Official Blog | UCGPC

Victoria Salemme PhD candidate, UC Davis

Meet Victoria Salemme (She/Her/Hers), a standout researcher, advocate, and leader serving on the 2025 Board of the University of California Graduate and Professional Council (UCGPC). A Ph.D. candidate in the Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Graduate Group at UC Davis, Victoria is advancing cutting-edge cardiovascular research while championing meaningful policy changes for graduate and professional students across the UC system.

At the Forefront of Heart Health Innovation

As an American Heart Association pre-doctoral fellow, Victoria’s research focuses on cell signaling within the cardiovascular system, with a particular emphasis on calcium signaling, a key driver of how heart cells function and respond to stress. Her work aims to deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind cardiovascular disease, opening the door to more targeted treatments and better long-term outcomes for patients.

Her research not only contributes to the broader field of physiology but also reinforces the critical role graduate researchers play in solving real-world health challenges.

Leadership Rooted in Advocacy and Action

Outside the lab, Victoria is equally committed to advocacy and public service. She currently serves as the Vice President of External Affairs for UC Davis’ Graduate and Professional Student Association, where she represents student interests on campus and at the systemwide level. As a council member ex officio on UCGPC’s voting board, she helps shape policy decisions that impact thousands of graduate and professional students across California.

Victoria is especially passionate about supporting parenting students. In Fall 2024, she led the successful implementation of “Bring Your Kid to College Day” at UC Davis—a groundbreaking initiative designed to build community and normalize the student-parent experience in academic spaces.

She also played a key role in advocating for Assembly Bill 2458, also known as the GAINS Act, which aims to expand access to essential resources for graduate students across the state. Her work demonstrates a deep commitment to improving not only academic conditions but also the day-to-day lives of graduate students.

“Graduate students wear many hats—as researchers, caretakers, and changemakers. I’m honored to advocate for policies that reflect our full lives and needs.”
Victoria Salemme

Connect with Victoria through UCGPC to learn more about her groundbreaking work in cardiovascular science and her unwavering dedication to student advocacy.