To the UC Davis Community:

The past few months have been challenging for all of us. We are navigating a complex national political landscape, budget constraints, operational challenges and, consequently, a period of deep uncertainty. Many members of our community have told me about the anxiety they are feeling — I feel it too.

Yet, I want to assure you that, as University of California President Michael V. Drake said on Jan. 28, “we remain committed to our students, staff, faculty, patients and one another.” 

These challenges are real, but we will face them together. We will continue to train the next generation of innovators and problem solvers, develop life-saving research and make the world we share more sustainable. We will continue to serve the people of California and beyond. That is the UC Davis way — that is who we are.

Even amid uncertainty, one thing remains clear: We will stay true to our values. UC Davis has long lived by its Principles of Community, established 35 years ago, and we will continue to honor and uphold them. We will support and celebrate every community that is part of our university.

Because these challenges extend beyond UC Davis and affect universities nationwide, my fellow chancellors and I believe the University of California must speak with one voice. I encourage you to visit the University of California’s dedicated website for ongoing federal updates.

Federal support has meaningful outcomes

We have a long history of working alongside the federal government to bring transformative research to the people of California and beyond. That longstanding commitment has yielded incredible dividends for all, and it must continue. Since World War II, the government has supported research at universities like UC Davis to power local jobs, drive American innovation and empower faculty and entrepreneurs to bring their ideas from basic research to market. 

This federal support makes critical breakthroughs by UC Davis researchers possible. For example, support from the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense is helping UC Davis scientists bring nanoparticle treatment to cancer patients. At the same time, a grant from the Department of Defense is powering a collaboration between UC Davis researchers at the College of Engineering, the School of Veterinary Medicine and the California Raptor Center as they study birds in flight to design the next generation of uncrewed aerial systems.

The Office of Research published a useful article explaining what is at stake — breakthroughs and innovations at UC Davis that were been made possible by federal funding. The Office of Research also developed a webpage with resources and ongoing updates.

Across the country, these partnerships between government and universities — all conducted under strict accountability — make transformative research that can take decades to become profitable possible. 

This video from the Association of American Universities demonstrates the vital economic importance of this support and explains how university research programs are funded. While these programs have fueled the American economy for generations, they are under threat today, potentially undermining our national competitiveness, public health and transformative research.

Just as that partnership has supported innovators and entrepreneurs at UC Davis since the 1950s, we plan to expand them at our new development at Aggie Square once the innovation district officially opens in early May. Students working side-by-side with researchers and private industry partners will be empowered to seamlessly transfer their ideas from the classroom to the lab to the market. 

The power of entrepreneurship

Across UC Davis, we know that education extends beyond the classroom. We empower our students to become innovators, problem-solvers and agents of change. For many of our students, this entrepreneurial journey begins the moment they arrive on campus. Our location near Silicon Valley, the state capital and the growing tech sector in the Sacramento region provides students with invaluable opportunities to transform their work from concept to practice before graduation.

This entrepreneurial spirit reflects a powerful national trend among young people, who increasingly envision their futures as business creators. A recent survey illuminated this trend, finding that 75% of Gen Z want to start their own business someday. They see entrepreneurship as a career path for self-expression, creativity and social change.

That passion for serving communities drives students like Ijeoma Uche, whose research focuses on serving expecting mothers and their families. 

The second-year Ph.D. and M.D. student developed Birth By Us, the first comprehensive tool for connecting mothers and healthcare providers in the confusing and fragmented healthcare landscape. The app focuses on serving Black women, who still experience maternal mortality rates four times higher than the national average.

Ijeoma chose UC Davis because, from the start, her mentors enthusiastically supported her entrepreneurial efforts to improve the health of Black women. She says that at other institutions, students are told to reach a certain status before commercializing their work, but at UC Davis, innovation is supported at every step.

Our university strives to nurture this ambition. Our students aren't simply chasing profits; they're driven by a deeper sense of purpose. They are launching ventures that tackle local and global challenges, from developing sustainable agriculture practices to creating cutting-edge medical technologies. 

Supporting campus entrepreneurs

We support this culture of entrepreneurship across UC Davis in programs for undergraduate and graduate students. 

This fall, backed by strong student and community interest, we are launching our undergraduate business major. The major will connect students with local businesses for practical, hands-on experience directly transferring into jobs and startups. 

The new major builds on our longstanding culture of supporting the power of commercializing UC Davis innovations and sharing them with the world.

The Mike and Renée Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has supported innovation on the UC Davis campus since 2006. It fosters a collaborative environment where students from diverse disciplines can connect, brainstorm and develop innovative projects. 

By providing a platform for experimentation and risk-taking, the center cultivates a culture that extends beyond the campus while helping UC Davis researchers find paths to commercializing their innovations. Its programs, including EQUIP, the Big Bang! Little Bang! Pitch and Poster Competition, and the Blackstone LaunchPad, train students to conceptualize, pitch and market their ideas.

The Student Startup Center is another exciting opportunity for students. Open to every major, it provides dynamic courses like “Launching a Company” and other support for UC Davis students interested in entrepreneurship. The center reaches about 2,000 students a quarter through its three pillars: courses; events connecting students with investors, faculty researchers and each other; and dedicated space in the Diane Bryant Engineering Student Design Center, where students can construct prototypes and test their work in virtual reality.

The work at the center builds to the 12-week PLASMA accelerator program, which offers students mentorship and networking opportunities with industry leaders, educational lessons, seed capital and a collaborative entrepreneurial environment. Students work with mentors to develop business ideas, which they present at PLASMA Demo Day, pitching their startups to industry experts and potential investors.

As center director Aaron Anderson said: “Supporting entrepreneurship means understanding that we often underestimate our students’ abilities and overestimate their practical experience. When we provide mentors and offer practical risk-taking opportunities, they can transform their original ideas into reality.”

Embracing iteration to succeed

Leslie Valdez, a first-generation, Latinx design major, initially had no entrepreneurial aspirations. However, after connecting with fellow students, she realized they could leverage biodesign practices to create sustainable alternatives for acrylic fingernails from fish scales and other byproducts.

Leslie emphasizes the power of failure in entrepreneurship. She says each failure of SeaNails — their all-natural, biodegradable, waste-based nail replacements — whether in development, pitches to potential investors or marketing, led to a new iteration that propelled their concept forward. 

She plans to pursue entrepreneurship and become a high school teacher, a job that will allow her to share her innovative approach to biodesign with future generations.

The experiences of these students illustrate another vital lesson for other student entrepreneurs. Succeeding doesn’t require disrupting entire industries or solving all the significant challenges we face. Still, each successful enterprise — large or small — can be a step toward a better future for our communities and planet. 

Building communication skills

Our students also develop communication skills vital to pitching their ideas to investors and fellow innovators. Prabhash Ragbir, a fourth-year Ph.D. student in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Trinidad and Tobago, competed in the annual Grad Slam competition. It’s a critical opportunity where students from all disciplines have three minutes to pitch their concepts to a panel of judges. He notes that the experience was his first opportunity to describe his project, a proof of concept for uncrewed aerial vehicles that could use chemical and wind sensors with GPS to detect wildfires before traditional spotting methods, to a non-technical audience.

The need for these skills isn’t limited to students who intend to start a business. Nicole Rodrigues, a sixth-year Ph.D. student in the Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Group, intends to work in biotech and government policy after graduation. 

She competed in the Ideas Competition, sharing the concept for an AI-powered application that would provide personalized guidance for those experiencing grief. She cites her time in the Leaders for the Future program. This five-month program taught her to take risks like an entrepreneur and meet with students from across disciplines to develop and consider creative, interdisciplinary approaches to common problems.

Preparation for the future workforce demands transferable skills as much as specific credentials. Opportunities like these are key bridges between classroom and work experience, whether students start their own company or join one. 

Investing in people, our economy, the future

With their exceptional knowledge, first-hand experience in research and innovation and commitment to developing solutions for global challenges, our students are investing in themselves so they can invest in the future.

We are uniquely positioned to support our students’ entrepreneurial journeys at UC Davis, with faculty mentors who are deeply invested in the culture of bringing great ideas to market. Students know they’ll be supported from the moment they imagine a concept, through their entire research process and into the rooms where they can pitch their ideas to the investors who can transform them into reality. 

I've always championed the belief that every Aggie should graduate prepared for success. Whether that means placement in a top graduate program, a fulfilling job or becoming a driving force in a startup, I'm certain our students will continue to leverage their innovative spirit to shape a brighter future.

Sincerely,

Gary S. May
Chancellor