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. Chris Barker and PhD candidate Olivia Winokur where I helped surveil for mosquito-borne diseases, learned how to rear the pesky little insects, and researched mosquito behavioral thermal regulation.

Now, I am a PhD student in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of California, San Diego. I am rotating through labs now before I choose a thesis advisor, but I plan on studying host-pathogen interactions. As I transition to a more molecular/cellular approach to researching disease, I believe my education as a GDB student keeps me grounded in the bigger picture of scientific research. I have become more appreciative of the unique aspects of the GDB major that sets it apart in all the right ways. As a GDB student, you learn the power of One Health, science communication, and empathy in science which I know will make us all better scientists. I’m so grateful for the UC Davis and GDB communities for making me feel like I can make a difference in the world and inspiring me to use my PhD to one day return to public health and improve communication between scientists and the public. Good luck to all of you and Go Ags!