2 UC Davis Researchers Honored with Inaugural UC Regents Innovation Awards

Two UC Davis faculty members have been recognized among the inaugural recipients of the UC Regents Innovation Awards, honoring researchers and innovators whose work is translating University of California research into technologies, companies and solutions with broad impact.

Erika La Plante, an associate professor of materials science and engineering, received the Best Startup Award for her work as co-founder and head of monitoring, reporting and verification and environmental strategy at Equatic. The company, which was previously recognized in Time’s “Best Innovations” list, is developing an industrial process that uses seawater electrolysis and direct air capture to remove and store carbon while producing clean hydrogen. La Plante’s research helped form the foundation for the technology, which Equatic is working to scale toward gigatonne-scale carbon removal.

Justin Siegel, a professor with appointments in biochemistry and molecular medicine and chemistry, was recognized with the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award. Siegel also serves as associate director of the UC Davis Genome Center and faculty director of the Innovation Institute for Food and Health. His research focuses on the design and discovery of enzymes for applications ranging from therapeutics to fuel and chemical production. He is a co-inventor on more than 100 global patents and has helped found over 10 companies and organizations.

The recognition follows a competitive inaugural awards process that included five UC Davis nominees across several categories. UC Davis faculty and affiliates who were also nominated for awards included: 

• Sam King, professor of computer science, for outstanding achievement in inventing and commercializing a groundbreaking product, transforming research into immediate market impact.
• Iman Soltani, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and electrical and computer engineering, for pioneering revolutionary scientific discoveries and inventing high-impact technologies that redefine industry standards.
• Harold Schmitz, senior scholar at the Graduate School of Management, for extraordinary private sector leadership and unwavering support in driving social prosperity and elevating the UC innovation enterprise.

The nominations and awards highlight the breadth of innovation emerging from UC Davis and recognize the role of university research in creating new technologies and ventures that play an important role in improving people’s lives.