Alumni

Food Science alumnus Martin Yan in the news - New York Times

Read food writer Priya Krishna's recent article in the New York Times (June 15th, 2021) on chef and celebrity Martin Yan, titled "Four Decades on, Martin Yan Faces a New Audience and a New World" for a fresh and timely look at a famous UC Davis food science graduate.  Martin Yan earned his bachelor's degree in 1973 and a master's in 1977; he also has a UC Davis Distinguished Achievement Award, 2013. 

Alumni Profile: Nate Weis

Nate Weis graduated from UC Davis with his MS in Viticulture & Enology in 2006. He is currently the Vice President of Winegrowing for Silver Oak Cellars, Twomey Cellars, and Timeless Napa Valley.  
 
What have you been up to since you graduated?  

Margaret Lawson creates Scholarship & Fellowship for FST Undergrad and Graduate Students

In recognition of the value of her UC Davis Food Science degrees, Alumna Margaret Lawson ’77, MS ’79, has made an estate commitment to create the Margaret A. Lawson Scholarship for undergraduate students in food science, and the Margaret A. Lawson Fellowship to support graduate students in food science. These funds will be endowed in perpetuity to support and encourage generations of UC Davis students seeking food science degrees.

Kat Fernandez, finalist for the IFTSA Excellence in Leadership Award

Congratulations to recent 2020 Food Science & Technology graduate, Kat Fernandez, for being selected as one of three finalists for the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association's (IFTSA) Excellence in Leadership Award for the Undergraduate Category.  The award recognizes those who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in their execution of student activities that furthers the mission of IFT.  Great achievement, Kat!

Kat Fernandez: a finalist for the IFTSA Excellence in Leadership Award

Congratulations to recent 2020 Food Science & Technology graduate, Kat Fernandez, for being selected as one of three finalists for the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association's (IFTSA) Excellence in Leadership Award for the Undergraduate Category.  The award recognizes those who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in their execution of student activities that furthers the mission of IFT.  Great achievement, Kat!

FST Chair Dr. Linda Harris named Fellow of IAFP

Department Chair Dr. Linda Harris was awarded Fellow at the Annual International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) annual meeting in Louisville KY on July 21, 2019.  Dr. Harris served as President of IAFP from 2017-2018.

Also notable at the same meeting: Professor Michelle Danyluk (Ph.D. UC Davis FST 2006 in the Harris Lab) was appointed incoming Secretary to the Executive Board of IAFP, and as a result, she is slated to serve as President of the association in 2022-2023.

Congratulations to Dr. Harris and Dr. Danyluk!

FST PhD graduate Ryan Dowdy managing ISS food systems

Dr. Ryan Dowdy is a former PhD student in Associate Professor Chris Simmons' lab. 

Dowdy was recently hired by NASA as the Food Systems Manager for the International Space Station.  He was interviewed by the Washington Post recently for a "KidsPost" article about what astronauts eat, as part of a larger series of articles about U.S. human spaceflight.  The article is titled "Ever wondered what’s on the astronauts’ menu?"

FST Alumna named Director of the Western Regional Research Center

Congratulations to Dr. Tara McHugh, who has been selected as the new Center Director for the Western Regional Research Center (WRRC)!  Dr. McHugh is the Research Leader of the Healthy Processed Foods Research Unit at WRRC and has been serving as Acting Center Director since last July.

Dr. McHugh, who has received her PhD from from U.C. Davis in Food Science, is an internationally recognized expert in innovative food processing, edible films and nanoscience and a leader in high impact technology transfer.

Professor and Chair David Block returns from sabbatical

Department Chair Dr. David Block returned in January from a three-month sabbatical trip to Europe and South Africa. Along the way, he had the opportunity to connect with wonderful hosts! Some were old friends, some were alumni, and some were new friends that he made along his trip through Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and South Africa.

Dr. Block says, "Thanks to all. It was great to make new connections to wineries and research centers around the globe and to strengthen our connections."