Regeneration for the Next Generation
How one UC Davis student builds a foundation for academic leadership through regenerative biology
Fourth-year biological sciences major and Barry Goldwater Scholar recipient Azucena Virgen studies the regenerative biology of Hydra — a freshwater organism known for its ability to regrow entire body parts — at the UC Davis Juliano Lab. What began as a fascination in a high school biology class in her hometown of Woodland, California, grew into a long-term goal to lead a research lab and mentor future scientists.
“When I first learned about Hydra and how they regenerate from nothing, it was so incredible,” Virgen said. “I find it poetic that I can contribute to this research in even the smallest way to potentially help change the lives of so many people.”