UCSD - University of California - San Diego
10/08/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/08/2025 15:41
Merkin Graduate Fellows Program Receives Renewed Support to Fuel Global Research
Published Date
October 08, 2025Article Content
From studying support systems for domestic violence victims in post-conflict Armenia to researching antibiotic-resistant bacteria in decentralized wastewater systems in Brazil, UC San Diego students who have benefited from the Merkin Graduate Fellows Program have conducted research around the world, expanding their impact and perspectives.
Richard Merkin, M.D., who established the Merkin Graduate Fellows Program in 2022, has renewed his support of the program, which opens doors for UC San Diego graduate students to connect their research to the wider world. Beginning this year, the program has expanded to include both U.S.-based and international research experiences, further expanding opportunities for students to collaborate with some of the world's top researchers and clinicians, no matter where they are located.
"UC San Diego's outstanding graduate students play a key role in driving the world-class research for which the university has become internationally known," said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "We appreciate Dr. Richard Merkin's visionary continued support of these innovative students as they enrich and broaden their studies even further with research experiences around the world."
Designed to foster meaningful international collaboration, the fellowship provides students with the opportunity to conduct extended research residencies at institutions across the U.S. and globally, broadening their perspectives and deepening their academic and personal growth. The program supports three- to six-month research placements and is open to Ph.D. students whose research aims to improve human health and longevity, including in fields broadly related to translational medicine.
"We are deeply grateful for Dr. Merkin's generous support of this program, which helps prepare the next generation of global scholars and changemakers," said UC San Diego Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs Dean Judy Kim. "Merkin Fellows tackle complex challenges through innovative research and collaboration, and we are honored to facilitate new discoveries in translational medicine through this generous gift from Dr. Merkin."
Merkin is founder and CEO of The Heritage Group, including Heritage Provider Network and Heritage Medical Systems. Under his leadership, Heritage Provider Network has become one of the largest physician-founded and physician-owned integrated health care systems in the U.S., with over 50 related health care companies and medical groups.
"It is gratifying to learn of the impactful research taking place around the world and in the U.S. by UC San Diego graduate students," said Merkin. "I have no doubt that these students will go on to translate their research experiences into scientific and medical breakthroughs that will benefit individuals around the world."
Scott Morton testing water in the field as part of his research in Vietnam.
Scott Morton is one of the many students whose work has been shaped by this opportunity. He is a doctoral candidate in the UC San Diego School of Biological Sciences' Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution. With support from the Merkin Fellowship, Morton partnered with Vinh University in Vietnam to examine how toxins from local mining and subsistence hunting may impact public health in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.
"My research investigates how subsistence hunting and artisanal mining impact stream food webs and adjacent communities," he explained. "Because riparian wildlife - such as fish, insects, mollusks, crustaceans and amphibians - contribute significantly to local protein intake, safe and sustainable harvests are critical. Mining-derived toxins, which can biomagnify through food webs, threaten both biodiversity and public health."
Morton's project combined ecological fieldwork with community interviews, creating an integrated approach to conservation grounded in lived experience. Working side-by-side with local hunters, conservationists and researchers, he developed tools to help communities assess stream health and protect food sources from toxic accumulation.
Reflecting on the experience, Morton emphasized the role of his fellowship in making it possible. "The Merkin Fellowship was essential. It didn't just support my travel - it made the depth and scope of my research possible," said Morton. "The funding allowed me to live in rural communities for extended periods while still working closely with local university partners. More than financial support, the fellowship gave me the time and space to engage meaningfully with the people and ecosystems I was studying."
Morton's experience in Vietnam reaffirmed a broader mission that scientific research can and should serve communities. "I was able to move beyond ecological investigation and further layer research that was not only scientifically rigorous but also practically meaningful," he said. "I learned that effective conservation doesn't start with data collection - it starts with trust and familiarity. Living with host families and engaging with local communities helped solidify my understanding of what it means to achieve impactful science."
Learn more about the Merkin Graduate Fellows Program, including student eligibility and the application process.
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