Biology professor Denise Dearing has been honored by the American Society of Mammalogists with its 2014 C. Hart Merriam Award, which the group says “is given to eminent scholars in recognition of outstanding research in mammalogy over a period of at least 10 years.” The group praised Dearing’s “transformative and cross-disciplinary research on the ecological factors and physiological constraints that influence” how mammals such as woodrats forage for food and evolve the ability to eat a wide range of plants, including those that contain toxic substances. Dearing has recently served as associate dean of the U’s College of Science and has been named chair of the Department of Biology effective July 1, 2014.