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ChemTalk (chemistrytalk.org) is a brand-new non-profit, whose mission is to make chemistry more fun, easier to learn, and more accessible to people around the world - in the safest manner possible and also to be perceived in a more positive way. On our podcast, we interview chemists, scientists, and educators from across the globe who show the many career paths that involve chemistry, and how a love for chemistry can manifest itself in many unique

This conversation explores the intersection of natural products and synthetic biology, emphasizing the importance of science communication and outreach. Julia Ball shares her passion for connecting the public with plant science, while Dr. Philip Zerbe discusses the potential of synthetic biology in producing valuable natural products, particularly terpenoids. The discussion highlights the challenges and opportunities in educating the public about biotechnology and the role of synthetic biology in sustainable drug production. In this conversation, Dr.

Each year, nearly 30 million Americans purchase a real tree for the holidays. Growing the perfect Christmas tree takes about seven years, during which farmers need to keep insects, fungal pathogens and hungry deer at bay. While researchers suspect the distinctive piney smell the trees emit plays a role in deterring these pests, not all trees smell the same, and which chemical blends confer resistance is unclear.

Welcome to Tree of Life UC Davis! In this episode, we interview Philipp Zerbe, professor in the Department of Plant Biology at UC Davis. We discuss his history and interests in plant biology.

Katie Murphy describes the discovery of a new class of biochemicals that help corn fight crop stress and stay healthy.

She may be called the Corn Queen, but Katie Murphy now has claim to another title: University of California-wide Grad Slam champion. The UC Davis plant biology graduate student took home the top prize on May 10 for this three-minute talk on a biochemical hack that could help sick crops heal themselves.

Senior biochemistry and molecular biology student Lynne Hagelthorn studies how plants use chemicals to "survive, thrive and communicate" in the lab of Assistant Professor Philipp Zerbe, Department of Plant Biology. Hagelthorn is one of the 2019 recipients of the Ronald and Lydia Baskin Research Award, which recognizes a graduating senior for excellence in biological research. 

When Lynne Hagelthorn was in high school, she planned to pursue studying history as a college student. She loved speech and debate and was fascinated by how humans use language to understand and construct reality. But during her junior year, she took a biotech class and through it secured an internship in the lab of Distinguished Professor Richard Michelmore, director of the UC Davis Genome Center. Everything changed after that.

After learning basic lab techniques, Hagelthorn would explore the Genome Center’s high-tech facility.

There’s a small, fenced-in field near the Student Health and Wellness Center on the UC Davis campus. In the summer, you might find corn growing here, and among the rows, you might find Katherine Murphy weeding the field, hand pollinating the corn and finally harvesting it. This corn isn’t destined for the dinner table but rather the lab, where it’s used for research purposes to help feed our future.

Arid lands—with cracked soil and oppressive heat—aren’t usually places that inspire the potential for growth. But Assistant Professor Philipp Zerbe, Department of Plant Biology, sees an opportunity in these harsh lands: they’re prospective beds for growing biofuel crops of the future.