All Stories

UC Merced Aerial Picture
Professor Hestir Turns NASA Technology Toward Earth’s Biodiversity
June 1, 2021
Half a world away from California’s Central Valley is a place with similar climate but an unparalleled diversity of plants, marine animals and ecosystems. From deserts to shrubland to montane forests, the diversity of life in South Africa’... Read More
Smokers Light Up More Cigarettes Following California COVID-19 Lockdown Order, Study Finds
May 27, 2021
The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has been felt around the world. COVID-19's grip has affected people's mental health and sense of what was once normal, prompting them to turn to new and familiar behaviors to help cope. According... Read More
Improved Molecular Tool Deepens Study of Gene-Cell Interaction
May 26, 2021
A group of researchers harnessing the power of light to control gene expression has dramatically improved its method, optimizing speed and precision, and opening new research avenues for scientists who employ optogenetics — the use of... Read More
Prusela Phillips and Tushar Narayan Endow 15th Alumni Scholarship
May 26, 2021
As part of their commitment to advancing educational opportunities for students and giving back to their alma maters, Kyoki Prusela Phillips, ’14, and Tushar Narayan have established the Phillips Narayan Scholarship Endowment at UC Merced... Read More
Western Fires Are Burning Higher in the Mountains at Unprecedented Rates, Professor Finds
May 25, 2021
The Western U.S. appears headed for another dangerous fire season, and a new study shows that even high mountain areas once considered too wet to burn are at increasing risk as the climate warms. Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. West is in ... Read More
Summer Environmental Internship to Create Bridge for Diverse Talent
May 24, 2021
UC Merced’s Office of Sustainability and Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are working to create a more inclusive workforce. This summer, both offices are teaming up with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a nonprofit... Read More
Report Addresses Barriers to COVID-19 Vaccination in California
May 18, 2021
As news headlines continue to focus on seeing the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, the coronavirus continues to spread across the globe. As of May 18, California has recorded more than 3.6 million confirmed cases of COVID-19,... Read More
Science Must Dig Deeper to Understand Climate Change’s Full Impact, Study Shows
May 17, 2021
Scientists often study the relationship of global warming and topsoil because soil is an important mediator of climate change. A newly released study indicates it’s critical to consider subsoil in climate-change research, too. A new paper... Read More
Engineering Ag Tech Solutions Just One Element of Annual Innovate to Grow Expo
May 12, 2021
You can’t avoid seeing grazing cattle in California’s Central Valley, where UC Merced has its own pastured cows on campus. Now imagine if those cows were kept secluded without the use of a fence, or at least not one visible to the eye.... Read More
University of California Health Leader to Give Commencement Keynote
May 11, 2021
In Dr. Carrie L. Byington, the novel coronavirus met a formidable foe. As an expert in infectious disease, Byington has been uniquely suited to use her role as executive vice president and head of University of California Health (UCH) to... Read More
Class of 2021 Takes Part in In-person Activities Followed by Virtual Commencement
May 10, 2021
The pandemic has changed many aspects of life, but UC Merced Bobcats demonstrated their ability to overcome life's unexpected curveballs during an academic year unlike any other. To ensure each student’s accomplishments are celebrated, UC... Read More
UC Merced Ph.D. Student Wins UC Grad Slam Competition
May 7, 2021
Applied Mathematics graduate student Shayna Bennett won first place at the University of California’s Grad Slam finals today (May 7). Bennett presented her dissertation research, “A New Tool to Fight Invasive Species,” in just three... Read More
Analysis Shows Pandemic's Toll on California Workers in High-Risk Industries
May 6, 2021
California is getting a closer look at exactly how workers in high-risk industries across the state have borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. For the first time, UC Merced's Community and Labor Center (CLC) has analyzed the... Read More
UC Merced Alums, Students Earn Prestigious Fellowships
May 5, 2021
A half-dozen UC Merced students and alumni are recipients of significant fellowships to help support their graduate education. “We’re extremely proud of our undergraduate and graduate students and alumni who have earned prestigious... Read More
Naughton Lab Creates Dashboard to Track Global Wastewater Testing for Covid-19
May 3, 2021
After the COVID-19 pandemic struck, scientists across the globe realized they could track the virus by testing sewage water. School of Engineering Professor Colleen Naughton pioneered a dashboard to host the global findings. One way... Read More
$2.2M NIH Grant Designed to Produce Highly Trained, Diverse Ph.D. Workforce
April 28, 2021
A five-year, $2.2 million training grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will assist UC Merced with the development of diverse cohorts of doctoral students in interdisciplinary biomedical disciplines. Twelve trainees each... Read More
Alicia Garza, Civil Rights Activist and BLM Co-Founder, Honored with Spendlove Prize
April 27, 2021
While this year's ceremony looked quite different from years past due to the coronavirus pandemic, the presentation of the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance remained an important celebration.... Read More
Professor Berhe Nominated to Lead Federal Office of Science
April 22, 2021
President Joe Biden has nominated UC Merced Professor Asmeret Asefaw Berhe to be the new director of the Office of Science in the federal Department of Energy. In honor of Earth Day, the White House today announced nominations for a... Read More
Shayna Bennett Wins Grad Slam at UC Merced
April 21, 2021
Applied Mathematics graduate student Shayna Bennett will represent UC Merced at the University of California Grad Slam finals on May 7. For the campus’s Grad Slam final round, Bennett presented her dissertation research, “A New Tool to... Read More
Professor Tracey Osborne Leads New UC Center for Climate Justice
April 20, 2021
The University of California is launching a new center just in time for Earth Day: the Center for Climate Justice. Led by Management of Complex Systems Professor and UC Presidential Chair Tracey Osborne , the Center for Climate Justice... Read More