Rachel Hirota graduated from the University of California-Davis with a BS in Animal Science. Past research projects include seabird phenology, personality in Wood Ducks, and pharmacodynamics in Great Horned Owls. She has held several student leadership positions in the Wildlife and Aquatic Animal Medicine Club, Behavior Medicine and Animal Welfare Club, and Knights Landing One Health Center Veterinary Clinic at the University of California-Davis. She is a member of the student committee of the Association of Avian Veterinarians and a student associate editor at AVMA Publications. Currently, she is a dual-degree DVM and Masters of Preventative Veterinary Medicine candidate at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.