Research Week Marks UC Merced’s First Full Year as an R1 Institution

UC Merced will host Research Week April 13-17, celebrating innovative work across campus and encouraging engagement in research among students, faculty and staff.

The weeklong event allows the campus community to showcase research findings, participate in workshops, take tours and connect with fellow researchers.

Organized by the Office of Research and Economic Development, Research Week also commemorates the university's first year since earning R1 status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. UC Merced is one of 187 doctoral-granting universities in the United States - out of nearly 4,000 - recognized for "very high research spending and doctorate production."

Most events require RSVP or registration. The full schedule and registration details are available on the Research Week webpage .

Monday, April 13

Research Week begins at 9 a.m. in the Dr. Vikram and Priya Lakireddy Ballroom of the Conference Center with a welcome event featuring complimentary breakfast and campuswide recognition of UC Merced's research community.

Later in the day, the ballroom will also host UC Merced Earth Institute events.

At 1 p.m., the Early-Career Researcher Lightning Talks will feature presentations from graduate students and early-career researchers about the range of exciting science being used to tackle the environmental challenges of today and tomorrow. Attendees can vote for their favorite presentations, with winners receiving travel funding.

At 3 p.m., the Distinguished Climate Speaker Series will feature Professor Leah Stokes, a political scientist, energy expert and climate communicator from UC Santa Barbara. UC Merced Professor Sarah Kurtz will also present on energy accessibility through affordability, followed by a moderated Q&A.

Tuesday, April 14

A guided walking tour of the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve will run from 9 to 10:30 a.m., highlighting research on ecosystems, geology and conservation.

From 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., attendees can tour the Experimental Smart Farm with the Valley Institute for Sustainability, Technology and Agriculture (VISTA). The tour will showcase innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture, including precision irrigation and data-driven crop management.

Wednesday, April 15

National Labs Day will be observed with a one-day professional development conference hosted by the Graduate Division from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lakireddy Ballroom. The event connects graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and researchers with scientists from major national laboratories.

Thursday, April 16

Merced to Market , a full-day innovation and entrepreneurship event, will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Conference Center. The event brings together researchers, industry leaders and investors to accelerate the path from research to market.

At 1 p.m., the Research Week Poster Showcase will feature work from undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty and staff. The event includes poster sessions and networking opportunities and till take place in the Common Area between Arts and Computational Science (ACS) and Science and Engineering buildings.

In the same location at 4 p.m., the Undergraduate Research Time Capsule, organized by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC), will capture the impact and evolution of undergraduate research at UC Merced.

Friday, April 17

The week concludes with the School of Engineering Industry Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Science & Engineering Bldg 2 102, connecting faculty researchers with industry partners.

At 4 p.m., a screening of "The Spectrum of Life" will be held in ACS 120. The film documents BioSCape, NASA's first biodiversity-focused field campaign.