UC Merced Graduate Division

We are beyond thrilled with this news! 🎉

ICYMI: We're so excited for our spring 2024 graduates! 🎉👏👩‍🎓

Go, Ambarish! 🎉

Get ready to vote for People's Choice!

At the end of the talks, send a text to 1-800-400-2167 with UCGRADSLAM (not case sensitive). Only 1 text per cell phone in North America.

is here! Tune in at 10:30 a.m. and cast your vote for an audience favorite.

Let’s cheer (and vote) UC Merced Graduate Division finalist, Ambarish Varadan, on to victory! 🎉

Watch Grad Slam live here 🔗 ucal.us/gradslam

Congratulations to our Grad Slam 2024 Champion
Ambarish Varadan! Join us by livestream Friday, May 3, to cheer him on at the UC finals.

Campus Grad Slam Winner Examines ‘Gut Viruses: Friends or Foes?’ | Newsroom Earlier this month, Ambarish Varadan competed in UC Merced’s Grad Slam finals and seized the title of Campus Champion. This was the second time the Quantitative and Systems Biology (QSB) Ph.D. candidate from Fremont vied for the top prize. Last year, he placed second among the top 10 contenders.

It's almost time! Join us in person or online for UC Merced's 10 annual Grad Slam finals!

https://ucmerced.zoom.us/j/89679608213

Betsy Dumont officially assumes her role as executive vice chancellor and provost on April 1.

We trace her journey as a thoughtful and steady leader, a world-renowned bat biologist, and a dedicated ballet dancer (among many other things).

Read more here 🔗 ucm.edu/882nvR

Dr. Nies will be missed but we wish him well on his next adventure.

Charles Nies, PhD, has been named the tenth chancellor of the University of Minnesota Duluth, effective July 1, 2024 and pending approval by the University’s Board of Regents at its May 2024 meeting.

Nies comes to UMD with over 25 years of experience in higher education. Prior to his work at UC Merced, he served as an assistant dean of an interdisciplinary school at Miami University in Ohio and a program director for a minor in leadership studies at Washington State University. As an instructor, he taught undergraduate and graduate courses in leadership theory, organizational theory and student development.

https://bit.ly/3xmkAUv

Join us Monday, April 8 starting at 2 p.m. for UC Merced's Grad Slam finals! The event will be held at the Lakireddy Ballroom and also via Zoom. Please see the story for more details and our top 10 finalists! https://ucm.edu/IPmxvB

UC Merced researchers are shedding light on a little-explored aspect of cross-cultural communication that involves no spoken words but sometimes can cause confusion and anguish for children acting as interpreters for older family members.

Read more about the research here 🔗 ucm.edu/MLiLW4

Congratulations to Alauna Wheeler, a Ph.D. candidate in physics, for being named an ARCs Scholar! Her current research covers COVID-19 viral particles, the effect of e-cigarette chemicals on the lungs and the self-assembly of nanoparticles.

ICYMI: Last week, UC Merced hosted a symposium on the findings of "Roads to Removal," a report by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The report, commissioned by the Department of Energy, involved scientists from various institutions, including UC Merced.

Read more here 🔗http://ucm.edu/Dw3jGw

Discover captivating stories in the latest UC Merced magazine!

From healthcare innovations to stress relief tips, explore topics like ni****ne and cannabis policies, valley healthcare improvement, childhood diabetes management, and more.

Click the following 🔗 ucm.edu/enkSxR

Celebrating Black Excellence at UC Merced for !

Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz reflects on the profound impact of Black leaders on UC Merced's success. From Dr. Michael Drake's pivotal role in our early years to Professor Charles Ogletree's powerful words on diversity and excellence, and the inspiring commencement address by former First Lady Michelle Obama — their contributions shape our legacy.

Read Chancellor Muñoz's full message by clicking here 🔗 ucm.edu/8eGzD7

Join us tomorrow at 6 p.m.!

UC Merced – Preview | The College Tour UC Merced opened to undergraduates in 2005 as the newest campus in the University of California system, and is the youngest university to earn a Carnegie res...

UC Merced graduate student Karla Seijas’ passion for identifying and removing obstacles faced by military veterans and their families has turned into a new state law.

Ph.D. student pushes for better education benefits for veterans’ dependents Karla Seijas’ passion for identifying and removing obstacles faced by military veterans and their families has turned into a new state law.

Grad Slam Registration is Open!
The Grad Slam competition is a chance for graduate students to take their work to another level. Each participating student will distill their research into three minutes and one slide that tell the story: What we don’t know, why it matters, what you did to find out, and where we go from here. All entrants will have the opportunity to get advice from professionals on public speaking and presentations, practice their talks to get feedback, and then present their best work to a group of judges. Presentations will be judged and the top 10 finalists will get individualized training and a chance to compete again with a panel of local leaders of education, industry and government.

How do I sign up?

Signing up for Grad Slam is easy! Register online no later than February 6, by noon.

Did you compete in Grad Slam last year or the year before? If yes, great! Compete again this year to further practice and perfect your public speaking and presentation skills, and take another shot at the big prize.

What can I win?

Other than bragging rights as the 2024 Campus Champion, you have the possibility of winning:

• Qualifying Round: 10 finalists win $250
• Final Round: 2nd runner-up wins $1,000; 1st runner-up wins $2,000; and Campus Champion wins $5,000!

The virtual qualifying round will be held in March and the in-person final round will be held in April. Details and dates are coming soon — visit the Grad Slam web page for all the latest news. The Campus Champion will go on to then UC Finals May 3 at LinkedIn in San Francisco!

Put Grad Slam on your calendar and start preparing today!
https://ucm.edu/uhKfk8

Congratulations to Hope Hauptman for being named an ARCS Scholar! 👏

There's still time to give toward UC Merced fellowships to support our graduate students!

You can still and support key areas from academics to research, the university library and more!

Consider making a gift of any size that will provide resources and opportunities for current and future students. 🔗giveto.ucmerced.edu

Congratulations to the Fall 2023 class!

Teams will display and demonstrate their projects in a showcase Thursday, Dec. 14 on campus, then present them for judging. Registration opens at 10:30 a.m., with an expo at 11:30 a.m. and presentations start at 2 p.m. The event concludes with an awards ceremony at 5:45 p.m., followed by a reception at 6 p.m.

The twice-yearly event that highlights engineering students’ work with community partners takes place this week. Join us this Thursday to witness projects harmlessly detecting seeds in Mandarin oranges to monitoring crop health at Innovate to Grow (I2G).

Read more about I2G and how to attend here 🔗 https://ucm.edu/tM8mnL

Please help support graduate students at UC Merced by donating to fellowships. Learn more below.

Today is Giving Tuesday and the start of ! You can be a part of this global movement of generosity and celebrate the power of giving back by supporting our Bobcats and campus programs.

Click the 🔗 to make a difference today! https://ucm.edu/oH9Ai2

Today is Giving Tuesday and the start of ! You can be a part of this global movement of generosity and celebrate the power of giving back by supporting our Bobcats and campus programs.

Click the 🔗 to make a difference today! https://ucm.edu/oH9Ai2

Sociologists from UC Merced and colleagues have found that community groups have the best chance to mobilize people into action when it comes to climate change mitigation.

Sociologists from UC Merced and colleagues have found that community groups have the best chance to mobilize people into action when it comes to climate change mitigation.

Read more about the recent study here: https://ucm.edu/Fgp16w.

Looking at chem/biochem grad programs?
Come join a young, dynamic, and supportive environment at UC Merced's Chemistry and Biochemistry graduate program!

Find out more on our faculty-led webinar! Oct. 31st (8 AM PST, 3 PM GMT). Register here: shorturl.at/fIQW8

UC Merced alumni: Happening this weekend!

Join us this weekend to reconnect with fellow 'Cats and campus! From the UCMAA Board Meeting to the Alumni Signature Ceremony, learn about upcoming activities you can participate in at engage.ucmerced.edu/ALUM

Grad students- Join us this Sunday! check your email for details.

Chexk out these counseling and psychological services available to all students.

Apply Now: Graduate Dean’s Advisory Council on Diversity
The Graduate Division is seeking applications for six appointments to serve on the Graduate Dean’s Advisory Council on Diversity (GDACD). Members will serve for the 2023-2024 Academic Year and receive a stipend of $300. Meetings will be held twice a semester. GDACD is a council of graduate students dedicated to enhancing and strengthening a culture of open inquiry, pluralism, mutual respect, and engagement among — and for — graduate students. The Council advises the graduate dean and works to identify structural equity, diversity and inclusivity opportunities and challenges in graduate education. In previous years, the Council has made important contributions to the well-being, climate, and learning environment for UC Merced graduate students and the broader campus community. In addition to the six members selected from applications solicited by this call, a seventh member will be chosen from the slate of executive officers of the Graduate Student Association.

GDACD Application:

2023-2024 Graduate Dean's Advisory Council on Diversity | Graduate Division Call for Graduate Students The Graduate Division is seeking applications for six appointments to serve on the Graduate Dean’s Advisory Council on Diversity (GDACD). Members will serve for the 2023-2024 Academic Year and receive a stipend of $300. Meetings will be held twice a semester