School of Natural Sciences

Cal-Bridge Scholar Rolando Ortega Wants to Build the Future

August 22, 2025

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2025 semester. Rolando Ortega is closing in on his dream of earning a Ph.D. This fall, the Cal-Bridge scholar from Los Angeles County joins UC Merced to start his doctoral journey. With experience...

Regents Scholarships Help Students Pursue Their Dreams

As UC Merced grows, more and more top students are landing on campus, evidenced by an increase in recipients of one of the most prestigious scholarships offered by the UC system. This year, UC Merced...

Students Take Home Honors for Research Presentations

Three UC Merced students who devoted the summer to research earned top awards for poster presentations at the national conference of SACNAS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Hispanics...

Laser Research Offers Student More Learning Opportunities

http://youtu.be/rkDx5_KBtNA UC Merced physics major Alessandro Castelli uses lasers to hold and stretch cells and other tiny objects. Working alongside Professor Jay Sharping, Castelli takes what he'...

Students Prepared for Success at UC Merced

http://youtu.be/eT4dckdP-Nc At UC Merced, preparing students for success goes well beyond the classroom. The ability to conduct hands-on research is extended to students from the moment they step...

Professor Creates Powerful HIV Inhibitor

In a significant step toward reducing the threat of HIV, UC Merced Professor Patricia LiWang has designed what may be the most effective chemical inhibitor against infection of the virus. “We need a...

Impact: Undergrads Return from Unforgettable Research Trip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8wzG0QWw80A group of students working with Professor Benoit Dayrat learned first-hand this summer about the field research opportunities available to undergraduates at...

Professor Seeks to Understand Chemical Reactions

Professor Jason Hein was lured to UC Merced because of the opportunity to pursue his research, even if it crosses into other branches of chemistry, physics, biology and engineering. “Being a jack of...

Professor Discovers Mechanism Behind Bacteria’s Biological Clock

A discovery by a professor at the University of California, Merced, is providing a deeper understanding of the factors that control biological clocks. Biochemistry Professor Andy LiWang and his...

Study Builds on Plausible Scenario for Origin of Life on Earth

A relatively simple combination of naturally occurring sugars and amino acids offers a plausible route to the building blocks of life, according to a paper published in Nature Chemistry co-authored...