Research embodies the quest for discovery, pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. At UC Merced, faculty involve both undergraduate and graduate students in this exciting journey of inquiry. Our commitment to research signifies a foundational belief in continuous improvement and progress in our understanding of the world and the human condition. Every field of human endeavor benefits from this relentless pursuit of understanding and innovation. UC Merced proudly upholds and contributes to the University of California’s rich and unparalleled legacy of research excellence. The faculty, students, and affiliates of UC Merced’s research enterprise are driven to meet and exceed world-class research standards.
For Undergraduate Students: At UC Merced, your learning experience is enhanced by the active research of our faculty. This first-hand exposure sharpens your analytical skills and encourages objective evaluation. Engaging with research allows you to explore solutions to significant challenges that society will face in the coming years. Your coursework will be constantly refreshed by the latest faculty findings, ensuring a dynamic curriculum. Moreover, you’ll have the chance to be directly involved in faculty-led research projects. You can participate in labs, fieldwork, and other research activities alongside graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. This hands-on experience not only deepens your understanding of established knowledge but also offers the possibility of contributing to new discoveries that future students will study.
For Graduate Students: As a graduate student at UC Merced, you’ll delve deep into pressing global issues through your research endeavors. You’ll collaborate closely with faculty, honing the skills required to make and share groundbreaking findings in your field. A standout feature of many of UC Merced’s graduate programs is their interdisciplinary approach, offering a comprehensive perspective that places your research in a broader context. As you embark on your academic journey, you’ll work intimately with faculty mentors, advisory committees, and the broader community of inquiry to build professional expertise and advance your future career. UC Merced promotes a diverse and inclusive approach to innovation, where interdisciplinary collaboration is a hallmark of our research centers and graduate education programs. Whether you are pursuing discovery in the classical underpinnings of human perception or pushing the boundary of developing new cutting-edge technologies, you will find an energetic and welcoming faculty from across all of our disciplines. Learn more at research.ucmerced.edu.
Interdisciplinary Research Institutes And Programs
Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society
Website: citris.ucmerced.edu
The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) is a multi-campus Institute of Science and Innovation creating and translating technology solutions for many of our most pressing social, environmental, and healthcare problems. CITRIS was created “to shorten the pipeline” between discovery and its positive impact on society through world-class research and entrepreneurship. CITRIS facilitates partnerships and collaborations among hundreds of faculty members and thousands of students from numerous departments at four University of California campuses (Berkeley, Davis, Merced, and Santa Cruz) with industrial researchers and community members. Together, the groups are thinking about information technology in ways that have never been thought of before. UC Merced’s node of CITRIS engages faculty and students in a number of research efforts that occur at Merced alone as well as with the partner campuses in CITRIS. CITRIS investigators at UC Merced work in the areas of clean energy, cyberphysical systems, autonomy, and agrifood technologies, in addition to aspects of tech policy and advancing inclusive innovation. CITRIS at UC Merced is also the home of several unique opportunities for student led community engagement, including NexTech, FLY CITRIS, and hackathons.
Community and Labor Center
Website: clc.ucmerced.edu
The UC Merced Community and Labor Center conducts research and education on issues of community, labor, and the environment. It is the largest labor center serving a rural region in the US and has four major areas of expertise: rural work, workplace health and safety, immigrant rights and the safety net, and high road economic development.
In a short time, the Community and Labor Center has established itself as a leader in applied labor research and public education. The center has produced research briefs, reports, and fact sheets that have been cited regularly in mainstream media, such as the New York Times, Guardian, Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Valley Public Radio, and CalMatters.
The center’s research has informed the passage of several major California immigrant and workers’ rights policies, such as the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard, paid leave protections, tax benefits for undocumented immigrant worker households, and disaster relief. The center also informed the first federal initiative to raise labor standards among agricultural guestworkers.
The UC Merced Community and Labor Center has held a full-time, paid summer internship program for the past six years. Through the internship, undergraduate students receive training and placement with a labor union or community-based organization. Past participants have learned how to organize workers, and some have worked on historic initiatives.
The center’s projects are funded by a variety of public agencies and philanthropic foundations. These include the California Department of Public Health, California Labor & Workforce Development Agency, California Workforce Development Board, and the City of Fresno.
Health Sciences Research Institute
Website: hsri.ucmerced.edu
The Health Sciences Research Institute (HSRI) was established in May 2012 as the second Organized Research Unit at UC Merced and is the University’s focal point for health and medical research, with approximately 100 faculty members across UC Merced’s three schools. HSRI aims to foster world-renowned researchers through its work to improve the health of the people in the San Joaquin Valley and beyond.
As an Organized Research Unit at UC Merced, HSRI facilitates research and research collaborations, research training, external funding success, and communication and partnership with the community. San Joaquin Valley regional health issues include asthma, valley fever (coccidioidomycosis), obesity, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, heart disease, risky teen behaviors, teen tobacco use, sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis, and many others.
These health issues are complex and benefit from the multidisciplinary research perspectives that are present in HSRI. Research perspectives currently include Basic and Behavioral Neuroscience, Biomolecular Research, Biosimulation and Modeling, Environment and Health, Health Decision Making, Health Disparities, Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Diabetes, Valley Fever, Cardiovascular Diseases, Asthma, Cancer, Mental Health and Addiction, and General Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences.
HSRI facilitates multidisciplinary collaborations and community partnerships through its research support cores and research centers. Its research support cores include Biostatistics and data Support, Pre- and Post-award Grants Services, and Translational Research Services. HSRI is home to research centers, including the UC Merced Nicotine & Cannabis Policy Center (NCPC), the San Joaquin Valley Center for Air Quality Assessment and Injustice Reduction (SJV-CAIR), and the UC Merced Center for Health Equity.
Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS)
Website: uroc.ucmerced.edu/uc-leads
The University of California’s Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) program, housed under UC Merced’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC), is dedicated to shaping the next generation of leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). UC LEADS seeks out upper-division undergraduate students who showcase potential in these disciplines but may have faced challenges or circumstances that hindered their academic progression. Regardless of major or career choice, outcomes from participation are valuable and include enhanced approaches to problem solving, improved communication, and critical analytical skills.
Upon selection, UC LEADS Scholars embark on a comprehensive two-year journey, immersing themselves in scientific research and preparing for graduate studies, all under the guidance of dedicated UC faculty mentors. This program offers scholars a unique opportunity to delve deep into their chosen discipline, gain firsthand research experience, and enhance their prospects for advanced studies. The benefits are many. The program offers a myriad of benefits, including research funding, summer stipends, and housing support. Scholars also receive invaluable educational exposure, success rates improve for graduate applicants, and California gains future leaders equipped with a robust foundation for inquiry. Each Scholar is mentored by a member of the UC faculty, who assists the student in designing a plan of research and enrichment activities fitted to the individual interests and academic goals of the Scholar. This “Action Plan” includes:
- Academic Year Research: Scholars engage in structured research activities throughout the academic year.
- Paid Summer Research Experience: Scholars commit to full-time research during the summer, receiving a stipend and housing support.
- University-wide UC LEADS Symposium: An annual event where scholars present their research, network, and gain insights from peers and faculty.
- Professional or Scientific Society Meetings: Scholars are encouraged to attend and present their research, with financial support provided by UC LEADS.
- Travel to Another UC Campus: An opportunity for scholars to experience research environments at different UC campuses.
- Academic Enrichment Activities: Tailored programs to enhance academic skills, including preparation for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
UC LEADS is more than just a program; it’s a commitment to nurturing talent, fostering diversity, and ensuring that the future of California is bright and inclusive. For further information, contact the Graduate Division.
Sierra Nevada Research Institute
Website: snri.ucmerced.edu
The mission of the Sierra Nevada Research Institute (SNRI) is to discover and disseminate new knowledge that contributes to sustaining natural resources and promoting social health and well-being in the San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada regions of California and related regions worldwide. We achieve this mission through integrated research in the natural, social, and engineering sciences. SNRI faculty and affiliates conduct environmental research in key areas, including sustainable water and land management, climate change and ecosystem health, drought, wildfires, contaminant transformations in soils and aquatic systems, hydrologic processes, nutrient cycling in agricultural and natural systems, water and air quality in the Central Valley basin and Sierra Nevada Range, environmental sensing, ecology and biodiversity, and more.
SNRI supports research and other initiatives that tackle complex socioenvironmental problems by:
- Building capacity and funding support for collaborative, transdisciplinary, fundamental, applied, and community-engaged research
- Maintaining strong interactions with related research units within the UC system and close collaborative relations with scientists and managers at national laboratories and local, state, and federal agencies, including the National Park Service
- Connecting objective, science-based data and information with policymakers and public and private stakeholders
- Hosting symposia, meetings, workshops, and other opportunities for members and students to communicate scientific advances and findings
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center
Website: uroc.ucmerced.edu
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC) was established in spring 2014, with a mission to encourage and facilitate faculty-mentored undergraduate research projects and creative activities across all academic disciplines. Regardless of major or future career choice, involvement in such activities provided development in understanding and applying research methods or creative principles to enhance students’ critical analysis, problem solving, and communication skills.
UROC offers a wide variety of services to prepare students to engage in research, including paid research training and graduate preparation, access to research opportunities/listings through the UROC Research Portal, diversity and leadership seminars, an annual summer undergraduate research symposium. The UROC Scholars develop a community of academically focused peers to provide academic mentorship, leadership and professional training. For more information please visit uroc.ucmerced.edu.
