Staff & Faculty News

Astronomers Reveal Hidden Activity in the Early Universe’s Most Massive Galaxies

January 5, 2026

Spectroscopy at the UC's W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii helped the researchers interpret complex data about ultramassive galaxies. Photo courtesy of the W.M. Keck Observatory.

An international team of astronomers has studied ultramassive galaxies - galaxies containing more than 100 billion stars - as they existed when the universe was less than 2 billion years old. The results show that while some of these ultramassive galaxies, or UMGs, had already shut down star...

Kurtz Earns Highest Status in International Electrical Engineering Organization

In recognition of her contributions to photovoltaic devices and systems reliability, Professor Sarah Kurtz has been elevated to a Fellow in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (...

Sofia Andom, Cat Flores, Bella Camfield and Bethy Harmelin are seen sitting on the grass.

Shakespeare in Yosemite's 'Love's Labor's Lost' Ready to Hit the Stage

Yosemite National Park is once again serving as the backdrop for a loose adaptation of one of Shakespeare's comedies. Shakespeare in Yosemite's "Love's Labor's Lost" will...

UC Merced Professor Yehuda Sharim is seen in this 2021 photo.

Sharim to Serve as Artist-in-Residence at Virginia Tech, JGU in Germany

Professor Yehuda Sharim is sharing his experiences in cinema and community engagement with students at universities across the country and the globe. The Department of Global Arts Studies...

Engineer and Dentist Partner to Root Out Problems in Teeth

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...

UC Merced Chief of Police Chou Her is seen in this image.

UC Merced Police Chief Honored with Distinguished Staff Award

As someone who has overcome many obstacles to get where he is now, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Public Safety and Chief of Police Chou Her understands the importance of uplifting his community....

UC Merced Professor Manuel M. Martín-Rodríguez is seen in a 2019 photo.

Literature Professor Inducted as Permanent Member of Prestigious Academy

A UC Merced professor is being recognized by a major organization for the work he has accomplished related to the Spanish language. Literature Professor Manuel M. Martín-Rodríguez will be the...

Students, Colleagues Host Symposium in Tribute to Aldenderfer’s Archaeology

Distinguished Professor Emeritus Mark S. Aldenderfer is being honored for his long and storied archaeology career at this year’s Society for American Archaeology (SAA) annual meeting, in...

Research Week Offers Both Virtual and In-person Events This Year

Research Week, the annual showcase of UC Merced’s important explorations into some of the world's most pressing challenges, kicks off Monday with the Sierra Nevada Research Institute’...

Remembering the Kindness and Caring of Jan Goggans

UC Merced founding faculty member and literature Professor Jan Goggans was admired for her kindness and for putting others first. She placed students at the center of their learning, calling out...

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