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Distinguished professor of biochemistry Dana Carroll, who has devoted much of his career to developing precise genome editing platforms, received one of the highest honors in science May 2 when he was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.

Carroll is among 84 U.S. scientist-scholars and 21 foreign associates elected by the academy in 2017, headquartered in Washington, D.C. He joins 2,289 active members and 475 foreign associates who have received this prestigious honor.

Carroll’s storied career, which included 24 years as chairman of the U’s Department of Biochemistry until he stepped aside in 2009, is credited with advancements that have led to dissecting gene function, engineering disease- and drought-resistant (or hardy) crop plants and correcting genetic diseases in people.

While other scientists are now applying genome editing tools to make or correct mutations, Carroll wants to take a step back and peer into the cell to figure out what is happening. “Right now, I am interested in the mechanism that allows these tools to work rather than their application,” he said.

The University of Utah was named 2016 Tree Campus USA.

Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.

The U met five core standards for effective campus forest management:

• A tree advisory committee
• A campus tree-care plan
• Dedicated annual expenditures for entire campus tree program
• Arbor Day observance
• Student service-learning project

The U.S. Department of State and the Institute of International Education will bring 130 international first-year Fulbright students to the U later this month to learn how to apply their research to advance the public good in their home countries.

The students, who come from 55 countries, will be on campus May 23-26. The seminar, “From Lab to Market,” will share the U’s success in innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization.

“We’re delighted to have been chosen to lead this year’s From Lab to Market seminar,” said Keith Marmer, executive director and associate vice president of Technology & Venture Commercialization at the University of Utah. “Many graduate students today want to see their research make an impact in people’s lives and on society. This seminar will explain to the attending Fulbright students not only why technology commercialization is one of the best methods for achieving this impact, but also how to accomplish it.”

Fulbright students are often regarded as some of the brightest in the world. Fifty-seven Fulbright alumni have been awarded Nobel Prizes, 29 have become MacArthur Foundation Fellows, 82 have received Pulitzer Prizes and 37 have served as heads of state or government.

Learn more here.

The State no longer provides Notary Surety Bonds for university employees who are notaries.

Please see new information at the Risk & Insurance Services website here.

In the wake of the 2017 NFL Draft, which saw a school-record eight Utes selected, seven more 2016 Utah football graduates have signed undrafted free agent contracts. Defensive end Hunter Dimick (Jacksonville), long snapper Chase Dominguez (New Orleans), wide receiver Tim Patrick (Baltimore), kicker Andy Phillips (Chicago), defensive back Reggie Porter (Indianapolis), defensive tackle Pasoni Tasini (Arizona) and safety Jason Thompson (New England) are hoping to add to the 11 Utah undrafted free agents on current NFL rosters.

Read more here.

Third-year law students Mike Eixenberger and David Jaffa were named national runners up in the final round of the 2017 moot court competition sponsored by the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

The two represented the appellee side in a case involving design patent infringement and intellectual property contract breach. Their position was riddled with merit-based problems and the U law students were grilled relentlessly by the judges. The final competition took place in Washington, D.C.

This is the second year Eixenberger and Jaffa have reached the finals. A team from S.J. Quinney College of Law has advanced to the national level three out of the past four years, but this is the highest finish ever for one of its teams.

The University of Utah is part of IIE’s Generation Study Abroad, an initiative launched in 2014 with the goal of doubling the number of U.S. students studying abroad by the end of the decade.

IIE is conducting a national survey of study abroad alumni. The survey aims to collect information about the role study abroad plays in developing competencies for the job market. The findings will be shared widely with universities and policy makers.

Eligibility: Participants must have studied abroad during or after the 1999/00 academic year, while seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S. higher education institution.

We encourage all eligible students, faculty or staff to complete the survey.

The online study abroad survey will be open until May 10, 2017.  Take the six-minute survey and share.

For more information about global opportunities at the U, contact the Office for Global Engagement at 801.587.8888 or visit global.utah.edu.

Please take a few minutes to help inform our Landscape Master Plan by providing your feedback on the outdoor spaces at the University of Utah.

Please provide your input by Friday, April 28.

Click here to take the survey.

The web-based ridesharing service Zimride, which is available at the University of Utah, will donate $1 to the National Park Foundation for every new member or new ride posted in April up to $10,000.

In addition, Enterprise Holdings Inc., which owns Zimride, will match Zimride’s contributions dollar for dollar.

Sign up and post a ride here.