Avril Rincon has been selected by the Department of Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology as the 2021-2022 Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship recipient.
July 19, 2022
Congratulations, Avril! This award is made possible by the generosity of donors to the Division of Life Sciences. When MCDB graduate Kristen Hanson passed away in 2012, her friends Courtney Cochran, Sarah Wagman Ellenbogen and Jennifer Cohen Bogan raised $25,000 to dedicate a bench at the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden in her honor. That experience inspired further philanthropy, and the group then raised $100,000 to endow the Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship, which further extended Hanson’s legacy by awarding a scholarship to a Life Sciences student each year, chosen by a committee of faculty and donors. This award honors a female undergraduate who exemplifies the positive traits that Kristen embodied, which include not only academic accomplishment and a passion for science, but also well-rounded interests, leadership, originality and commitment to engage with the world. Avril Rincon exemplifies the well-rounded and community-minded student that the Kristen Hanson award seeks to recognize. Avril is a junior majoring in Human Biology and Society, and minoring in Chicano Studies. She conducts research in Professor Alvaro Sagasti’s lab. She is in the PEERS program and is interested in pursuing a research career. Her interests outside of the lab include hiking and tennis. She also volunteers with her church, which includes teaching Sunday school, preparing food baskets for the needy, and advocating for public health initiatives. To donate to the Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship, please visit this link: https://giving.ucla.edu/Standard/NetDonate.aspx?SiteNum=319 Previous Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship recipients:
Zoe Ge
Daniela Wong
Laila Sathe
Pagé Goddard
Esmeralda Isabel Villavicencio González
Alvaro Sagasti will be honored with the Life Sciences Educational Innovation Excellence Award
May 12, 2022
Professor Alvaro Sagasti, will be honored with the Educational Innovation Excellence Award on the May 19th celebration of excellence in Life Sciences honoring 2021-22 Life Sciences Excellence Award Winners.
Hanna Mikkola will be honored with the Life Sciences Excellence in Research Award
May 12, 2022
Professor Hanna Mikkola will be honored with the Excellence in Research Award on the May 19th celebration of excellence in Life Sciences honoring 2021-22 Life Sciences Excellence Award Winners.
Jeffrey Maloy receives the My Last Lecture Award from the UCLA Alumni Scholars Club
May 12, 2022
Below is the link for information regarding the award ceremony and lecture.
https://alumni.ucla.edu/traditions/my-last-lecture-award/
Dr. Hanna Mikkola, UCLA-led team creates first comprehensive map of human blood stem cell development
April 13, 2022
https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/map-human-blood-stem-cell-development
MCDB would like to congratulate Professor Arjun Deb!
November 24, 2021
Researchers at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA have received more than $10 million in grants from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the state’s stem cell agency, to help them propel two potential therapies to clinical trials. The Translational Research Projects awards were given to UCLA scientists Irene Llorente and Dr. Arjun Deb.
MCDB would like to congratulate Professor Arjun Deb and Professor Matteo Pellegrini!
October 5, 2021
Researchers from the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA have received a $6.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how the SARS-CoV-2 virus causes multiple organ failure. https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/nih-grant-how-covid19-causes-multiple-organ-failure
Congratulations to MCDB Alumnus Ardem Patapoutian on being awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine!
October 5, 2021
https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ardem-patapoutian-ucla-alumnus-nobel-prize-physiology-medicine
Congratulations William Lowry!
September 23, 2021
MCDB would like to congratulate the UCLA BSCRC and Professor William Lowry on being awarded a CIRM grant for research and training. This award will have a transformative impact on the next generation of stem cell scientists, scholars and entrepreneurs at UCLA. https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/broad-stem-cell-research-center-receives-5-m
Congratulations Karen Sears!
September 16, 2021
The MCDB Department would like to congratulate Karen Sears who has been elected a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences. UCLA News Release coming soon.
Congratulations Siobhan Braybrook!
August 24, 2021
The MCDB Department would like to congratulate Siobhan Braybrook on her award with Timothy Malloy (Environmental Law) from the CNSI Nobel Family Innovation Fund, for their project on genetically engineered kelp. https://newsroom.ucla.edu/dept/faculty/cnsi-awards-noble-grants-2021
George G. & Betsy H. Laties Graduate Fellowship
August 19, 2021
Congratulations! Here’s a brief highlight on what they have accomplished this past year and how the fellowship continues to be beneficial to them looking ahead. In the past year, Shuya comprehensively validated the protein of interest, binding capability to methylated cytosine in vitro and in vivo. The George G. & Betsy H. Laties Graduate Fellowship generously supported her to conduct various methods of research to confirm the biochemical and biological properties of the protein. Essentially, she found that losing the protein leads to tissue-specific phenotypes. With the fellowship, Shuya has been able to perform multiple RNA sequencing datasets to explore epigenetic phenotypes across tissues. In the following year, The George G. & Betsy H. Laties Graduate Fellowship will continue to be a strong source of support for her. It will not only guarantee her original plan, including essential experiments for the project, but will also encourage more ideas to be tested, which will hopefully bring about new discoveries.
Manuel collaborated with his laboratory team, faculty and colleagues in order to develop a project based on experimental data that they’ve obtained in the lab, and he continues to fine-tune his aims for his thesis proposal. The support of this fellowship has given him the opportunity to begin his project with a deep dive into the literature with his advisor, resurfacing with a better understanding of the development of the field along with a better understanding of himself and what he want his research thesis to encompass. Thus, the fellowship has allowed him to design a project that is aligned with his scientific wonderings. The support of this fellowship has given him the freedom to move in a direction that he is passionate about, and continues to allow him to broaden his scientific reach while providing and amplifying the available resources that will allow him to meet his goals. Manuel also thinks that the awarding of the MCDB George G. & Betsy H. Laities Graduate Fellowship is personally encouraging as it adds a whole team of support behind his academic research, and motivates him to continue his development as a leader. It also highlights the importance of supporting other scientists to be recognized for the ongoing efforts that go into their graduate careers. In the future, he hopes to be able to encourage budding scientists to continue developing themselves and their projects, and reassure their confidence and belonging with the aid of amazing awards like this one.
Manuel Mora and Shuya Wang were selected by the Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology to receive the George G. & Betsy H. Laties Graduate Fellowship. They were each awarded a fellowship of $30,000 this academic year. The fellowship supports eligible Graduate Programs in Bioscience students in their second or third year of study who specialize in molecular plant biology.
MCDB would like to congratulate Professor Andrew Goldstein on his successful promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure in MCDB
July 12, 2021
Congratulations to MBI Postdocs Leonila Lagunes and Sissy Wamaitha: 2021-2022 UC President's Postdoctoral Fellows!
July 8, 2021
Congratulations Sissy Wamaitha who is a Postdoctoral Fellow in MCDB.
Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship Announcement
July 7, 2021
Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship Zoe Ge has been selected by the Department of Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology (MCDB) as the 2020-2021 Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship recipient. Congratulations, Zoe! This award is made possible by the generosity of Courtney Cochran, Sarah Wagman Ellenbogen and Jennifer Cohen Bogan. When MCDB graduate Kristen Hanson passed away in 2012, her friends Courtney, Sarah and Jen raised $25,000 to dedicate a bench at the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden in Kristen’s honor. That experience inspired further philanthropy, and the group then raised $100,000 to endow the Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship, which further extended Hanson’s legacy by awarding a $5,000 scholarship to a Life Sciences student each year. This award honors a female undergraduate who exemplifies the positive traits that Kristen embodied, which include not only academic accomplishment and a passion for science, but also well-rounded interests, leadership, originality and commitment to engage with the world. Courtney, Jen and Sarah describe, in their own words, what prompted them to endow the Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship: Going beyond – it’s what science allows us to do. To think big, to imagine what could be. When we created the Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship in the Division of Life Sciences, none of us knew how greatly the process would broaden our perspectives and invigorate our worldviews on what’s possible when innovation, academia and talent come together. We set out to create a legacy for our dear friend Kristen, and in doing so have been humbled to meet and support some of the brightest young minds in science today. Each year, we’re encouraged to think courageously and creatively about the future, and what can be, thanks to the students who are nominated for the award—and the stories they share about their own journeys, hopes and dreams. In these dreams we see a brighter future for all, and each year find a renewed sense of hope about what’s possible tomorrow. It has a lot to do with lifting each other up, and creating a path for others to follow—and that seed started with Kristen. Here’s to celebrating this year’s extraordinarily deserving honoree, Zoe—and all of those to come. About the 2021 Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship recipient, Zoe Ge: Zoe is a third-year Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics major and Film and TV minor at UCLA, pursuing a career in medicine. As an undergraduate student researcher in the Miller Lab, she is working on her departmental honors research project on the mutagenesis of various strains of E. coli to study its repair mechanisms and ability to acquire antibiotic resistance. Zoe also works as a medical assistant at Cedars-Sinai, where she helps the head physician with examinations and surgeries and documents each patient’s electronic health records. Previously, she worked as an Emergency Medical Technician for seven months in 2020, providing one-on-one basic life support to COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients during ambulance transports. As a first-generation and pre-med student, Zoe is passionate about the intersectionality of her cultural identity and her pursuits in healthcare. In the future, she hopes to apply her personal experiences to better care for underrepresented groups within the healthcare industry. Q&A with Zoe: How did you hear about the Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship and what prompted you to apply? Why is receiving this scholarship meaningful for you? How did Kristen’s story specifically inspire you? What are your future career aspirations? What is your advice for aspiring female scientists? To donate to the Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship, and to support other promising scholars like Zoe, please visit: https://giving.ucla.edu/Standard/NetDonate.aspx?SiteNum=319 Previous Kristen Hanson Memorial Scholarship recipients:
I was actually just hanging out one night when I suddenly got the email telling me I had been nominated. I couldn’t believe it at first. I dropped everything and immediately started researching the award. I was absolutely blown away by what an incredible honor it was to be nominated, so I just had to apply!
The most meaningful part of this entire experience has been meeting and talking with the award committee. I was on a Zoom call with Sarah, Jen and Amander, the Chair of the MCDB Department. It was inspiring to hear from Sarah and Jen about their love for and memories of their dear friend Kristen and about everything they have done in their careers to build up the women around them.
I’m inspired by Kristen’s legacy and everything that’s been done in her memory. I think a lot of times we undergraduates tend to doubt the impact and potential we have, but Kristen’s story really proves that no action is too small and it’s never too late to make a difference in the world.
It has always been my lifelong dream to pursue a career in medicine, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do! After finishing med school and working for a couple of years, I hope to open my own health clinic.
Like my Mom always said, take advantage of every opportunity. If you do not see a path ahead laid out for you, forge your own.
Daniela Wong
Laila Sathe
Pagé Goddard
Esmeralda Isabel Villavicencio González
2021 Boyer/Parvin Postdoctoral award winners
June 24, 2021
Congratulations! Professor Hilary Coller
June 3, 2021
Congratulations! Distinguished Professor Bob Goldberg
April 8, 2021
The Department would like to congratulate Distinguished Professor Bob Goldberg, who has been honored with the Charles E Barnes Lifetime Membership Award from the American Society of Plant Biologists.
Women in Science
March 12, 2021
Women in Science webinar recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH8Jr0ZjXoo Be inspired by renowned female scientists as they discuss their biomedical research focused on finding solutions to high impact problems. This event showcase the critical role women play in scientific discovery, education and innovation. Featuring: Karen Lyons, Ph.D. Hilary Coller, Ph.D. with Q&A moderated by Hosted by Department of Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Hanna Mikkola, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research
Professor, Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology Professor and Vice Chair of Research, Orthopaedic Surgery,
David Geffen School of Medicine
Professor, Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology Professor, Biological Chemistry
Interim Director, Molecular Biology Institute
Amander Clark, Ph.D.
Chair and Professor, Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology
Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research
Johnny Diaz - Undergraduate Research Center – Sciences
March 4, 2021
Professor Arjun Deb featured in UCLA Newsroom
December 7, 2020
Scientists discover how COVID-19 virus causes multiple organ failure in mice.
MCDB was sad to learn of the news of Dr. Kathryn Anderson’s passing
December 3, 2020
The Department of Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology was saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Kathryn Anderson. Dr. Anderson, like her mentor, the late MCDB Professor Dr. Judith Lengyel, was a a champion of women in science and an outstanding developmental biologist. Kathryn will be missed. Read more on her life and accomplishments: https://www.mskcc.org/research/ski/labs/kathryn-anderson
Congratulations Professors Hanna Mikkola and Amander Clark on being selected for the list of 100 Trailblazing Women of UCLA Health.
August 28, 2020
George G. & Betsy H. Laties Graduate Fellowship
August 18, 2020
Congratulations!
Manuel Mora and Shuya Wang were selected by the Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology to receive the George G. & Betsy H. Laties Graduate Fellowship. They were each awarded a fellowship of $30,000 this academic year. The fellowship supports eligible GPB students in their second or third year of study who specialize in molecular plant biology.
Kristen Hanson Memorial Fund Scholarship
August 17, 2020
Congratulations! This award is made possible by the generosity of donors to the Division of Life Sciences. Kristen Hanson Memorial Fund Scholarship To donate please go to this link: https://giving.ucla.edu/Standard/NetDonate.aspx?SiteNum=319 Previous Recipient of the Kristen Hanson Memorial Fund Scholarship
Daniela Wong has been selected by the Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology to receive the Kristen Hanson Memorial Fund Scholarship.
When Hanson passed away in 2012, her friends Courtney Cochran, Sarah Ellenbogen and Jennifer Bogan raised $25,000 to dedicate a bench at the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden in honor of the former MCDB graduate. That successful experience inspired them to raise $100,000 to endow a scholarship that would extend Hanson’s legacy by awarding a $5000 scholarship to a student each year, chosen by a committee of faculty and donors. This award honors a female undergraduate who exemplifies the positive traits that Kristen embodied, which include not only academic accomplishment and a passion for science, but also well-rounded interests, leadership, originality and commitment to engage with the world.
Laila Sathe
Pagé Goddard
Esmeralda Isabel Villavicencio González
Professor Arjun Deb Featured in UCLA Newsroom
July 6, 2020
How the body regulates scar tissue growth after heart attacks.
Tracy Johnson named dean of the UCLA Division of Life Sciences
June 2, 2020
Tracy Johnson named dean of the UCLA Division of Life Sciences
Symposium addresses how protecting plant health protects life
April 16, 2020
"Symposium addresses how protecting plant health protects life”.
“Hundreds of UCLA students publish paper analyzing 1,000 genes involved in organ development”
January 28, 2020
News of this research is the lead story on the UCLA Newsroom: “Hundreds of UCLA students publish paper analyzing 1,000 genes involved in organ development”. Congratulations to all involved! The senior corresponding authors are Utpal Banerjee and Cory Evans and we should congratulate all the hard work of the UCLA undergraduates who are now published authors of an informative and timely manuscript that moves the needle on scientific discovery.
Congratulations to Hanna Mikkola and Vincenzo Calvanese!
December 9, 2019
Professsor Hanna Mikkola Featured in UCLA Newsroom. Researchers identify protein that governs human blood stem cell self-renewal
Congratulations Dr. Goldstein on receiving the Young Investigator Award
November 12, 2019
Dr. Goldstein with three of his students (PhD students Preston Crowell and Jenna Giafaglione and undergrad MCDB major Johnny Diaz) after receiving the Young Investigator Award.
Professor Lowry and Iruela-Arispe Featured in UCLA Newsroom
September 6, 2019
For full news article, please visit UCLA Newsroom.
Kristen Hanson Memorial Fund Scholarship
July 17, 2019
Congratulations! This award is made possible by the generosity of donors to the Division of Life Sciences. Kristen Hanson Memorial Fund Scholarship To donate please go to this link: https://giving.ucla.edu/Standard/NetDonate.aspx?SiteNum=319 Previous Recipient of the Kristen Hanson Memorial Fund Scholarship
Esmeralda Isabel Villavicencio González has been selected by the Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology to receive the Kristen Hanson Memorial Fund Scholarship.
When Hanson passed away in 2012, her friends Courtney Cochran, Sarah Ellenbogen and Jennifer Bogan raised $25,000 to dedicate a bench at the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden in honor of the former MCDB graduate. That successful experience inspired them to raise $100,000 to endow a scholarship that would extend Hanson’s legacy by awarding a $5000 scholarship to a student each year, chosen by a committee of faculty and donors. This award honors a female undergraduate who exemplifies the positive traits that Kristen embodied, which include not only academic accomplishment and a passion for science, but also well-rounded interests, leadership, originality and commitment to engage with the world.
Laila Sathe
Pagé Goddard
Congratulations!
May 7, 2019
Dr. Hilary Coller recipient of the Life Sciences Excellence in Research Award.
Congratulations Dr. Pellegrini
December 5, 2018
Congratulations!
November 1, 2018
Dr. Leanne Jones nominated for the Postdoctoral Scholars Mentoring Award!
Congratulations!
July 23, 2018
Congratulations!
Laila Sathe has been selected by the Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology to receive the Kristen Hanson Memorial Fund Scholarship.
This award is made possible by the generosity of donors to the Division of Life Sciences.
Kristen Hanson Memorial Fund Scholarship
When Hanson passed away in 2012, her friends Courtney Cochran, Sarah Ellenbogen and Jennifer Bogan raised $25,000 to dedicate a bench at the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden in honor of the former MCDB graduate. That successful experience inspired them to raise $100,000 to endow a scholarship that would extend Hanson’s legacy by awarding a $5000 scholarship to a student each year, chosen by a committee of faculty and donors. This award honors a female undergraduate who exemplifies the positive traits that Kristen embodied, which include not only academic accomplishment and a passion for science, but also well-rounded interests, leadership, originality and commitment to engage with the world.
To donate please go to this link: https://giving.ucla.edu/Standard/NetDonate.aspx?SiteNum=319
Previous Recipient of the Kristen Hanson Memorial Fund Scholarship
Pagé Goddard
Professor Amander Clark Featured in WSJ Podcast
April 9, 2018
The Podcast is called ‘The High-Tech Approach to Human Fertility’
Professsor Arjun Deb Featured in UCLA Newsroom
March 1, 2018
For full news article, please visit UCLA Newsroom.
Professor Amander Clark Featured in UCLA Newsroom
January 31, 2018
For full news article, please visit UCLA Newsroom.
Associate Professor Atsushi "Austin" Nakano Featured in UCLA Newsroom
December 13, 2017
For full news article, please visit UCLA NEWSROOM.
Professor Amander Clark Featured in UCLA Newsroom
December 5, 2017
For full news article, please visit UCLA NEWSROOM
Professor Bill Lowry Featured in UCLA Newsroom
August 16, 2017
For full news article, please visit UCLA NEWSROOM.
HHMI Inclusive Excellence Grant directed by Professor Tracy Johnson selected for funding
June 8, 2017
UCLA was one of 24 institutions (out of over 500 that applied) to receive this $1 million award! The proposal is a multi-tiered approach to enhancing opportunities for all of our students, with a particular focus on transfer students. The work builds on best practices we’ve established at UCLA and allows us to explore some creative new strategies to develop the talents of our students!
For more information, please visit HHMI and UCLA Newsroom
Professor Matteo Pellegrini PNAS research is the lead story on the UCLA Newsroom
May 22, 2017
For full article, please visit UCLA Newsroom
Professor Andrew Goldstein receives grant to study role of molecule in prostate cancer
April 21, 2017
Professor Tracy Johnson receives the 2016-2017 Faculty Career Commitment to Diversity DEI Award
April 10, 2017
The Academic Senate and its Committee on Diversity and Equal Opportunity (CODEO) take great pleasure in announcing the recipients of the 2016-2017 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Awards. Each year, CODEO honors one undergraduate student, one graduate student, one staff and up to four faculty members for their contributions to furthering a diverse, impartial, and inclusive environment at UCLA. The selection of these winners is often difficult as each of the many candidates nominated for these awards have made enormous contributions to encouraging that environment in important and innovative ways. This year’s selection was no exception. Faculty Career Commitment to Diversity DEI Award Recipient
Tracy Johnson, professor of Molecular Cell and Development Biology is this year’s Faculty Career Commitment to Diversity DEI Award recipient. Dr. Johnson, a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator has been instrumental in establishing and supporting the Organization of African-American Students Excelling in STEM (OASES), a program that supports the success of African-American and other minorities in science. She also established a research-based program for first year science majors from underrepresented and underserved groups. As the Life Sciences Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, and co-chair of the Life Sciences Diversity Advisory Committee, Dr. Johnson has plaid a major role in making Life Sciences a campus and national leader in diversity and inclusive excellence. Her work has been the driving force for the requirement of a statement on contributions to diversity and inclusion in all faculty merit and promotion dossiers. Finally, Dr. Johnson has developed strategies to achieve excellence in pedagogy and scholarship through diversity and inclusion and was part of a small group of campus faculty who contributed to the passage of the College of Letters and Science Diversity Course requirement.
Lecturer Peiyun Lee Wins a Professional Development Award
March 3, 2017
he UCLA Academic Personnel Office recently announced the recipients of the Unit 18 professional development awards for 2016-17. The awards support the professional growth and pedagogical initiatives of lecturers, officially known as Unit 18 non-Senate faculty at UCLA. For more information, please visit UCLA Newsroom.
Professor Chentao Lin featured in the UCLA Newsroom
October 20, 2016
For full article, please visit UCLA Newsroom
Professor Tracy Johnson featured in the UCLA Newsroom
August 3, 2016
For the full article, please visit UCLA Newsroom.
Professor Hanna Mikkola featured in UCLA newsroom
May 18, 2016
For full article, please visit UCLA NEWSROOM.
Professor Steven Jacobsen elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
April 22, 2016
Professor Steven Jacobsen elected as one of seven UCLA faculty to American Academy of Arts and Sciences. For more information, please visit UCLA Newsroom.
Professor Tracy Johnson featured in the UCLA Newsroom
February 22, 2016
Professor Tracy Johnson featured in the UCLA Newsroom.
Professors Amander Clark and Steve Jacobsen Featured in the UCLA Newsroom
February 5, 2016
For full article, please visit Standard Method for Deriving Stem Cells May Be Better For Use in Regenerative Medicine .
UCLA graduate students explore the entrepreneurial side of science
January 27, 2016
MCDB grad student, Kathryn Zavala is featured in the UCLA Newsroom.
Professor Steve Jacobsen Featured on the UCLA Life Sciences Division Webpage
October 7, 2015
For full article, please visit UCLA Life Sciences Division webpage.
Undergraduate Walter Mancia Featured in UCLA newsroom
June 12, 2015
For full article, please visit UCLA Newsroom
Professor Bill Lowry Featured in UCLA Newsroom
May 26, 2015
For full news article, please visit UCLA Newsroom
Professor Amander Clark featured in the UCLA Newsroom
May 22, 2015
For the full article, please visit the UCLA Newsroom.