Aleyda Ceballos Valenzuela
Okello Laboratory
Molecular Microbiology
Start Date: June 2023
Email: agceballos@ucdavis.edu
Position: Undergraduate research scholar, Laboratory assistant, Student Intern
Education:
BS, Animal Science, Cornell University - In Progress
Experiences and Interests:
I am an undergraduate student pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, driven by a deep passion for animal care and scientific research. My long-term goal is to become a veterinarian skilled in both large and small animal medicine. Growing up in Tulare, California—one of the leading dairy-producing regions in the United States—I gained a firsthand understanding of the essential role that farmers and animals play in supporting families, communities, and society as a whole. From an early age, I was taught the importance of caring for animals with respect and responsibility—because they give to us, and it’s our duty to give back to them. I aspire to contribute to this vital connection between people and animals by advancing my education in veterinary medicine and, one day, returning to Tulare to serve and support the community that shaped me. My experience in the Okello Lab has been central to my journey and helped me develop many valuable research skills and laboratory techniques from antimicrobial stewardship to PCR techniques. Beyond technical training, the relationships I’ve built and the mentorship I’ve received in the lab have been truly meaningful. Outside the lab I shadow a veterinarian, volunteer at the animal shelter, volunteer at the Tulare Chamber of Commerce with any community event, take care of the livestock at home, and spend time with my little siblings.