Research Track Student Experiences
Gillian Bergmann
- Ph.D. student in Ecology
- Research: Microbial ecology in seeds research exchange (France)
- Related UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 15: Life on Land
“The program also allowed me to participate in the Global Leadership Certificate, which taught me about cultural humility and approaching my exchange through a global perspective. This training has helped me approach my collaborations and social interactions with more curiosity, which I feel has enriched my international experience and my desire to pursue other international opportunities.”
Learn more about Gillian’s experience.
Christian Bernal-Córdoba
- Ph.D. student in Animal Biology
- Research: Documenting Animal Management Practices and Challenges Faced by Hispanic Workers on California Dairy Farms (USA)
- Related UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 10: Reducing Inequalities
“I applied for the Global Grad Grant - Research Track program to combine my research with the invaluable expertise of Hispanic farm workers on California dairy farms. These individuals hold a wealth of practical knowledge gained through years of hands-on animal care and management. This program offered a unique opportunity to engage with these workers, learn from their lived experiences and integrate these insights into my research. By combining scientific methods with real-world practices, I aimed to develop more effective, context-aware strategies for antimicrobial use and animal management that benefit both animal welfare and farm worker well-being.”
Learn more about Christian’s experience ( and check out the video he made!)
Language, Culture and Science: Documenting Dairy Farming in California
Spending the summer documenting animal management practices on California dairy farms was both eye-opening and rewarding for Ph.D. student Christian Bernal-Córdoba.
Carlos Brito
- Ph.D. student in Economics
- Research: Understanding Local and Refugee Experiences: Venezuelan Displacement in Northern Brazil
- Related UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 16: Justice, Peace and Strong Institutions
“I applied for the Global Leadership Certificate Program to complement my quantitative research on the Venezuelan refugee population in Northern Brazil. My study examines the impact of the Venezuelan migration flow on local elections and public education quality in Boa Vista, the main city receiving Venezuelan migrants in Brazil. The program enabled me to conduct a field trip and gather qualitative data directly from locals and those providing public services, assistance, and shelter to refugees.”
Learn more about Carlos’s experience.
Alejandra Cano
- Ph.D. student in Native American Studies
- Research: Stingless Honey Bee Conservation and Eco-cultural Health in Colombia (Colombia)
- Related UN Sustainable Development Goals: UN SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; UN SDG 12: Responsible Production and Consumption; UN SDG 13: Climate Action
“My experience in this program was deeply enriching, allowing me to engage with diverse perspectives and build cross-cultural relationships. Interacting with diverse people and cultures broadened my understanding of how both local and global contexts shape conservation practices. I learned how crucial it is to center Indigenous peoples and TEK when addressing global challenges like biodiversity loss and climate change. Academically, it reinforced the importance of situating conservation efforts within socio-cultural dynamics. This understanding has sharpened my ability to navigate and lead within global networks to create more inclusive, sustainable solutions.”
Learn more about Alejandra’s experience.
Stingless Honey Bee Conservation and Eco-cultural Health in Colombia
Alejandra Cano, a Ph.D. candidate in Native American Studies, participated in the UC Davis Grad Grants program in Colombia to integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with stingless bee conservation.
Kelly Mae Heroux
- Ph.D. student in Soils and Biogeochemistry
- Service Project: Harvesting field research crops to donate (USA)
- Related UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation; SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 13: Climate Action; SDG 15: Life on Land
“I conducted my service project with the Global Grad Grant while also participating in the Global Leadership Pathway and Widening Circles program. These opportunities together allowed me to engage critically with what service means to me, where the impulse to serve comes from and how best to be of service. I was also able to consider power dynamics, explore how best I can work with others, deepen my sense of cultural humility, and practice new ways of leadership and collaboration.”
Learn more about Kelly Mae’s experience.
From Local Roots to Global Goals: Advancing Sustainability Through Agrivoltaics
Kelly Mae Heroux, a third-year grad student in Soils and Biogeochemistry, received a Global Grad Grant to tackle food insecurity through agrivoltaics and community service.
Social Impact Track Student Experiences
Felicia Zhornitsky
- Medical Student
- Internship: Sacred Valley Health: Indigenous and Community Health Program (Peru)
- Related UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being; SDG 5: Gender Equality
“I'm fascinated with learning how to bridge the gap between formal healthcare systems and underserved populations in a sustainable way, such as through the community health worker model: empowering local individuals to provide basic health services, education and support to their own communities. Participating in the UC Davis Widening Circles program seemed like an amazing opportunity to critically examine topics surrounding ethical global engagement and social change while I worked abroad with a nonprofit focused on training community health workers in Peru.”