Position Title
Dean
Professor
- Molecular and Cellular Biology
Frédéric Chédin became dean of the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences on September 1, 2026. A professor of molecular and cellular biology and longtime member of the UC Davis community, Chédin is a renowned genome biologist, experienced academic leader and dedicated mentor committed to advancing excellence in biological research and education.
Chédin joined the UC Davis faculty in 2004 and served as chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology from 2022 to 2026. He previously chaired the Integrative Genetics and Genomics Graduate Group and has led the NIH-funded enhanced Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology T32 Training Program, which brings together faculty from across UC Davis to train the next generation of biomedical scientists.
Chédin’s research focuses on understanding the mechanisms leading to genome instability in human cells. His laboratory has helped establish the prevalence of R-loops, unusual nucleic acid structures that form when RNA interacts with DNA during gene transcription across mammalian genomes. Chédin investigates their roles in gene regulation, genome stability and human disease. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and holds master’s degrees in agronomy and microbiology and a doctoral degree in molecular biology from the University of Paris XI in France.
Center Affiliations
- 1991 M.S. in DNA Repair and Recombination, University of Paris, France
- 1995 Ph.D. in DNA Recombination in Bacteria, University of Paris, France