Archived News

Archived News

Hands presenting an open award box on stage, blurred drums and blue lights

Awards & Honors

Viticulture and Enology

The following faculty received awards and honors this Spring.

 

Congratulations to our very own Distinguished Professor, Dr. David E. Block for receiving the 2026 American Society for Enology and Viticulture Merit Award — the Society’s highest honor! 

Auditorium stage with speaker at podium, four empty chairs, large projected vineyard photo

Extension & Industry Relations Update: Spring 2026

Viticulture and Enology

The UC Davis Department of Viticulture & Enology (V&E) Extension Team organized and presented several programs both on and off campus from January through April 2026. At the January 2026 Unified Symposium in Sacramento, the Departments of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, Fresno State, and Washington State, along with the Oregon Wine Research Institute at Oregon State University, co-hosted a Unified academic alumni, student, and friends’ reception on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The turnout was great, over 310 people stopped by!

People talking by trellised vines in a sunny farm field under blue sky

Spring 2026 Student Outreach

Viticulture and Enology

Our on-campus student outreach efforts maintained strong momentum throughout the spring, as we welcomed a diverse range of visitors and collaborators. This quarter, we hosted community college counselors and administrators and middle and high school students from the Lodi and Napa Valley regions. In addition, our undergraduate advisor, Liz, and the broader team demonstrated exceptional leadership in engaging admitted students during Aggie Day and Picnic Day, encouraging prospective Aggies to enroll at UC Davis.

A person wearing safety glasses, a light gray hoodie, and jeans smiles while standing beside a wine barrel in a winery or fermentation lab. They hold a wine thief in one hand, sampling liquid from the barrel, and two test tubes filled with dark red liquid in the other. Multiple barrels are visible in the background behind glass.

Student Profile: Andrea Villaseñor

Viticulture and Enology

Andrea Villaseñor is a 4th-year Viticulture & Enology undergraduate student. Find out more about Andrea and her experience studying in the program. 

Degree / focus / interest areas:
B.S. in Viticulture & Enology. I am focused on the winemaking industry and interested in gaining more experience in both cellar and lab work to better understand the full winemaking process.

Where are you from originally?
I am originally from Calistoga, California, in the Napa Valley.

Smiling woman pointing at a large academic poster on a hallway wall

Sheryl Long wins NCIFT grad student poster competition

Food Science and Technology

Sheryl Long, a Ph.D. student co-advised by Drs. Luxin Wang and Erin DiCaprio, won the graduate student poster competition organized by the Northern California Section of the Institute of Food Technologists. Her research, titled “Survival of Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli in Hydroponic Nutrient Solution,” assessed the behavior of common foodborne pathogens in fresh and recirculating nutrient solutions and provided scientific data for the risk assessment of fresh produce cultivated in controlled environment agriculture. 

Junior Specialist - Selina Wang Lab

Food Science and Technology
The position of Junior Specialist provides technical or specialized expertise in the planning and execution of research projects in a food chemistry laboratory. The Junior Specialist stays apprised of the research area and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. The role of this position is to provide specialized expertise in food chemistry research in the UC Food Quality laboratory of the Principal Investigator Dr. Selina Wang. The Junior Specialist is actively and significantly engaged in research including various projects that are related to food quality and analytical chemistry method development.
Split image: left award graphic with two men at a table; right photo of smiling older couple

In Memoriam - Professor Emeritus Charlie Shoemaker

Food Science and Technology

Regretfully, I must announce the passing of Professor Emeritus Charlie Shoemaker on April 13, 2026. Charlie was an internationally renowned food scientist, educator, mentor and collaborator.  His career with UC Davis spanned 35 years, including 10 years as department chair. He was an authority in the physical chemistry of foods, specifically how the composition of polymers affected texture and processing methods.

Blue announcement banner with IUFoST logo, list of new IAFoST fellows and a headshot of Nitin Nitin

Nitin named new Fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology

Food Science and Technology

Congratulations to FST and BAE's Dr. Nitin Nitin, one of 27 new IUFoST Fellows for 2026!

13 April 2026 - The International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) is proud to present the 15th class of outstanding food scientists and technologists to be elected to the International Academy of Food Science and Technology (IAFoST). These 27 new Fellows will be inducted by the Academy Executive Council, led by Professor Fereidoon Shahidi, IAFoST President, in October 2026 at the 23rd IUFoST World Food Congress to be held in Hong Kong.

Academic Coordinator II - DiCaprio Lab

Food Science and Technology
Academic Coordinators are appointees who administer academic programs that provide service closely related to the teaching or research mission of the University. This service may be provided to academic departments, to organized research units, to students, or to the general public. Determination of the appropriate level for an appointment for an Academic Coordinator shall take into consideration such factors as program scope and complexity. The duties of an Academic Coordinator are primarily administrative. Individuals in an Academic Coordinator title who are assigned research or instructional duties are required to hold a dual title.
A person's hands form a heart shape over their stomach, wearing a gray top.

What is Gut Health?

Food Science and Technology
Beyond the Hype: Experts Agree on a Clear Meaning for the Term

Walk down the aisles of many grocery stores and you’re liable to see claims about products that are “good for gut health,” from yogurt and kombucha to supplements and even sodas. But despite its popularity, the phrase can mean different things to different people and lacks a shared scientific definition.

Selina Wang

Selina Wang Named Faculty Director of the UC Davis Olive Center

Food Science and Technology

For nearly 20 years, the Olive Center at the University of California, Davis, has worked to improve the olive and olive oil industry through research, education and outreach. The center, known for its work in sustainable olive growing and improving olive oil quality, has named chemist Selina Wang as its faculty director to guide the next phase of research and innovation for the state’s growing olive industry.

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