Graduate Students

Chemistry Ph.D. Student Wins Campus Grad Slam Top Prize, Advances to UC-wide Final

April 28, 2025

Top nine Grad Slam finalists with graduate dean and associate graduate dean with R1 prop

Adekunle “Kunle” Adewole isn’t a stranger to the spotlight, having grown up singing at family functions and performing in theater productions. He also has fervently watched “The Voice,” a singing reality competition television series, envisioning himself performing on...

UC Merced Sends Off Class of 2013 with Twin Ceremonies

This year isn’t the first time Maxine Umeh-Garcia has walked across the commencement stage at the University of California, Merced. She was part of the campus's graduating class in 2010. But this...

Seals Attracted Grad Student to California

Born in central Mexico, the sea has long fascinated graduate student Jose Pablo Vazquez-Medina. Now, he’s hoping to figure out some of its secrets. Vazquez-Medina this year earned his doctorate in...

Senior’s Post-Graduation Plans Include Developing Web Business

Tyler Shaddix’s house looks like most of the other houses on his block in a subdivision not far from the UC Merced campus. It’s what’s inside that’s different – the home office of a startup company...

Research Explains Why Electric Fields Puncture Biological Cells

An exacting nanosecond jolt of electricity can briefly open a cell’s wall, allowing for the delivery of drugs or DNA. This procedure — called electroporation — is widely used in biology,...

Local Businesswoman Donates to Shape Student Leaders

Spurred by a gift from a prominent dairy woman, the University of California, Merced, announced plans today for a center to promote leadership qualities among its diverse student population. Margo...

Campus Hosts Two Commencement Ceremonies to Accommodate Growth

Retired astronaut and engineer Jose Hernandez and acclaimed author and organic farmer David Mas Masumoto will deliver keynote addresses at the University of California, Merced’s eighth commencement...

Professor and Students Study Deformations to Increase Health

People don’t often think of deformation as a good thing. But when it comes to biofilaments – such as strands of DNA – it’s not only good, it’s necessary for the biofilament to complete its functions...

Professor Secures Funding from Major Biotech Company to Advance Diabetes Research

UC Merced biology Professor Rudy Ortiz is furthering his innovative research into diabetes with support from a major pharmaceutical company. Ortiz’ work, developing new applications for medicines...

Pioneering Economics Graduate Student at Tech Think Tank

For alumnus Justin Hicks, graduate school at UC Merced was a trailblazing experience. Like many UC Merced students, Hicks was pioneering a path as he worked towards his Ph.D. in economics from 2007...