Even when he was a boy growing up in Marin County, Daniel Choe wondered why some kids were more prone to behavioral problems.

“Some of my peers got involved with drugs, fighting and crime,” said Choe, who is now an assistant professor in the CA&ES Department of Human Ecology. “I felt bad seeing them damage their minds and bodies and futures. In retrospect, I see it gave me empathy for why people make certain choices. It made me wonder, ‘How can we prevent and treat behavioral problems so people can lead more fulfilling lives?’.”

‘Extraordinary Benefactor’ Supports 12 More Early-Career Faculty

UC Davis has named 12 assistant professors from a variety of disciplines as the university’s newest Hellman Fellows, beneficiaries of a San Francisco-based fund that provides research support to promising faculty members when they need it most, in the early stages of their careers.