September 2021

Post-Doc Scholar, Spang Lab

We are recruiting for a Post-Doctoral Scholar (or “Post-Doc”) to help lead and contribute to a UC Davis research project examining use of a community-scale Anaerobic Digester (AD) to convert a community’s organic food waste into renewable electricity, heat, and fertilizer. The project is in collaboration with Biodico Sustainable Biorefineries, Impact Bioenergy, and Lineage Logistics under a grant from the California Energy Commission. The UC Davis faculty leads on the project include Dr. Edward Spang (Food Science and Technology) and Dr. Chris Simmons (Food Science and Technology).

Phaff Yeast Culture Collection grows by 6,000 strains - new NSF Award

Dr. Kyria Boundy-Mills, curator of the Phaff Yeast Culture Collection in the Food Science and Technology department at UC Davis, received an award of $579,246 from the National Science Foundation. This will fund the transfer of professor emeritus and yeast taxonomist Dr. Marc-André Lachance’s collection of 6,000 yeast strains from the University of Western Ontario to UC Davis, expanding the Phaff collection catalog by over 50%.

Viticulture and Enology Extension Update

On June 7, we hosted a program dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the grape and wine industries.  Representatives from UC Davis and individuals working in the wine and grape industries discussed the following topics:  increasing diversity among students at UC Davis and in the Department of Viticulture and Enology, increasing diversity in the grape and wine industries, promoting a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, opening the door to underrepresented consumers, and making wine more accessible.  The program featured welcoming remarks by

Congratulations to the 2021 Scholarship & Award Recipients

Congratulations to all students who received scholarships and awards this year. Scholarship winners were celebrated on Friday, June 11, 2021, during the Department of Viticulture and Enology Zoom graduation ceremony.  The Department is grateful to the generous donors who make these opportunities possible. 

The Department of Viticulture and Enology awarded the following students with department citations at the end of the 2021 academic year.  

Departmental Awards 

Student Spotlight: Andrew Misialek

Andrew Misialek is a graduate student in the Department of Viticulture and Enology. Find out more about Andrew and how he found himself studying at UC Davis after deciding to switch career paths. 

Degree, Focus, and Areas of Interest

Junior Specialist - Barile Lab

This position of Junior Specialist has a narrow focus in a specialized area and provides technical or specialized expertise (e.g., with instrumentation and research equipment, or with research methods) in the planning and execution of a research project. Junior Specialists are required to be actively and significantly involved in publishable research activities, including reviewing journal articles and engaging in discussions on research and the interpretation of research results. Junior Specialists are also expected to participate in appropriate professional/technical societies or groups and other educational and research organizations as well as review research proposals, journal manuscripts, and publications as applicable related to their research area of expertise.