UC Davis Young Scholars Program

Name: UC Davis Young Scholars Program
Address: 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, US
Telephone: +15307520622

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UC Davis Young Scholars Program

A summer research program for rising high school juniors and seniors to engage with university research & experiences at UC Davis.

Summer research program for high school students

05/28/2026

Almonds have a very low ratio of fruit to flowers, which is called the set rate. The low set keeps them from being as effective a crop as they could be. Ruthann worked on a study aiming to investigate whether low almond set rates are caused by carbon limitations in spurs by comparing a well-watered control tree with a moderately water-stressed tree.

Spurs were digitally tracked for flower and fruit production, and results showed that fruit numbers increased with flower numbers in both trees, contradicting the carbon limitation hypothesis. The stressed tree had more flowers, more fruits, and a higher average set than the control, though both had about one-third of the spurs that produced no fruit.

These findings suggest factors beyond carbon storage—like spur health and water stress—affect almond set, highlighting the need for further research, with the aim of improving yields in major almond-producing regions like California.

05/21/2026

In Dr. Ken Shackel’s Plant Sciences laboratory, Brandon investigated a microtensiometer, used for measuring the water potential inside a tree’s xylem. Using a specialized microelectromechanical system (MEMS) which is impacted by the tree’s internal pressure, the devices provide data which can be graphed to model the tree’s daily fluctuations in water potential, something highly beneficial for water conservation and efficient crop growth.

In rare occurrences, tensiometer readings fluctuate wildly from expected values, despite the tree lacking any change, meaning a mechanical issue with the chip was responsible. In order to investigate any potential physical factors which would impact the water potential measure outputted, Brandon ran a variety of tests on microtensiometers, such as embedding sensors into a branch, in the mating agent used during embedding into a xylem, or submerging them in water. He also manipulated the sensors under a microscope using tweezers to test whether they were susceptible to physical strains exerted on the microchip itself.

Brandon found that while physical strains are able to occur on an embedded microtensiometer, the abnormal fluctuations may not be a result of them. More research is needed in this field.

05/14/2026

Last summer, Sarah conducted research in the Bornhorst Lab under the mentorship of Weiyi Sun. The lab explores how food’s structural and chemical properties affect its breakdown during gastric digestion. Past studies have shown that acidity, water content, and structure significantly influence nutrient release and digestion rate. Sarah's project built on this by examining how acidity, moisture, and texture change over time during static in vitro gastric digestion.

Using simulated oral and gastric fluids in a 37 °C shaking water bath, she helped test four structurally distinct foods: jicama and coconut (high in fiber), and cookies and cake (high in fat and starch). These foods were sampled at regular intervals and analyzed using three key methods: titration to measure acidity, oven drying to determine moisture content, and a texture analyzer to assess changes in hardness.

The goal was to understand how different food structures influence breakdown behavior. This insight could guide the development of functional foods tailored to health needs—like high-fiber snacks that slow digestion for blood sugar control or high-starch foods that offer quick energy for athletes. Ultimately, this research supports smarter food design for better health outcomes.

05/08/2026

Scott helped research cholesterol last summer during YSP. While cholesterol is essential for many biological functions, excess levels can lead to serious health issues such as atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia. Recent studies have identified GPR146, a G-protein coupled receptor in liver cells, as a key regulator of cholesterol production in the body. However, GPR146 is currently classified as an orphan receptor, meaning its natural activating ligand is unknown. Identifying this ligand could unlock new strategies for controlling cholesterol levels. To begin searching for the orphan ligand, he learned that researchers must first understand how metals interact in extracellular environments. He was part of a team helping to track these metals by developing a probe using zinc and zinc-selective integrin binding peptides. These metal responsive peptide probes allow for real time detection of metal fluctuations, which is of special importance in the liver. This research will help to explore whether a complex of C-peptide, copper, and albumin may serve as the natural ligand for GPR146.

04/30/2026

Salinity has become a worldwide problem to agriculture as it has been known to be toxic to agricultural crops by affecting their growth thus leading to their death. The focus of Selina's research was to assess whether arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can alleviate the stress of Allium Ampeloprasum, or leeks, undergoing salinity stress. To conduct the research, leeks were planted in soil that contained and did not contain AMF in a controlled growth chamber watered by different concentrations of salt solution for three weeks. Results have shown that AMF had a positive effect on leeks under salt conditions. Leeks associated with AMF experienced greater change in positive growth and vitality. These findings from the benefits of AMF can be applied to early leek cultivation to help enhance their salt tolerance. In addition, leeks have been shown to be a model plant for AMF association which can provide crucial information in future experiments with other plant species functioning as the positive control in determining for the effects of AMF on plants under salinity stress. This research can serve to inform others on whether to incorporate AMF by the extent of effectiveness in agriculture.

04/23/2026

Fat plays a critical role in the flavor, texture, and nutritional quality of conventional meat. Oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, contributes significantly to the tenderness, juiciness, and health benefits of meat. As cultivated meat emerges as an alternative to traditional agriculture, replicating the attributes of fat remains a challenge. Ryan's project evaluated the effects of oleic acid on lipid accumulation in IM bovine and 3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes. Cells were treated with varying concentrations of oleic acid, and lipid accumulation was assessed through Oil Red O staining and GC-FID analysis. It was found that oleic acid increases the overall accumulation of fat and could play a significant role in cultivated meat production.

04/16/2026

Lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) are an underutilized legume with the potential to bolster nutritional security and crop resilience in the wake of climate change. Lima beans have shown a strong tolerance to heat and drought stresses, while having high protein and amino acid content. Last summer, Reina helped analyze a diverse panel of lima bean accessions, including wild types, landraces, and commercial cultivars. After gathering phenotypic data from flowering time, hundred seed weight (HSW), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) scanning, the team performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify the location of key traits in the genome. The GWAS visualizes important single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) using Manhattan plots to reveal loci linked to traits such as early flowering time, protein content, and drought resilience. Across the globe, but namely in South America and Africa, lima beans serve as a cost-efficient and nutritious legume in their diets. By pinpointing the location of traits in the genome, targeted breeding efforts for improved resilience to climate change lay the groundwork for future studies and programs aimed at enhancing food security.

04/09/2026

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that damages the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE), a mitochondria-dependent layer critical for vision. Previous studies of mitochondrial health in high-energy organs like the liver and muscles identified abnormalities, but they were limited. Treatments for early dry AMD types—Punctate and Drusen—remain limited due to gaps in understanding disease mechanisms. Last summer, Owen worked on a study that analyzed Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images of RPE mitochondria from Rhesus Macaques using a detailed quantitative scoring system. Each mitochondrion was assessed on circularity, hyperbranching, paracrystalline inclusions, membrane integrity, matrix uniformity, and cristae structure. Statistical analysis revealed that AMD does not follow a simple linear progression from Punctate to Drusen. Instead, it appears to follow two distinct yet interconnected pathways. Punctate-type mitochondria display markers of adaptive stress, while Drusen-type mitochondria show signs of degenerative stress. These findings challenge the traditional model of AMD progression and offer insight into potential early intervention targets by identifying divergent mitochondrial stress responses in early AMD subtypes.

04/07/2026

UC Davis Give Day is just over a week away, but you can donate early to unlock extra funding for the Young Scholars Program! Your gift to YSP helps us continue to deliver life-changing STEM research experiences to high schoolers year after year. Donate today at giveto.ucdavis.edu/campaigns/73141/donations/new?designation=youngscholarsprogram

04/02/2026

In Professor Imtiyaz Khandey’s lab, Nora worked under Ph.D. students Rasheeba Iqbal and Reegan Reed to study seed development and improve crop traits like seed vigor, clonal reproduction, and climate resilience in species such as tomato, rice, and Arabidopsis thaliana. Her project focused on identifying a homozygous T2 transgenic seed line that shows both nuclear-localized green fluorescence in response to abscisic acid (ABA) and resistance to hygromycin. This allows us to visualize ABA activity in seeds with spatial and temporal precision.

The team used molecular techniques such as DNA isolation, PCR, and gel electrophoresis to confirm gene insertion and expression. ABA is a key hormone in seed dormancy and stress response, but its manipulation remains poorly understood. By creating a reliable in vivo ABA reporter system, this research aims to reveal how ABA functions under different environmental conditions.

Beyond research, the project could impact agriculture by improving germination and increasing crop uniformity and yield. It also sets the stage for manipulating ABA signaling in other plant tissues to study broader stress responses. Ultimately, this work supports the development of more resilient crops for a changing climate.

Address

1 Shields Avenue
Davis, CA
95616

Telephone

+15307520622

Website

http://ysp.ucdavis.edu/

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