Heyer Lab Postdoc Steven Gore Honored for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Researchers

Congratulations to Steven Gore, a postdoctoral scholar in Wolf Heyer’s lab, for receiving the UC Davis Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research.

“Students come to the lab with a wide range of research experiences, so it’s always an interesting puzzle to figure out how best to train them. With the right challenge they can accomplish big things,” said Gore. “Lyra and Mariam plated and counted nearly 2,000 plates of yeast colonies to contribute to our publication and recently presented their work at the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference—it was well-deserved recognition of their great work.”

The annual campus award recognizes exceptional mentorship of undergraduate researchers and celebrates those who help students develop as scientists through hands-on research experiences. Gore was nominated by two of his undergraduate mentees, Lyra Garcia and Mariam Rafiqzada, in recognition of his outstanding commitment to their growth as researchers. He currently mentors three undergraduate students in the Heyer Lab, including Garcia, Rafiqzada and Natalie Hoffman.

“Steven in an outstanding mentor of his students, paying back what he experienced at UC Berkeley, with the remarkable outcome that Lyra and Mariam are co-authors on a publication in Molecular Cell, one of the top journals in our field” said Heyer. 

Gore's research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair, including the roles of Rad51 proteins in maintaining genome stability. His recognition highlights the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics' commitment to pairing world-class research with meaningful undergraduate training and mentorship.