Faculty

An Interdisciplinary Team

UC Davis is internationally recognized for its interdisciplinary approach to research and education. The UC Davis Center for Vision Science epitomizes this approach. CVS faculty are drawn from 16 different academic departments, and 5 Schools and Colleges, including the School of Medicine, College of Biological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Engineering and College of Letters and Sciences. This interdisciplinary team brings an extraordinary array of expertise to bear on the study of the visual system. The team includes molecular biologists, psychologists, physiologists, neuroscientists, mathematicians, engineers, and clinical ophthalmologists from both human and veterinary medicine, among many other disciplines. Our goal is to conduct research which reveals how the visual system works, and then use this knowledge as a base for developing strategies which improve clinical care.

Alice Accorsi

Alice Accorsi, Ph.D.

Molecular and Cellular Biology

Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development and regeneration of sensory organs

» Arriving March 2024!

James B. Ames

James B. Ames, Ph.D.

Chemistry

Structure and function of calcium sensor proteins

Rebecca Renee Bellone

Rebecca Renee Bellone, Ph.D.

VET MED: Population Health & Reproduction

Molecular mechanisms underlying inherited ocular disorders in horses

James David Brandt

James David Brandt, M.D.

Ophthalmology

Clinical and basic science aspects of glaucoma

Kenneth H. Britten

Kenneth H. Britten, Ph.D. (Emeritus)

Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior

Higher-order motion processing in extrastriate cortex

Nadean L. Brown

Nadean L. Brown, Ph.D.

Cell Biology and Human Anatomy

Molecular mechanisms regulating development of mammalian lens and retina

Marie E. Burns

Marie E. Burns, Ph.D.

Ophthalmology

Photoreceptor physiology and degeneration

Gino A. Cortopassi

Gino A. Cortopassi, Ph.D.

Molecular Biosciences

Mitochondrial form and function in inherited optic neuropathies

William DeBello

William M. DeBello, Ph.D.

Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior; Neurology

Molecular plasticity of owl optic tectum

Jochen Ditterich

Jochen Ditterich, Ph.D.

Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior

Visual decision making

Melissa Barnett Erickson

Melissa Barnett Erickson, O.D.

Ophthalmology

Cornea and contact lenses including speciality contatct lenses

Paul G. FitzGerald

Paul G. FitzGerald, Ph.D.

Cell Biology and Human Anatomy

Lens-specific intermediate filament proteins

Joy J. Geng

Joy J. Geng, Ph.D.

Center for Mind and Brain

Integrated attention

Nandini G. Gandhi

Nandini G. Gandhi, M.D.

Ophthalmology

Pediatric and adult strabismus

Tom M. Glaser

Tom Glaser, M.D., Ph.D.

Cell Biology and Human Anatomy

Genetic basis of mammalian eye development and retinal cell fate specification

Mark Steven Goldman

Mark Steven Goldman, Ph.D.

Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior

Computer and mathematical models for sensory, oculomotor, and short-term memory systems

John M. Henderson

John M. Henderson, Ph.D.

Psychology

Attention, eye movements, scene perception and reading

Henry Ho

Henry Ho, Ph.D.

Cell Biology and Human Anatomy

The role of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling in visual system function and disease

Steve R Hollingsworth

Steve R Hollingsworth, DVM, DACVO (Emeritus)

Ophthalmology

Andrew T. Ishida

Andrew T. Ishida, Ph.D. (Emeritus)

Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior

Modulation of retinal ganglion cell excitability

John L. Keltner

John L. Keltner, M.D. (Emeritus)

Ophthalmology

MS and effects of vision; cancer related retinopathies, optic neuropathies, and other autoimmune retinopathies

Leah A. Krubitzer

Leah A. Krubitzer, Ph.D.

Psychology

Cortical organization and plasticity

Anna La Torre

Anna La Torre, Ph.D.

Cell Biology and Human Anatomy

Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal progenitor competence and differentiation

Jennifer Y. Li

Jennifer Y. Li, M.D.

Ophthalmology

Cornea

Michelle C. Lim

Michele C. Lim, M.D.

Ophthalmology

Glaucoma and retinal imaging

Lily Koo Lin

Lily K. Lin, M.D.

Ophthalmology

Eyelid, tear duct/lacrimal system, and orbit disease treatments

Angelique Y. Louie

Angelique Y. Louie, Ph.D.

Biomedical Engineering

Molecular and cellular imaging, MRI

Steven J. Luck

Steven J. Luck, Ph.D.

Psychology

Neural and cognitive mechanisms of attention and working memory

David J. Maggs

David J. Maggs, Ph.D.

VET MED: Surgery & Radiology

Comparative ophthalmology, feline and equine herpesvirus

George R. Mangun

George R. Mangun, Ph.D.

Psychology, Neurology

Visual attention and fMRI

Mark J. Mannis

Mark J. Mannis, M.D.

Ophthalmology

Human cornea and ocular pathogens

Nicholas Marsh-Armstrong

Nicholas Marsh-Armstrong, Ph.D.

Ophthalmology and Vision Science

Neuron glia interactions

Bianca Da Costa Martins

Bianca Da Costa Martins, Ph.D.

VET MED: Surgical & Radiological Sciences

Equine ophthalmology, and ocular surface reconstruction with an emphasis on the use of biological and synthetic grafts

Kimberley A. McAllister

Kimberly A. McAllister, Ph.D.

Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior; Neurology

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of visual plasticity

Ala Moshiri

Ala Moshiri, M.D., Ph.D.

Ophthalmology

Vitreoretinal Surgery and Uveitis

Christopher Murphy

Christopher Murphy, DVM, Ph.D. (Emeritus)

Surgical & Radiological Sciences

Corneal wound healing and repair, and comparative optics

Gary Novack

Gary Novack, Ph.D.

Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences

Development of new therapeutics, patient adherence and performance, regulatory affairs

Lisa Oakes

Lisa Oakes, Ph.D.

Psychology

Origins and development of visual attention, perception, and memory in infancy

Randall O'Reilly

Randall O'Reilly, Ph.D.

Psychology

Biologically-based computational models of learning and attention

Susanna S Park

Susanna S. Park, M.D., Ph.D.

Ophthalmology

Pharmacological treatment of macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy

Edward N Pugh

Edward N. Pugh, Jr., Ph.D.

Physiology and Membrane Biology

Retinal photoreceptors and color vision

Gregg Recanzone

Gregg H. Recanzone, Ph.D.

Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior

Cortical mechanisms of visual, auditory, and somatosensory interactions

Paul Russell

Paul Russell, Ph.D. (Emeritus)

Ophthalmology

Trabecular meshwork, glaucoma, and corneal wound repair

Karen Ryan

Karen Ryan, Ph.D.

Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior

Neuroendocrine regulation of feeding behavior, body weight and glucose control; Mechanisms linking psychological stress and metabolic disease

Naoki Saito

Naoki Saito, Ph.D.

Mathematics

Feature extraction mechanisms in human vision

Ivan R Schwab

Ivan R. Schwab, M.D. (Emeritus)

Ophthalmology

Corneal epithelial autografting

Tony J Simon

Tony J. Simon, Ph.D.

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Cognitive impairments in genetic disorders

Alice Tarantal

Alice Tarantal, Ph.D.

Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, Pediatrics

Nonhuman primate models, gene therapy, stem cell transplantation, in vivo imaging

Sara Thomasy

Sara Thomasy, DVM, PhD, DACVO

VET MED: Surgical & Radiological Sciences

Corneal wound healing, glaucoma, large animal models Of ocular disease, and ocular pharmacology and toxicology

James Trimmer

James Trimmer, Ph.D.

Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior; Physiology and Membrane Biology

Molecular mechanisms responsible for conferring plasticity to intrinsic neuronal excitability

W Martin Usrey

W. Martin Usrey, Ph.D.

Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior; Neurology

Functional organization of thalamo-cortical interactions

John S Werner

John S. Werner, Ph.D. (Emeritus)

Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior; Ophthalmology

Correlating in vivo retinal images and functional measures of color and spatial vision, and their changes across the life span and in disease

Glenn C. Yiu

Glenn C. Yiu, M.D., Ph.D.

Ophthalmology

Pathogenesis & Therapy of Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Other Retinal Diseases

Robert J. Zawadzki

Robert J. Zawadzki, Ph.D.

Ophthalmology and Vision Science

Various types of retinal and ONH diseases

Min Zhao

Min Zhao, M.D., Ph.D.

Dermatology

Corneal wound healing

Jie Zheng

Jie Zheng, Ph.D.

Physiology and Membrane Biology

TRPB and cGMP-gated channels