Global Disease Biology

Hey GDB! I graduated Class of 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in GDB and a minor in Philosophy. I am currently a Clinical Research Coordinator at UCSF helping families who have experienced neonatal loss with autopsy, research donation, and organ donation. In my free time, I enjoy backpacking, snowboarding, and teaching my dog new tricks. 

My name is Paulina and I’m a third year Global Disease Biology major. I’ve been a part of the Joan Viteri Memorial student-run clinic since I was a freshman and it’s been an incredibly impactful experience. Through the clinic I’ve also become a volunteer at the Stockton Harm Reduction Program where I’ve learned a lot about what makes a good public health intervention. For the past year, I worked as an interviewer for the California Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 case-control study that aimed to better understand vaccine and mask effectiveness, among other things.

Happy Spring! 

Hi! I'm Amber (they/she), a third year Global Disease Biology major! At UC Davis, I'm an administrator for the student-run clinic Joan Viteri Memorial Clinic, the president of the UC Davis Disabled Student Union, and I'm currently conducting research with Brady Labs. The GDB program has given me the opportunity to explore science, public health, and community health through a variety of very cool classes, research, and hands-on experiences. It's been an awesome experience to work in wet labs, clinical settings, and engage in social justice advocacy! 

Hello fellow GDBers! My name is Claire Chapman and I recently graduated from UC Davis in Spring 2021. In addition to my lovely GDB degree, I also received minors in Medical Entomology and Public Health and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Medal. During my time at UC Davis, I was involved in Science Olympiad at UC Davis, Regents Scholars Society, the University Honors Program, and Research Scholars Program in Insect Biology – all of which greatly shaped me into the person I am today. My undergraduate practicum research was under the guidance of Dr.

My name is Maddie Hunt and I am a fourth year GDB Major, graduating spring quarter. I am from a small farming town in the Central Valley named Tulare, where we have more cows than people. Here at UC Davis I am involved in the agricultural sorority on campus, Sigma Alpha. 

In this series, the GDB Advising Team interviews professors who play an integral part in our GDB curriculum. We are so grateful to have such amazing and compassionate faculty as part of the team!

Hello all, my name is Andrea Guggenbickler (she/her/hers). My partner and I live in Woodland, CA with our three cats (Butters, Toast, and Doctor Professor Stripey Pants). I graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Global Disease Biology in 2018. During my time as a Global Disease Biology student I focused my research and studies on both GDB and public health efforts- specifically Herpes Simplex Virus 2 vaccine development research and menstrual hygiene product access research.

Hi everyone! My name is Valerie Nyasimi, I am a transfer 4th year Global Disease Biology major. I learned about my major through the recommendation a friend gave. She had minored in it during her time in Davis. I did my research, and I was really impressed by the One Health approach in which the major is structured, because of that I decided to pursue my bachelor’s in the major. The GDB major has provided me with a better outlook on how we humans, plants, and animals are all connected which is something that was not really emphasized in my prior college years.