Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode of Face to Face, Chancellor May talks with Azucena (Zucy) Virgen, a fourth-year biological sciences major at UC Davis, alongside Professor Celina Juliano, a molecular and cellular biologist whose Juliano Lab examines stem cell regeneration in hydra. Professor Juliano discusses the role of her research lab in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, and how it has inspired Zucy’s pursuit of attending graduate school to further examine the impact of regenerative biology in human health.
1:56 Woodland, California native Zucy talks about her high school zoology class and its impact on her decision to major in biology.
3:03 Professor Juliano talks about her start in a UC San Diego lab that inspired her academic path at UC Davis.
4:53 Student-led Hydra generation research and why it matters.
7:10 Juliano Lab and why regeneration matters across all animals?
8:50 Federal funding support for basic biology and its importance for regenerative medicine.
9:55 Juliano Lab and federal research funds go towards hands-on experience for the next generation of scientists.
10:55 Basic science importance of regenerative medicine and its impact on human medicine advancements.
14:20 Undergraduate student mentorship in a hands-on biology lab and its value for emerging scientists.
19:32 Pursuing a research career amid job market uncertainties.
20:40 Hot Takes: childhood job career, favorite scientific breakthrough (Dolly, the Sheep clone), Arboretum and campus favorites.
15:18 Chancellor May talks about his most memorable mentoring experience and whether he likes to cook.
*About From Labs to Lives*
In our From Labs to Lives series, UC Davis researchers describe the impact of their work and the consequences if federal funding for medical research were reduced or eliminated. Our research strengthens the U.S. economy and drives innovation in science and medicine. By finding new treatments and preventing illness, our work saves lives.
More at: https://www.ucdavis.edu/research/labs-to-lives?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=chancellor_fltl
*About UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May*
Gary S. May became UC Davis’ seventh chancellor on Aug. 1, 2017. An accomplished scholar and engineer, May came to UC Davis from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
More at: https://leadership.ucdavis.edu/chancellor/gary-s-may?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=chancellor_fltl
*Follow Chancellor May*
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chancellormay.bsky.social
Facebook: facebook.com/ChancellorMay
Instagram: instagram.com/chancellor.may
Twitter/X: https://x.com/chancellor_may
*All UC Davis Podcasts and Shows*
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/podcasts-and-shows?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=chancellor_fltl
*Check Out UC Davis*
Website: https://www.ucdavis.edu/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=chancellor_fltl
Virtual campus tour: https://www.ucdavis.edu/about/visit/campus-virtual-tour/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=chancellor_fltl
*About UC Davis*
Since the beginning, we’ve outgrown expectations. Established in 1908 as a university farm, UC Davis has continually branched out, challenged the way things are done, and gained recognition for solving complex problems related to health, environment, culture and society. Our 5,300-acre campus borders the city of Davis, a vibrant college town of about 68,000 people in Yolo County.
UC Davis is among the most comprehensive campuses in the University of California system, with four colleges and six professional schools that offer over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 100 graduate and professional degrees. UC Davis enrolls about 40,000 students from over 110 countries and contributes at least $13 billion to the California economy each year. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, the university exceeded $1 billion in research funding for the third consecutive year, cementing its reputation as a tier one research university.
*Subscribe to UC Davis*
youtube.com/@UCDavis
#FederalFunding #basicresearch
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In this episode of Face to Face, Chancellor May talks with Azucena (Zucy) Virgen, a fourth-year biological sciences major at UC Davis, alongside Professor Celina Juliano, a molecular and cellular biologist whose Juliano Lab examines stem cell regeneration in hydra. Professor Juliano discusses the role of her research lab in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, and how it has inspired Zucy’s pursuit of attending graduate school to further examine the impact of regenerative biology in human health.
1:56 Woodland, California native Zucy talks about her high school zoology class and its impact on her decision to major in biology.
3:03 Professor Juliano talks about her start in a UC San Diego lab that inspired her academic path at UC Davis.
4:53 Student-led Hydra generation research and why it matters.
7:10 Juliano Lab and why regeneration matters across all animals?
8:50 Federal funding support for basic biology and its importance for regenerative medicine.
9:55 Juliano Lab and federal research funds go towards hands-on experience for the next generation of scientists.
10:55 Basic science importance of regenerative medicine and its impact on human medicine advancements.
14:20 Undergraduate student mentorship in a hands-on biology lab and its value for emerging scientists.
19:32 Pursuing a research career amid job market uncertainties.
20:40 Hot Takes: childhood job career, favorite scientific breakthrough (Dolly, the Sheep clone), Arboretum and campus favorites.
15:18 Chancellor May talks about his most memorable mentoring experience and whether he likes to cook.
*About From Labs to Lives*
In our From Labs to Lives series, UC Davis researchers describe the impact of their work and the consequences if federal funding for medical research were reduced or eliminated. Our research strengthens the U.S. economy and drives innovation in science and medicine. By finding new treatments and preventing illness, our work saves lives.
More at: https://www.ucdavis.edu/research/labs-to-lives?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=chancellor_fltl
*About UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May*
Gary S. May became UC Davis’ seventh chancellor on Aug. 1, 2017. An accomplished scholar and engineer, May came to UC Davis from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
More at: https://leadership.ucdavis.edu/chancellor/gary-s-may?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=chancellor_fltl
*Follow Chancellor May*
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chancellormay.bsky.social
Facebook: facebook.com/ChancellorMay
Instagram: instagram.com/chancellor.may
Twitter/X: https://x.com/chancellor_may
*All UC Davis Podcasts and Shows*
https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/podcasts-and-shows?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=chancellor_fltl
*Check Out UC Davis*
Website: https://www.ucdavis.edu/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=chancellor_fltl
Virtual campus tour: https://www.ucdavis.edu/about/visit/campus-virtual-tour/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=chancellor_fltl
*About UC Davis*
Since the beginning, we’ve outgrown expectations. Established in 1908 as a university farm, UC Davis has continually branched out, challenged the way things are done, and gained recognition for solving complex problems related to health, environment, culture and society. Our 5,300-acre campus borders the city of Davis, a vibrant college town of about 68,000 people in Yolo County.
UC Davis is among the most comprehensive campuses in the University of California system, with four colleges and six professional schools that offer over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 100 graduate and professional degrees. UC Davis enrolls about 40,000 students from over 110 countries and contributes at least $13 billion to the California economy each year. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, the university exceeded $1 billion in research funding for the third consecutive year, cementing its reputation as a tier one research university.
*Subscribe to UC Davis*
youtube.com/@UCDavis
#FederalFunding #basicresearch
Tags
gray, mai, mya, mae, garry, ucdavis, gerry, maye, garey, chancelor, uc davies, u c davis, uc davus, uc davis chancellor, canceller, gary may, uc davis president, chancellor uc davis, ucd chancellor, university of california davis chancellor, uc chancellor, chancellor, chanselor, gary s may, gary may uc davis, chancellor may, chancellor gary s. may, chancellor gary may, uc davis chancellor may, gary s. may, goverment, helth, fedral, reserch, grans, medcal, freze, cutes, publc, fundng, pasued
