It’s not often that a Nobel laureate visits a UC Davis undergraduate classroom, but this year, a biochemistry class in Kleiber Hall struck “gold”—twice.

Not one, but two Nobel laureates chronicled their scientific careers and answered questions during their virtual visits to UC Davis Distinguished Professor Walter Leal’s winter quarter class, “Structure and Function of Biomolecules.”

Nobel laureates Charles Rice of Rockefeller University, who is a UC Davis alumnus, and Randy Schekman of UC Berkeley separately visited Leal's classroom within a three-week period. Each received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Rice in 2020, and Schekman in 2013.

The opportunities to engage with both laureates stunned the class’s 220 students, who are primarily in prehealth majors.

“The Nobel laureate visits provided students with opportunities they never imagined when enrolling in an undergraduate class,” said Leal.

Unlock Their Imagination and Potential

Leal, recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Teaching Award from the UC Davis Academic Senate, said his goal is simple: to “unlock students’ imagination and potential.”

That impact was evident in student responses following the virtual visits. In anonymous evaluations, many described the experience as both surreal and deeply meaningful—an opportunity they never expected to be part of their college education.

“I would have never imagined that I would be ‘face to face’ with two Nobel laureates,” one student wrote. “As a first-generation college student, I truly appreciate the opportunity and all of the advice that these two amazing Nobel laureates gave us.”

For others, the experience made science feel more tangible and within reach. Figures they had only encountered in textbooks or headlines suddenly became real people, offering insight into their work and careers. “Their names pop up in the news, but they don’t seem real until you meet these incredible scientists,” another student reflected.

Across responses, a common theme emerged: moments like these don’t just enhance a course—they reshape how students see themselves and their place in science.

Find What You Love

In his presentation, Rice—a virologist who shared the Nobel Prize with Harvey Alter and Michael Houghton for their work on the hepatitis C virus—encouraged UC Davis students to seek out research opportunities and to “find what you love and do whatever you can to make your dreams into a reality.”

Students connected not only with his scientific achievements, but with his honesty about the uncertainty and balance that shaped his path. In post-visit reflections, many pointed to how his story made success in science feel more accessible—and more human.

“I enjoyed Dr. Rice’s visit,” one student wrote. “He was very funny and humble, and knowing that his path wasn’t straightforward, yet he still became a Nobel laureate makes me more confident in my abilities to make a change.”

Others were struck by his perspective on life beyond the lab. Rather than framing science as all-consuming, Rice emphasized the importance of exploration and balance—an idea that resonated strongly with students still figuring out their own paths. As one student reflected, “we must make time to enjoy life… undergraduate students have the best opportunity to find what we want to achieve.”

Together, those messages left students with a clearer sense that a career in science isn’t linear—and doesn’t have to be.

Doctorate from Stanford

Cell biologist Randy Schekman received his doctorate in biochemistry from Stanford University. He shared the Nobel Prize with James Rothman and Thomas Südhof for their research on cell membrane vesicle trafficking. They discovered the genetic and molecular machinery that regulates vesicle transport—the “shipping system” of cells.

In his virtual visit, Schekman spoke about the connections between science and politics, emphasizing the importance of government support for research and the role scientists can play in shaping public understanding.

That message resonated strongly with students, particularly those interested in both science and policy. “Dr. Randy Schekman’s visit definitely spoke to me deeply as a student interested in science and politics,” one student wrote. “The two fields are so deeply intertwined at this point in history that you cannot care about one and not the other.”

Others reflected on how hearing directly from a Nobel laureate sharpened their perspective on the issue, making the importance of research funding feel more immediate and personal. Students also expressed appreciation for the rare opportunity to engage directly—asking questions and participating in a conversation they hadn’t expected to be part of.

“Overall,” Leal said, “hearing about the Nobel laureates’ struggles, failures, and persistence reassured students about their own challenges. These were highly valuable educational experiences, deeply inspirational and motivating, and events they will remember forever.”