublin" program.

VIDEO: Summers at the Bodega Marine Laboratory with UC Davis Marine and Coastal Sciences Major Michael Brito

Every summer, the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory (BML) offers classes to undergraduate students interested in coastal and marine sciences. After hearing about the summer sessions from his friends, Michael Brito, a fourth-year majoring in marine and coastal sciences, knew he had to check out this life-changing experience.

Bios Magazine: Strengthening the Science Muscles

Biological sciences senior Diana Quintero likes to use the gym as an analogy for the Biology Undergraduate Scholars Program (BUSP). Initially, new fitness enthusiasts might feel like they don’t measure up to their peers. But with training and persistence, they can acclimate to the rigors of hard work.

Climbing the Ladder of DNA with Francesca Miller Undergraduate Research Award Winner Madeline Bright

Our DNA is built of base pairs, a spiral ladder of adenines, cytosines, guanines and thymines. In this molecular dance, adenine pairs with thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine. Undergraduate researcher Madeline Bright is trying to figure out just how damage to our DNA at the molecular level leads to disease-causing mutations.