One CBS Student’s Mission to Inspire and Uplift the Next Generation of Scientists

Jessica Bolivar, a graduate student in the Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (BMCDB) Graduate Group, knows firsthand the difference that one person’s mentorship can make. 

During her time at UC Davis, Bolivar has made it her mission to give back and inspire the next generation of scientists by balancing her research with a slew of community-uplifting and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“One person changed my whole career path,” Bolivar said. “That’s where my passion comes from with these initiatives—I just want to inspire the next generation of students.”

In the BMCDB graduate group, Bolivar is investigating the molecular mechanisms that cells use to deal with stress in the lab of Christopher Fraser, a professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology. In the predominately biochemistry-based lab, Bolivar is taking a different angle to examine cell stress—by drawing on her passion and experience with cell imaging.

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