The Phi Sigma Honor Society’s Gamma Delta chapter at UC Davis recognizes and celebrates the academic excellence of students in the College of Biological Sciences. In the spring of each year, select undergraduates are invited to join this distinguished community, marking a milestone in their academic journey.

More than just an honor society, Phi Sigma fosters a network of driven students who are passionate about the life sciences. Through discussions, professional connections, and engaging student-centric events, members engage with the broader scientific community, strengthening their knowledge and preparing for future careers in research, medicine, and beyond.

As the 2024-25 academic year begins, this year’s chapter officers bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm to their leadership roles. With a commitment to supporting their peers and advancing the society’s mission, they are poised to make this another exciting year for Phi Sigma at UC Davis.

Meet the 2024-2025 Gamma Delta Officers

Yashneet Kaur (she/her)

Major: Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior
Role: Co-President

Yashneet Kaur is a fourth-year student studying Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, with minors in Public Health, Education, and Middle South Asian Studies, and Public Health. She is dedicated to community service and healthcare accessibility, actively contributing to Elaaj Community Healthcare Clinic as both a volunteer and clinic manager. In this role, she assists with patient registration, takes vital signs, and develops training programs for new volunteers to ensure efficient clinic operations.

Kaur is also an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), where she assists in inter-facility and critical care transports, ensuring patient safety and continuity of care. On campus, she volunteers with the Redwood Seed Scholars program, supporting students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their academic and personal growth. She has also conducted research in the lab of Jennifer Gremer, an associate professor of evolution and ecology, where she assisted in molecular biology techniques to study neurodevelopment and craniofacial morphology.

As President and Founder of UCD-HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America), she leads initiatives to expand volunteer opportunities, organize leadership workshops, and host informative health-related events for students. She aspires to specialize in pediatrics or emergency medicine, with a strong commitment to providing accessible and equitable healthcare to underserved communities.

Nabiya Haider (she/her)

Major: Genetics and Genomics
Role: Co-President

Nabiya Haider is a fourth year student majoring in Genetics and Genomics with a minor in Psychology. Originally from Fremont, California, Nabiya is a dedicated student planning to pursue a career in dentistry.

As part of the University Honors Program, Nabiya is conducting an independent research project under the mentorship of Mark Fedyk, an associate professor of internal medicine in the School of Medicine, to explore barriers to oral healthcare access. Through a theoretical analysis of existing literature, she is working to understand systemic, economic, and cultural factors that limit access to dental care, aiming to highlight solutions that can inform policy and community interventions. 

Nabiya also conducted research on critical limits and values in hospitals nationwide with the support of Dr. Gerald Kost and a team of fellow undergraduates. The research findings were published in the De Gruyter Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine journal. She has also volunteered as an undergraduate research assistant at the Brain and Social Cognition Lab at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain led by Lindsay Bowman, an assistant professor of psychology, working to recruit participants for studies focused on baby brain development.

Nabiya serves as the president of Youth in Dentistry at UC Davis, where she leads initiatives to support pre-dental students by organizing workshops, networking opportunities, and events with professionals in the field of dentistry. In 2024, Nabiya served as the Didactic Programming Coordinator for the Pre-Health Conference at UC Davis leadership team. In this role, she worked to organize the largest student-run pre-health conferences in the nation, connecting aspiring healthcare professionals with experts and resources in their respective fields.