Students

Zhuo Chen selected for CPS Professional Development Program 2026

Congratulations to Zhuo Chen, Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Luxin Wang's lab, who has been selected along with six others to be in the Center for Produce Safety's Professional Development Program for 2026.  

The Center for Produce Safety (CPS) congratulates the recipients selected for the 2026 Professional Development Program Awards. On behalf of the CPS Board of Directors, Vice Chair Charles Leftwich (Sysco Corporation) recognizes these emerging professionals for their commitment to produce safety, scientific excellence, and future industry leadership.

Spring 2026 Student Outreach

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.

Student Profile: Andrea Villaseñor

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.

Sheryl Long wins NCIFT grad student poster competition

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.