MEET OUR KEYNOTE PRESENTER:
RAYMOND RODRIGUEZ

Dr. Raymond Rodriguez is a graduate from Fresno State who has had an amazing career in science, revolutionizing the field of biotechnology, and applying his scientific knowledge to improve lives around the world by solving challenges related to hunger and disease. Dr. Rodriguez will share his remarkable story from his humble beginnings working in the fields around Kerman, to transforming the fields of agriculture and medicine through science. You can learn more about his journey here, and read more about his life in the brief biography below.

Dr. Raymond Rodriguez came from humble beginnings in Kerman, CA, picking cotton, grapes, cantaloupes and tomatoes with his family in the Central Valley from the age of six. He worked in the fields until well into his college career to pay for tuition, attending Fresno City College prior to transferring to Fresno State. He credits his exposure to research at Fresno State as well as the mentoring he received from outstanding Professors here for launching his amazing career. 

After obtaining his degree in Biology at Fresno State, Dr. Rodriguez earned his Ph.D. at UC Santa Cruz and conducted research at UC San Francisco, before becoming a Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at UC Davis, where he spent most of his career. His pioneering research on DNA replication and gene cloning is widely recognized as paving the way for the modern era of molecular biology and biotechnology. He has received awards and recognitions from numerous professional organizations and academic institutions from around the world, and he holds 18 patents. He is a highly successful bio-entrepreneur, founding over 25 high tech startup companies and providing consulting services to Fortune 500 companies.