Iris Juanico was drawn to science by her innate curiosity. 

“I never stop asking questions,” said Juanico, with a laugh. “I was drawn to science as a child because it involves asking a lot of questions.” 

This same curiosity continued to motivate Juanico throughout graduate school. As a student in the Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (BMCDB) Graduate Group, she’s spent the last five years digging into the details of tissue regeneration Hydra—small, jellyfish-like animals with remarkable regenerative abilities. 

“The goal of my research is to find out how injury leads to regeneration,” said Juanico. “If humans have a spinal cord injury or a limb amputation, we can't recover from it, but a Hydra can regrow its entire body. There are fundamental things that are similar between all animals, so understanding regeneration in Hydra could eventually enable better regeneration in humans.”

Driven by curiosity

Juanico got her first taste of research as an undergraduate at UC Davis, working with Francis McNally, a professor of molecular and cellular biology, to understand how egg cells discard their extra chromosomes during a special type of cell division called meiosis.

“The McNally lab was my introduction into hands-on research, and I was lucky to have the direct mentorship of Professor McNally,” said Juanico. “I am grateful that he gave me a chance to learn, make mistakes, gather my own data, and challenge myself. I also met some great people there—the lab felt like a home away from home.”

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2020, Juanico jumped straight into grad school. Though she interviewed at several universities, UC Davis ended up being her top pick.

“My father had a master's degree in computer science, so I always wanted to follow in his footsteps and get a graduate degree,” said Juanico. “Of all the places I interviewed, I felt like the grad students in the BMCDB program were the happiest, so that's why I chose UC Davis—again!”

Researching regeneration

Juanico’s doctoral research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms behind Hydra’s regenerative abilities. Specifically, Juanico’s project shed light on how genes and proteins become activated during different stages of regeneration.

“When a Hydra gets injured, there’s a very fast but generic initial response, where certain proteins are activated within seconds and genes are quickly transcribed,” said Juanico. “Later, the response becomes more specific depending on which tissue or body part needs to be regenerated.”

She was initially attracted to regeneration research because it offers the opportunity to study a scientific problem that spans several scales—from molecules to animals.

“In my research, I mainly think about how genes and proteins interact with each other, but because I'm working on this animal, I also get the output of what's happening at the tissue level,” said Juanico. “I really like that aspect of tackling a question from both a tissue level and a molecular level. Being able to hold the big picture in mind while looking at details is essential in science.”

Juanico says the thing she likes most about being a scientist is getting  to work alongside other passionate people.

“I like that I get to tackle and discuss very specific questions with peers while also discussing my research with people outside of my field,” said Juanico. “I enjoy getting to connect over a shared genuine curiosity for the natural world.”

Pursuing a career in industry—and helping others do the same

When she graduates this spring, Juanico plans to pursue a career in biotech—a path she’s been charting since her days as a UC Davis undergraduate. 

During her time in grad school, Juanico has taken advantage of several programs to help catapult her career, including the Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology (DEB) program, which equips doctoral students with the professional skills and experience that they need to succeed in the biotech industry.

As part of the program, Juanico mentored students at the Sheldon High School Biotechnology Academy. She also mentored several undergraduates during her time at UC Davis, and received the Sharon Gray Memorial Award in 2025, which honors CBS graduate students who demonstrate outstanding mentorship to high school students, undergraduates or peer women, for her work with Azucena Virgen.

“Iris approaches both her science and her career with care and intention,” said Celina Juliano, Juanico’s advisor and an associate professor of molecular and cellular biology. “Her thoughtful work ethic has already taken her far, and I’m confident it will continue to serve her well throughout her scientific career.”