The College of Biological Sciences is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025-26 CBS Faculty Research and Teaching Awards. These annual honors recognize faculty members whose contributions exemplify the college's commitment to advancing discovery and providing outstanding educational experiences for students.

Research and teaching are at the heart of the college's mission. Innovative research expands our understanding of the natural world and generates solutions to challenges facing society, while exceptional teaching prepares the next generation of scientists, healthcare professionals, educators and leaders. Together, they create an environment where scientific discovery and student success reinforce one another.

“It is always a great pleasure to recognize outstanding colleagues,” said Mark Winey, dean of the college. “And this year is no exception. Both of this year’s recipients embody the very best in CBS teaching and research. My congratulations to them both.”

2025-26 CBS Faculty Research Award

Nitzan Shabek

Professor, Plant Biology

Nitzan Shabek received the 2025-26 CBS Faculty Research Award for a paper that is changing scientists’ understanding of how plants respond to disease and environmental stress. His study, published in Nature Communications, uncovered a previously unknown molecular mechanism that helps plants balance growth and defense—an important challenge for both natural ecosystems and agriculture.

Plants rely on a complex network of signals to respond to pathogens. Shabek’s research revealed a new way that plants regulate these responses, allowing them to activate defenses when needed while avoiding the costs associated with prolonged immune activity. The findings provide a new framework for understanding how plants maintain health and resilience under changing environmental conditions.

The project brought together expertise from multiple scientific disciplines and involved trainees at multiple career stages, including graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and an undergraduate researcher from the Shabek laboratory and collaborating groups. The work also generated valuable new datasets and research tools that will support future discoveries in plant biology.

In nominating Shabek for the award, Plant Biology Department Chair Savithramma Dinesh-Kumar described the publication as “a paradigm-shifting conceptual advance that fundamentally reshapes our understanding of how biological systems coordinate signaling, metabolism, and stress adaptation.”

The study has already attracted significant attention within the scientific community. Featured by Nature Communications editors and highlighted by several science news outlets, the publication has been widely discussed and circulated, underscoring its impact and importance to the field.

2025-26 CBS Faculty Teaching Award

Joel Ledford

Professor of Teaching, Plant Biology

Joel Ledford received the 2025-26 CBS Faculty Teaching Award in recognition of his outstanding commitment to student success, innovative teaching and leadership in undergraduate education.

Since joining the Department of Plant Biology in 2016, Ledford has earned a reputation as an engaging and approachable educator who inspires curiosity while helping students build confidence in the biological sciences. Each year, he teaches more than 2,000 students across introductory and upper-division courses, reaching learners at every stage of their academic journey.

Students consistently praise Ledford's ability to make challenging concepts accessible, relevant and engaging. Through interactive classroom activities, creative review sessions and a welcoming teaching style, he creates learning environments where students feel supported and motivated to succeed. Reflecting on the impact of his teaching, one student wrote, “I see the world in a whole new light now.”

Beyond the classroom, Ledford has expanded educational opportunities through outreach, mentorship and curriculum development. His Tree of Life UC Davis YouTube channel has attracted nearly 2,000 subscribers and more than 290,000 views, helping connect students and the broader public with topics in biodiversity, evolution and scientific careers.

Ledford has also led the development of several new courses and learning resources, including online and in-person offerings that prepare students for emerging areas of biology. Colleagues describe him as a dedicated educator who continually seeks new ways to engage students and strengthen the learning experience. His commitment to teaching excellence was previously recognized with the 2024 ASUCD Excellence in Education Award, which is based on student nominations.

About the awards

Both recipients of this year's faculty awards will have their names added to the award plaques outside the CBS Dean's Office in 202 Green Hall and receive a prize of $500. The CBS Faculty Teaching and Research Awards are made possible through generous contributions to the college's annual fund.