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A UC Davis graduate from San Jose is set to transform the understanding and experience of aging through groundbreaking research and compassionate community service. Avantika Gokulnatha, recipient of the prestigious University Medal at this year’s commencement, has dedicated her undergraduate journey to addressing the challenges of aging through scientific research, technological support for seniors, and medical volunteerism.
Gokulnatha’s passion for aging research and senior care stems from personal experiences caring for her grandfather, which inspired her to make significant contributions during her time at UC Davis. As a genetics and genomics major, she has already established an impressive track record of research and community engagement.
Last year, she was a Goldwater Scholar in STEM research, and interned at the National Institute of Aging in Baltimore. She also led Breaking Barriers, a student organization helping seniors with technology skills, and volunteered at the Joan Viteri Memorial Clinic and Sutter Health Hospice while juggling her studies.
Now, she has accepted a Fulbright award to study at the Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Ageing in Germany. She plans to enroll in medical school after her time in Germany, with a mission to transform aging from an “inevitable decline to a manageable process.”
Read more here.
This text was edited with the assistance of an AI tool, and has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and clarity by India Currents.