Raymond Rodriguez, professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology has been awarded an honorary doctorate of science by the Nara Institute of Science and Technology, one of the highest-ranked universities in Japan.

The doctorate is the first honorary degree presented by the institute in its 20-year history and recognizes Rodriguez’ efforts in establishing the successful academic exchange program between NAIST and the College of Biological Sciences at UC Davis.

The exchange program provides research and educational opportunities for UC Davis and NAIST graduate students and faculty studying biological sciences.

Rodriguez was principal organizer of the program and served as faculty contact from 2001 to 2006.

At the Dec. 14, 2009, ceremony in Osaka, Japan, Rodriguez was presented with the honorary doctorate and a bouquet of genetically modified blue roses, courtesy of the Suntory Corp., a major supporter of the Institute’s biotechnology program.

Rodriguez is also the founding director of the Center of Excellence for Nutritional Genomics, a multidisciplinary research collaboration between the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at UC Davis, the USDA Western Human Nutrition Research Center, the Children’s Hospital of Oakland and Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute and the Ethnic Health Institute.