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Daniel Ta

Daniel Ta

Education: 

Ph.D. Chemistry, Texas Christian University, 2024; B.S. Chemistry, Texas Christian University, 2019

From: Fort Worth, Texas

Joined David Lab: June 2024

Outside of lab: Reading, running, hiking, and cooking

Research in David Lab:

Design and synthesis of nucleoside analogs for inhibition of enzymes in the base excision repair pathway

Previous Research Experience:

Fascinated by the impact of organic chemistry and its potential to impact and improve the lives of others, Daniel obtained his Ph.D. from TCU (Go Frogs!) where he developed green, sustainable synthetic methods towards organic dyes with Prof. Sergei V. Dzyuba. He also spent time with Thermo Fisher Scientific developing cost-effective methods towards fluorescent labeled oligonucleotides. Daniel moved to Davis to expand proficiency as an organic chemist while working on discovering new and exciting insights in nature.

RSS Science Daily News

  • Life on Mars? NASA discovers potential biosignatures in Martian mudstones September 11, 2025
    NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered mudstones in Mars’ Jezero Crater that contain organic carbon and unusual textures hinting at possible biosignatures. These findings suggest that ancient Martian environments may have supported chemical processes similar to those on Earth, where microbial life thrives. While the team stresses they have not discovered evidence of life, the rocks […]
  • Surprising gut discovery reveals a hidden trigger of diabetes and liver disease September 11, 2025
    Scientists in Canada have uncovered a surprising culprit behind high blood sugar and liver problems: a hidden fuel made by gut bacteria. This little-known molecule, called D-lactate, slips into the bloodstream and pushes the liver to make too much sugar and fat. By creating a simple “trap” that blocks the molecule in the gut, researchers […]
  • Mapping the secret escape routes of deadly brain tumors September 11, 2025
    Glioblastoma’s stealthy spread has met a new challenge: MRI-powered fluid flow mapping that reveals where the cancer is likely to invade next. The innovation is now being advanced by a spinoff company to guide personalized cancer treatments.
  • Who were the mystery humans behind Indonesia’s million-year-old tools? September 10, 2025
    A groundbreaking discovery on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi reveals that early hominins crossed treacherous seas over a million years ago, leaving behind stone tools that reshape our understanding of ancient migration. These findings, older than previous evidence in the region, highlight Sulawesi as a critical piece of the puzzle in human evolution. Yet, the […]
  • Scientists just built a detector that could finally catch dark matter September 10, 2025
    Physicists have unveiled a new superconducting detector sensitive enough to hunt dark matter particles smaller than electrons. By capturing faint photon signals, the device pushes the search into uncharted territory.

Contact:

Dr. Sheila S. David
ssdavid@ucdavis.edu
(530)-752-4280

Department of Chemistry
One Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616