Bio

Type B graduate student at UC Davis studying how plant cells build cell walls from scratch during cytokinesis. I enjoy sharing science with others in the classroom, online and to people sitting next to me on airplanes.

Here's my elevator pitch.

Research Areas:
Cell Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Evolution

Publications

Davis, D.J., Kang, B., Heringer, A., Wilkop, T.E., Drakakaki, G. (2016). Unconventional protein secretion in plants. Unconventional Protein Secretion-Methods and Protocols. Springer. 1459: 47-63.

Davis, D.J., McDowell, S.C., Park, E., Hicks, G., Wilkop, T.E., Drakakaki, G. (2014). The RAB GTPase RABA1e localizes to the cell plate and shows distinct subcellular behavior from RABA2a under Endosidin 7 treatment. Plant Signaling and Behavior. 10(3)

Davis, D., Wilkop, T. E., & Drakakaki, G. (2016). The Golgi apparatus. In Plant Cells and their Organelles (pp. 61–87). Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118924846.ch4

Park, E., Diaz-Moreno, S.M., Davis, D.J., Wilkop, T.E., Bulone, V., Drakakaki, G. (2014). Endosidin 7 specifically arrests late cytokinesis and inhibits callose biosynthesis revealing distinct trafficking events during cell plate maturation. Plant Physiology. 165(3): 1019-1034

Volunteer Activities

As member of Science Says (UC Davis science communication group):

  • Science Communication Fellow (Powerhouse Science Center, hosted by the Discovery Museum in Sacramento, CA), Fall 2015
  • Member of Leadership team: 
    • Co-chair of Membership (2017-2018)
    • Social media co-chair (2016-2017) 
    • Science Really Says blog contributor
  • Organizer of community bookclub (Stuffed and Starved by Raj Patel), Winter 2017
  • Contributor to Biotech Feedback, a pilot initiative of early career scientists to annotate current science news articles for the public.
  • Guest lecturer at San Marin High School on Plant Biotechnology, Winter 2016 
  • Co-organizer of seminar series on science communication
  • Co-organized table-top demonstration (“Transgenic and glowing plants, Oh my!”) at Marguerite Montgomery Elementary School, Davis, California. May 8, 2015.
  • Created informative poster about agriculture and biotechnology at UC Davis’s Picnic Day, April 18, 2015.
  • Co-created informational flier on Chipotle’s GMO ban
  • Organized information and tabled at Davis, CA Farmer’s Market focused on agriculture and biotechnology (2015)

Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology (DEB) outreach activities:

  • Judge for Teen Biotech Challenge Competition (May 2014 and 2015)
  • E-mentored three high school students (Sheldon High School and Vallejo High School, CA), Winter 2014 and 2015.
  • Participated in Science Day at Cesar Chavez Elementary, Davis, California. May 7, 2013.
  • Presented research and lead High School student tours of laboratory/UC Davis campus. (twice a quarter since Spring 2013--ongoing)
  • Research project judge at FFA and 4-H student Agriscience Fair at UC Davis Field Day (Winter 2016)
  • DNA extraction activity prep for Picnic Day activity (Spring 2017)

Lab outreach/volunteer activities:

  • Hosted 4 Woodland High School students for a lab demonstration day at UC Davis, Spring 2015.
  • Organized and administered demonstrations/lab lessons for use in high school classes in collaboration with instructors Eric Deyer and Jerry Delsol at Woodland High School (Woodland, California) Summer 2013.
  • Co-organized and administered Plant Biology lectures/demonstrations at Pioneer High School (Woodland, California), Fall 2012 
  • Plant Biology Graduate Student Association/PBGSA (campus GSA representative 2013-2014)
Interests
Current Affiliations
Experience & Education