Undergraduate Experience at UC Merced

Student & Alumni Success

UC Merced Talent Finds Its Future in National Lab Research

May 11, 2026

UC Merced students have an expanding number of paths to internships, experiences and careers at national laboratories.
Editor's note: This story is republished from the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of UC Merced Magazine. Omar DeGuchy remembers the moment he left the comfort of UC Merced — the place he’d found his footing — and stepped onto what some call “the smartest square mile on Earth...
Collage of three headshots of Commencement keynote speakers

UC Merced Alumni to Take the Stage as Commencement Speakers

UC Merced will celebrate the Class of 2026 with three inspiring alumni returning to campus as keynote speakers for commencement ceremonies May 15-17. Emily Reed, ’07, ’13, a tenured...
Two men in suits stand beside a tiger mascot wearing a white “TIGERS 26” jersey behind a table on a stage with purple lighting.

UC Merced and Reedley College Expand Transfer Opportunities for Valley Students

A new partnership between Reedley College and UC Merced is designed to expand opportunities for students to remain in the Central Valley and seamlessly transfer after completing their community...
Elementary school students get a lesson in engineering and physics from undergraduates in the CalTeach program.

UC Merced Opens Flexible Routes from STEM Degrees to Teaching and Beyond

Students who arrive at UC Merced planning on specific careers often discover along the way that their interests — and strengths — are broader than they first imagined. A new initiative...
Avinav Biswas has been named a 2026 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar.

UC Merced Student Makes Campus History with Goldwater Scholarship

Avinav Biswas, a third‑year undergraduate majoring in biological sciences at UC Merced, has been named a 2026 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, becoming the university’s first recipient of one of the...
At Bobcat Day 2026, a group of current students and mascot Rufus

At Bobcat Day, Students Explore Opportunities, Picture Their Futures

A throng of people came to UC Merced on a crisp, blue-sky Saturday for Bobcat Day. More than 7,000 were registered to attend the April 18 event for admitted and prospective first-year and...
Headshot Simone Samra

Turlock Student Blends Public Health, Advocacy to Support Underserved Communities

Simone Samra’s dedication to education and community work is influenced by her mother's experience immigrating from India and her belief in the power of education for immigrant women....
Alumnus Rahim Moulanazada works on the state capitol annex reconstruction.

Alumnus Rahim Moulanazada Continues to Build His Future

Rahim Moulanazada’s path from Modesto to major construction projects across California has been shaped by persistence, family and a deep appreciation for collaboration. Moulanazada, 24,...
Quantitative and Systems Biology Ph.D. student Tahirah Williams

UC Merced’s Grad Slam Champion Explores Mucus-Fungus Battle Behind Valley Fever

Nervous but prepared, Tahirah Williams took the stage at UC Merced’s Grad Slam competition in March and delivered her three-minute talk, “More Than Slime: When Mucus Meets the Valley...
Social Sciences school sign outside UC Merced classroom buildin

New Liberal Studies Major Expands Paths for Degree Completion and Future Teachers

A highly customizable degree that rewards curiosity, reaches out to a diverse set of learners and prepares scholars for people-centered careers has arrived at UC Merced. Liberal studies, a...

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