Associate Vice Chancellor for Research

Cristina Davis

Cristina Davis

Cristina Davis joined the Office of Research in 2022 as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Research for Research Development Services and Core Facilities (previously Interdisciplinary Research and Strategic Initiatives) after serving and the associate dean of research in the College of Engineering. Davis is a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Davis arrived in the role with nearly 20 years of experience working with multidisciplinary research teams in the areas of chemical sensing to tackle fundamental problems and develop niche application areas. She has been an advocate for interdisciplinary research support at a national level for many years — with federal, state and local entities. Defense, National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, among others.

In addition to her research accomplishments, Davis has considerable experience dealing with intellectual property, including patents and copyright code software coding. She is the inventor on 13 issued patents, with many more pending, and has played an instrumental role in the formation of three startups over her career. Davis has authored and co-authored numerous scientific papers and published more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles in high-impact journals and top-tier conferences.

Davis has a B.S. in mathematics and biology (double major) from Duke University and a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Davis joined UC Davis in 2005 as an assistant professor.

Executive Support

Whitney Cheung
Chief of Staff and Executive Analyst to Associate Vice Chancellor Davis
(530) 574-9530