Philipp Zerbe, a professor of plant biology whose research explores how plants use chemistry to communicate with and adapt to their environment, has been named associate dean for research and graduate studies for the College of Biological Sciences. He will begin serving in the role on September 1.

“Our college is a conduit for world-class, interdisciplinary research and graduate training across the biological sciences,” said Zerbe, who holds the Paul K. and Ruth R. Stumpf Professorship in Plant Biochemistry. “My goal is to position CBS to meet future opportunities and challenges, and to expand our national and global impact. It’s an honor to step into this role.”

Supporting a thriving research community

As associate dean, Zerbe will help guide the college's research enterprise while supporting graduate education across its five academic departments, eight graduate groups and three major interdisciplinary research centers. Working closely with faculty, department chairs, graduate group leaders, core directors and campus partners, he will help strengthen collaborative research, support grant development and shared research facilities, and advocate for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

The position also plays a key role in fostering interdisciplinary research across UC Davis, helping faculty pursue large collaborative grants, expand research partnerships and create new opportunities for scientific discovery. 

“It’s a great pleasure to see Philipp step into this new role, for which his breadth of experience in research and graduate mentorship is aptly suited,” said Mark Winey, dean of the College of Biological Sciences. “He is an innovative scientist and esteemed researcher, and his commitment to graduate education and thoughtful leadership make him ideal for this new role.”

Connecting fundamental discovery to real-world impact

Since joining the UC Davis faculty in 2014, Zerbe has built an internationally recognized research program investigating the remarkable chemistry of plants. His laboratory studies how plants produce specialized natural products that allow them to communicate with their environment, defend themselves against insects and disease, and adapt to changing conditions. By uncovering the genes and biochemical pathways behind these natural products, Zerbe's research seeks to provide resources for improving crop resilience while creating new opportunities for agriculture and bioproduct development. 

Zerbe has also been a strong advocate for experiential learning and research training. He developed a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) that introduced students to modern metabolomics by creating an interactive chemical map of plants growing throughout the UC Davis Arboretum. 

“I am very glad that Philipp will expand his service to CBS in this new position,” said Frédéric Chédin, incoming dean of the college and a professor of molecular and cellular biology. “I look forward to working with him as we move to further expand the college’s research infrastructure and impact, and support our vibrant community of graduate students, whose contributions to our research and teaching mission are critical.”

Strengthening research and graduate education

Beyond his own laboratory, Zerbe has long emphasized the importance of collaboration across disciplines in preparing students for careers in science. His research program brings together expertise in plant biology, biochemistry, genomics and biotechnology, while his teaching and mentoring have focused on helping students gain both technical and professional skills and the collaborative perspective needed to address complex biological questions.

Zerbe said he looks forward to working with faculty, staff, trainees and students to build on the college's strengths in research and graduate education while creating an environment where collaboration, mentorship and scientific discovery continue to flourish.

“CBS is uniquely positioned to continue advancing discovery and innovation across the full spectrum of the life sciences,” said Zerbe. “Increasing our efforts in fostering scientific excellence and collaborative research will accelerate discovery, support innovation through shared core infrastructure and emerging technologies, and enable our faculty and trainees to push the boundaries of biological science.”

Zerbe succeeds Dan Starr, who has served as associate dean for research since 2023 and advanced the college's research enterprise, core research facility programs and guided units through tumultuous changes to federal funding. 

About the position

The CBS Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies helps guide the college's research enterprise and graduate education mission. The role works closely with faculty, department chairs, graduate group leaders, campus research offices and college leadership to strengthen interdisciplinary research, support faculty, postdoctoral scholar and graduate student success, expand collaborative funding opportunities, and advance the college's research and graduate training programs.