News

Study on Cigarette Packs' Native American Imagery Raises Questions About Safety, Cultural Misappropriation

April 11, 2022

Most people are familiar with the adage "a picture is worth a thousand words." However, the message conveyed by an image may not always be factual. Authors of a study recently published in the BMJ journal Tobacco Control said that was the case with Natural American Spirit (NAS) brand cigarettes....

Engineer and Dentist Partner to Root Out Problems in Teeth

April 4, 2022

A trip to the dentist isn't something most people look forward to. But computer science and engineering Professor Shijia Pan found inspiration and a new collaborator at her dentist’s office. Pan, Merced dentist Dr. Jun Ho Lee, and Professor VP Nguyen from the University of Texas, Arlington, are...

UC Merced’s Mobile Maker Lab Brings Education to Community Fair

April 1, 2022

A team of UC Merced engineering students brought hands-on lessons on drones and robotics to hundreds of children and families at the recent Tri-Valley Innovation Fair. “Drones and robots are a gateway, a spark for young people to explore STEM,” said Leigh Bernacchi, program director of the Center...

Finalists Compete for Grad Slam Champion Title April 8

March 31, 2022

UC Merced’s Graduate Division will host its annual Grad Slam competition on April 8, with graduate scholars presenting their research on topics ranging from the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes to hydrogen storage for energy collection. The systemwide...

Report Makes Case to Provide Unemployment Benefits for Undocumented Workers

March 31, 2022

Tens of thousands of undocumented immigrant workers in California could receive aid from an unemployment benefit system if the state approves the program. UC Merced's Community and Labor Center (CLC) has published a report that examines the need for the system. Approximately 17.1 million people...

UC Merced Grad Programs See Uptick in U.S. News Rankings

March 29, 2022

Twelve of UC Merced’s graduate programs and one of its schools are among the best in the country in the U.S. News & World Report 2023 Best Graduate Schools rankings, according to results released March 29. “It is exciting to see that our graduate programs continue to gain national recognition;...

Campus Appoints First Representative to Serve as Alumni Regent

March 28, 2022

For the first time, a UC Merced alumnus will serve on the UC Board of Regents. Keith Ellis, who received his bachelor’s degree from UC Merced in 2012, will serve a two-year term beginning in July and continuing through June 2024. In addition to his new role, Ellis will be recognized as an active...

Graduate Students’ Fellowships Promote Study of Valley Fever

March 28, 2022

Professor Katrina Hoyer ’s lab is helping UC Merced serve the San Joaquin Valley community through its studies of immune responses to Valley fever and other diseases. Graduate students Susana Tejeda-Garibay and Nadia Miranda are exploring fungal and host immune interactions in Valley fever, and...

Campus Researchers, State Leaders Talk Secure Water Future for the Valley

March 18, 2022

Last year, UC Merced received the largest research grant in its history. The $10 million Secure Water Future (SWF) award, led by Professor Joshua Viers in cooperation with other UC campuses and other partners, is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and aims to improve agricultural...

UC Merced Student Selected as a ‘Rising Graduate Scholar’ by Diverse

March 17, 2022

Rhondene Wint is one of 10 exemplary graduate students to be featured in the March 17 special issue of Diverse: Issues In Higher Education (Diverse) based on “standout scholarship thus far and their current trajectory toward a very promising future in academia and beyond,” according to the magazine...