2022  Physical and Biological Sciences

Lenses and Mirrors-Shadow the Scientists receives Heising-Simons Foundation grant

Kickstarted by UC Santa Cruz Astronomy and Astrophysics Professor Raja GuhaThakurta, Lenses and Mirrors–Shadow the Scientists brings cutting-edge scientific research to anybody’s computer screen.

Astrophysicist Bruce Macintosh appointed director of UC Observatories

UC President Michael Drake has appointed Bruce Macintosh director of UC Observatories, an astronomical research unit headquartered at UC Santa Cruz and serving nine UC campuses.

UCSC graduate student wins HHMI Gilliam Fellowship for Advanced Study

Gilliam Fellowships support exceptional graduate students and their advisers who are committed to increasing diversity among scientific leaders.

Biochemist Laura Sanchez wins ACS Infectious Diseases Young Investigator Award

Laura Sanchez, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UCSC, has been chosen to receive the 2022 ACS Infectious Diseases Young Investigator Award.

Incoming UC Santa Cruz class exemplifies academic excellence and diversity

UC Santa Cruz anticipates welcoming approximately 5,100 new Banana Slugs this fall, concluding an admissions cycle that reflected increased interest in the campus. Campus leaders are carefully managing student enrollment and working to provide more on-campus housing for students because of a statewide housing crisis that is particularly difficult in Santa Cruz.

Two UCSC grad students are finalists for prestigious Knauss Marine Policy Fellowships

The finalists for the John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship program include UCSC graduate students Austen Stovall and Ellen Willis‑Norton.

NOAA scholarship supports graduate student’s seabird conservation research

Aspen Ellis, a Ph.D. student in ecology and evolutionary biology, is one of seven students nationwide selected by NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to receive a 2022 Nancy Foster Scholarship.

Data from elephant seals reveal new features of marine heatwave ‘the Blob’

Instruments carried by migrating elephant seals measured deep warm-water anomalies that lasted much longer than the surface warming.

Center for the Advancement of STEM Leadership

The Center for the Advancement of STEM leadership has been established, effective July 1, 2022. Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, professor of astronomy and astrophysics, will be the faculty director of the center.

Eric Palkovacs appointed Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives

Help ‘Stuff the Bus’ and get students ready for school

With the new school year just around the corner, the United Way of Santa Cruz County and Santa Cruz Office of Education are looking for volunteers to help Stuff the Bus. Come and help fill new backpacks with school supplies for K-12 students.

Measuring the universe with star-shattering explosions

An international team of scientists has analyzed archive data for powerful cosmic explosions from the deaths of stars and found a new way to measure distances in the distant universe.

Rare corpse flower is about to bloom at the UCSC Arboretum

Visitors to the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum will have the opportunity to witness one of the most extraordinary phenomena in the plant world when a rare corpse flower opens its enormous, foul-smelling inflorescence sometime in the next few days.

Researchers track juvenile elephant seals for insights into mortality rates

An outreach program to bring science and scientists into K-12 classrooms is part of a study investigating the differences between male and female elephant seals.

UC-HBCU grants support UCSC faculty collaborations with HBCUs

A summer research program and a historical archaeology course won funding from a UC initiative to support partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

DOE supports UCSC ‘spin chemistry’ research with $1.2 million grant

Chemistry Professor Yuan Ping leads a project to develop computational tools for spin dynamics applications in chemistry and materials science.

ASPIRE program launches to aid conservation in a changing climate

A new program out of the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute involves students in an effort to measure changes in biodiversity and ultimately prevent them.

Seismologist Emily Brodsky awarded Nemmers Prize in Earth Sciences

Professor Emily Brodsky has received the 2022 Nemmers Prize in Earth Sciences, awarded by Northwestern University for achievement and work of lasting significance in the field of Earth sciences.

Narwhals show physiological disruption in response to seismic survey ship noise

Scientists deployed monitoring devices on narwhals to record heart rates, breathing, and diving behavior during seismic air gun pulses from a ship in the fjords of Greenland.

UCSC scholars join researchers statewide on a massive genomic study of California’s biodiversity

The California Conservation Genomics Project (CCGP) is a state-funded initiative with a single goal: to produce the most comprehensive, multispecies genomic dataset ever assembled to help manage regional biodiversity.

California approves $5 million to fund diversity in science and technology education

Cal-Bridge Program brings together the three levels of the California higher education system to diversify the California public university faculty and tech workforce.

Destruction and recovery of kelp forests driven by changes in sea urchin behavior

A long-term study of kelp forest dynamics on California’s Central Coast highlights the critical role of sea urchin behavior, not just the size of the urchin population.

UC Santa Cruz celebrates innovative and dedicated teachers

The Academic Senate’s Committee on Teaching (COT) in collaboration with Chancellor Larive and CP/EVC Kletzer, Cruz celebrated UCSC’s innovative and dedicated teachers with a gathering at the Cowell Provost House in early June.

Study finds chaos is more common in ecological systems than previously thought

The idea that chaos is rare in natural populations may be due to methodological and data limitations, rather than the inherent stability of ecosystems.

Campus recognizes innovative, dedicated teachers

The Academic Senate’s Committee on Teaching (COT) in collaboration with Chancellor Larive and CP/EVC Kletzer, Cruz celebrated UCSC’s innovative and dedicated teachers with a gathering at the Cowell Provost House in early June.

Reefense project aims to meld biology and engineering in novel structures for coastal protection

UCSC scientists are part of a DARPA-funded team to develop innovative solutions for coral reef restoration in Florida and the Caribbean to protect coastal infrastructure.

Study shows mangrove and reef restoration yield positive returns on investment for flood protection

A robust analysis demonstrates that nature-based solutions to reduce the damage caused by coastal flooding are cost-effective.

Polar bears in Southeast Greenland shed light on the species’ future in a warming Arctic

The most genetically isolated population of polar bears on the planet, they have limited access to sea ice and use ice from Greenland’s glaciers to survive.

100,000-year-old polar bear genome reveals ancient hybridization with brown bears

Scientists found that all brown bears today have some polar bear ancestry due to genetic admixture that occurred during a warm interglacial period more than 100,000 years ago.

Microbiologist Jacqueline Kimmey named Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences

Kimmey’s lab is investigating how susceptibility to infections is influenced by the daily biological cycles known as circadian rhythms.

Students dip their toes into coastal science at Younger Lagoon

Ocean Sciences Professor Carl Lamborg uses Younger Lagoon Reserve to teach Field and Lab Methods in Aquatic and Coastal Science.

Hunting in darkness, elephant seals use sensitive whiskers to find prey

Researchers used miniature video cameras to study how free-ranging elephant seals use their whiskers to track down prey in the darkness of the deep ocean.

Simulations reveal hydrodynamics of planetary engulfment by expanding star

A new study using hydrodynamical simulations reveals the forces acting on a planet when it is swallowed by an expanding star, as will eventually happen to the inner planets of our solar system when the sun becomes a red giant.

UC Santa Cruz named No. 2 public university for ‘making an impact’

Princeton Review has named UC Santa Cruz the No. 2 public university in the nation for students focused on making an impact on the world. The honor underscores the university’s commitment to encouraging positive social impact and is an increase from last year’s No. 3 spot.

Free public beach tours of Younger Lagoon Reserve have resumed

Tours of the reserve, which were suspended due to COVID-19 precautions, are again being offered through UCSC’s Seymour Marine Discovery Center.

Amanda Quirk

Amanda Quirk's research on galaxy mergers showed evidence that the Andromeda galaxy had some kind of major galactic collision in the past 4 billion years, and survived—which has implications for our own galaxy, the Milky Way.

Benny Mosqueira

Benny Mosqueira felt driven to make something of himself, and he arrived on campus intending to become a medical doctor. Instead, the first-generation college student was captivated by the research opportunities he found at UC Santa Cruz and decided to pursue biomedical research as a career.

Biologist Bruce Lyon honored by American Ornithological Society

Bruce Lyon, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, has been chosen to receive the 2022 Elliott Coues Award from the American Ornithological Society.

New findings enable monitoring for harmful toxin in freshwater environments

Researchers have identified the genes involved in biosynthesis of guanitoxin, a potent neurotoxin produced by some freshwater harmful algal blooms.

Large Hadron Collider restarts after major upgrades

UC Santa Cruz physicists have been at the forefront of U.S. participation in the LHC and contributed to a major upgrade of the ATLAS detector during the shutdown.

UCSC student wins second place at UC systemwide Grad Slam 

Astronomy and astrophysics Ph.D. candidate Amanda Quirk came in second place in an elite group of ten competitors at the UC systemwide Grad Slam finale on May 6. She pulled off this feat after winning the UCSC Grad Slam in March.

Nearly 30 years of conservation in Santa Cruz, alumna stays connected to the university and invests in students

UCSC alumna Jodi McGraw (Rachel Carson ’94, Environmental Studies and Biology) founded her conservation consulting firm in 2001 and has since hired upwards of 15 UCSC graduates and has sponsored almost 50 UCSC interns.

Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz chosen for prestigious Julio Cortázar Latin American Chair

Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, has been selected to hold the Julio Cortázar Latin American Chair at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, for 2022.

As climate shifts, species will need to relocate, and people may have to help them

A new survey summarizes scientific recommendations for conservationists and land managers tasked with managing biodiversity in a changing climate.

UCSC joins multi-institutional effort to advance equity and inclusion in science

The HHMI Inclusive Excellence Learning Community initiative is supporting efforts to redesign the introductory science curriculum.

Summer Session Invites Students to Stay for Summer

UC Santa Cruz Summer Session enrollment is underway and for the first time since 2019, students can choose to stay on campus for in-person classes, or the option remains to study online from anywhere.

New global and community health majors available this fall

UC Santa Cruz students who want to build a future with better, more equitable health outcomes will have the option to declare one of two new global and community health majors, starting in fall 2022.

Unlocking a cure for carbon monoxide poisoning

UCSC researcher Tim Johnstone has designed small molecules that can bind CO, sequester CO that is already bonded to hemoglobin, and rescue red blood cells exposed to CO, all promising signs for a future antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Summer programs draw visitors to Lick Observatory for music and stargazing

Tickets are on sale now for the observatory's popular summer evening programs.

Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells awarded $1M training grant for postdoctoral researchers

The directors of the Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells brought in a new $1M training grant for postdoctoral researchers, and have been awarded over $12M in grants in just two years.

New global forecasts of marine heatwaves foretell ecological and economic impacts

The forecasts could help fishing fleets, ocean managers, and coastal communities anticipate the effects of marine heatwaves.

Alumni Week focuses lens on news coverage of COVID

Three alumni of UCSC’s prestigious Science Communication Program will talk about what they learned—and how they have coped—with the pandemic at a virtual University Forum during Alumni Week

Honoring UC Santa Cruz’s 2022 Distinguished Graduate Student Alumni

Each year, UC Santa Cruz’s five academic divisions select one graduate student alumnus/a/i as their Distinguished Graduate Student Alumni honoree. The awards ceremony for the 2022 cohort will take place on April 23 of Alumni Weekend.

Kelp restoration project is finalist in LaunchPad pitch competition

Andrea Paz-Lacavex, a graduate student in UCSC’s Coastal Science & Policy Program, leads SPORA, a kelp restoration project in Baja California.

Risa Wechsler named 2022 Physical and Biological Sciences Distinguished Graduate Student Alumna

UC Santa Cruz alumna Risa Wechsler (Ph.D. Physics ’01) has played an instrumental role in groundbreaking research in the cosmology field, with pioneering galaxy structure and cosmic structure surveys, and more than 300 widely cited publications. Wechsler has also been committed to ensuring the growth of diversity and inclusion within the physics and astronomy community.

Alumni Week to highlight three decades of alumni-sponsored student support

The founders of the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund are using the occasion of its 30th anniversary to increase philanthropic support in the scholarship, setting a goal of raising $100,000 from alumni.

UC Santa Cruz hosts ‘Universe in Verse’ April 16 in the Quarry Amphitheater

The fifth annual Universe in Verse—a charitable celebration of science and nature through poetry and music, created and hosted by writer Maria Popova (Marginalian)—will be held in person at UC Santa Cruz in the Quarry Amphitheater on Saturday, April 16.

Physical and Biological Sciences Division honors three prominent alumni

The PBSci Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize contributions to society by graduate and undergraduate alums.

Biochemist Laura Sanchez wins ASP Matt Suffness Young Investigator Award

Laura Sanchez, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has been chosen by the American Society of Pharmacognosy as the 2022 winner of the ASP Matt Suffness Young Investigator Award.

Postdoctoral fellowships support planetary science research

Brittany Miles and Paul Dalba have won 51 Pegasi b Fellowships to support their research on exoplanets and brown dwarfs.

Methane could be the first detectable indication of life beyond Earth

A new study assesses the planetary context in which the detection of methane in an exoplanet’s atmosphere could be considered a compelling sign of life.

Seed funding grants for early-stage research, creative projects given to 19 awardees

The UCSC Office of Research has awarded funds this month to 19 projects through its inaugural Seed Funding for Early Stage Initiatives program

Annual Confronting Climate Change Conference focuses on local impacts and solutions

UC Santa Cruz offers a weekend of free events at the Seymour Center to spark conversation and inspire action.

NSF funding boosts undergraduate research experience in MCD Biology

A course-based undergraduate research program is expanding opportunities for biology undergraduates to get faculty-mentored research experience.

Effects of ancient carbon releases suggest possible scenarios for future climate

New findings reveal a precursor event before the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, giving scientists a fresh perspective on future global climate scenarios.

Cannibal galaxies and devastating collisions

Amanda Quirk won the annual Grad Slam competition last week after compressing billions of years of galactic history into a humorous and insightful three-minute presentation. She won $3,000 and a chance to compete in the UC Grad Slam finals in May.

Chemical analysis reveals effects of wildfire smoke on grapes and wines

A new study provides practical guidelines for using biomarkers to identify ‘smoke taint’ in grapes and wines affected by the smoke from wildfires.

California Sea Grant funds graduate research fellows at UCSC

California Sea Grant has awarded funding to four UC Santa Cruz graduate students for marine science research projects that address the agency’s priority themes of resilient coastal communities and economies, sustainable fisheries, and healthy coastal ecosystems.

UC Santa Cruz to implement strategic plan for internationalization

UC Santa Cruz is advancing comprehensive internationalization to ensure that the members of the campus community are prepared and encouraged to study, teach, conduct research, and work in a global context, and that institutional policies, programs, and initiatives are aligned to achieve this shared goal.

Younger Lagoon study tells a tale of two fishes

Research at UCSC's Younger Lagoon shows that the state of estuary waters, not competition from another fish species, is the most important predictor of populations of an endangered fish.

Elephant seals’ map sense tells them when to head ‘home’

Researchers found that female elephant seals know their distance from the breeding beach and allocate extra time to get back if they have farther to travel.

A slow-motion section of the San Andreas Fault may not be so harmless after all

A study of rocks drilled from nearly 2 miles under the surface suggests that the central section of the San Andreas fault has hosted many major earthquakes, including some that could have been fairly recent.

Record applications enable UC Santa Cruz to build strong, diverse fall class

With record-breaking applications from undergraduate students, UC Santa Cruz is looking to admit students who will be ready to contribute to and benefit from a high-impact research university.

Ocean scientist Claudie Beaulieu wins NSF CAREER Award

Claudie Beaulieu, assistant professor of ocean sciences, has received a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support her work using data science to study climate variability and climate change.

A surprising heat source is melting the Greenland Ice Sheet from the bottom up

Researchers have observed extremely high rates of melting at the bottom of the Greenland Ice Sheet, caused by huge quantities of meltwater descending from the surface to the base.

Easy aluminum nanoparticles for rapid, efficient hydrogen generation from water

UCSC chemists developed a simple method to make aluminum nanoparticles that split water and generate hydrogen gas rapidly under ambient conditions.

Physicist Michael Dine takes readers on a journey to the edge of reality in new book

‘This Way to the Universe’ explains the outstanding mysteries of the universe and also how remarkably well we understand it on many levels.

Chemistry Professor Yuan Ping wins Sloan Research Fellowship

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship to Yuan Ping, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UC Santa Cruz.

Tilting of Earth’s crust governed the flow of ancient megafloods

Study provides a new perspective on Washington state’s Channeled Scablands, carved by the Missoula megafloods at the end of the last ice age.

San Lorenzo River was transformed by early logging in the Santa Cruz Mountains

The San Lorenzo River cut a deep channel and abandoned its floodplain in the Felton area around the time of intensive clearcutting in the surrounding mountains, according to a study by UCSC researchers.

White House honors astronomer Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz with mentoring award

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring represent the highest honors bestowed upon mentors who work to expand STEM talent.

Genome of extinct Steller’s sea cow reveals surprising link to human skin disease

Analysis of ancient DNA from sea cow bones finds genes that may have played a role in adaptation to cold marine environment and yields evidence of a long population decline.

UC Santa Cruz announces ambitious investment to hire 100 additional faculty over decade, part of broader effort to advance student success and research excellence

To advance its place as an international leader at the intersection of innovation and social justice, UC Santa Cruz announced today its intention to prioritize faculty hiring by adding 100 additional faculty over the next decade.

Marine scientist Adina Paytan wins EGU’s Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky Medal

The European Geosciences Union (EGU) has awarded the 2022 Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky Medal for exceptional contributions to biogeosciences to Adina Paytan, a research scientist at the UC Santa Cruz Institute of Marine Sciences.

UCSC researchers study effects of wildfire runoff on steelhead sense of smell

The 2020 wildfires offered UCSC researchers a chance to study how the runoff after wildfire affects one of the region’s most iconic fish: steelhead trout.

Two UCSC professors elected 2021 AAAS Fellows

Biologist Suzanne Alonzo and Earth scientist James Zachos have been awarded the distinction of AAAS Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Biochemist Carrie Partch honored by the National Academy of Sciences

Carrie Partch, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, will be honored by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) with the 2022 NAS Award in Molecular Biology.

MaNGA team releases largest-ever collection of 3D maps of nearby galaxies

The release of the complete dataset of 10,000 galaxies observed by the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) project makes MaNGA the largest galaxy survey of its kind.

Simulated image shows how NASA’s Roman could expand on Hubble’s deepest view

The Roman Space Telescope will have the power to perform an observation similar to the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, but on a much larger scale.

Astronomers witness the explosive end of a dying star

The Young Supernova Experiment transient survey observed a red supergiant during its final 130 days leading up to a supernova explosion.

Materials theorist Yuan Ping wins NSF CAREER Award

Yuan Ping, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UC Santa Cruz, has received a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support her work on quantum information science.

In Memoriam: Peter Nicholas Burgoyne (1932–2021)

Peter Nicholas Burgoyne, professor emeritus of mathematics, passed away on Tuesday, December 7, 2021.