Sophomore Dylan Valencia is enthusiastic and focused on his science classes here at Davis, but also loves to relax and play the clarinet in the Band-Uh. He knows ample amounts of facts about his favorite band, Muse, and can grow an impressive looking beard in a matter of days.
Name: Dylan Valencia
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Hometown: San Gabriel, CA
Relationship Status: Single
Davis Questions:
Why did you choose your major?
Ideally, I just wanted “Molecular Biology” as a major, but the closest major at UCD was “Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.”
Is there a specific “dream job” you hope to pursue after college?
I want to conduct research in a molecular biology lab, and hopefully create treatments for certain diseases. After college, I would love to work at a reputable pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry such as Amgen or Genentech.
Do you have a job on campus? What is it?
This Fall, I started working at the UCDNA sequencing facility on campus in the basement of Storer Hall. I work with four other undergraduate students and have two very cool bosses.
Sounds interesting, what exactly do you do?
Including myself, the undergraduates receive DNA samples that need to be sequenced from other undergraduates conducting research on campus. We set up those reactions with the correct primers for the thermocyclers to conduct Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Afterwards, we purify the DNA on this machine and prepare them for the gene sequencing machines. Our bosses analyze the results, and then we send them out to the person conducting the research.
Favorite class you’ve taken at Davis?
SAS 25- Global Climate Change
What are you looking forward to in your next couple years at Davis?
I’m looking forward to having fun with the Band-Uh. Also, I’m actually looking forward to my upper division molecular biology classes that I’ve planned for junior year.
What is the most important thing you learned as a freshman?
I learned how to manage time a lot better while being in the Band-Uh and keeping up my GPA, along with being in ASBMB.
Fun Questions:
First thought you had waking up this morning?
I get to have BIS 2C lecture in the Mondavi Center again.
Describe your dream date.
Going out to dinner, and then hanging out afterwards while watching Netflix or playing video games.
Last thing that made you mad?
In November, my roommates were lying to me, and told me that one of my close friends was going to transfer to a different college. Later they told me they were just joking.
If you could travel back in time, where would you go and what would you do?
I would travel back to the year 1925 in Germany, and have a lengthy conversation with Albert Einstein.
Lightning round:
Celebrity Crush: Jennifer Lawrence
Favorite Food: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and peas
Favorite TV Show: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (now Trevor Noah)
Turn On: Talent (primarily a beautiful singing voice, but also playing an instrument is cool), being nice, a nice smile, and a good sense of humor.
Turn Off: Being rude and egotistical
Parting Words?
It’s going to be a good year.