Research Week Features Student Work, Future Endeavors

Research week, April 16-19, was an opportunity for faculty and students to share their work.

The four-day series, which occurs every academic year, provides all who are interested in research and scholarship with information about how to broaden one’s horizon and gain some experience in a chosen field of study. Some of the events are open to the general public as well.

Over the course of the week, students, faculty, and members of the Merced community heard from distinguished faculty and guest speakers who have spent time and effort conducting research in their respective fields of study. The diversity presented during Research Week highlights much of what UC Merced has to offer for students who strive to succeed in their future careers and endeavors.  

The Sierra Nevada Research Institute (SNRI) Research Symposium allowed graduate students and faculty from UC Merced to share their work with the student body and community. This event highlighted a few well-recognized UC Merced professors, such as Michael Beman, Asmeret Berhe, Lara Kueppers, and Anthony Westerling, each of whom spoke to students and fellow faculty members about their work to improve the lives of Californians, starting with those in the San Joaquin Valley.

A key component of the week’s activities were the two events of the poster competition. The Creative Research Exhibition provided presentations on graduate level research, while the Library Student Research Competition recognized select graduate students, with awards for their effective and resourceful use of library services, in addition to their ability to utilize research strategies. The Environmental Systems Seminar taught about the effects of climate change on coral reefs, while the Quantitative Systems Biology Retreat allowed all who attended to learn about research done in the Biological Sciences, which is a popular choice of major.  

A highly anticipated part of Research Week’s schedule of events, the Alice Pellissier Distinguished Speaker Series, featured UC Berkeley Professor Eva Harris.

First-year Biochemistry major, Meley Abraha, was one of many eager to hear her speak.

“I am interested in the topic of infectious diseases, because they are a current issue facing the world,” she said. “I enjoyed Professor Harris’ talk very much.”  

Professor Eva Harris is an internationally renowned researcher who has dedicated much of her career to the study of dengue virus, a deadly viral disease that threatens and takes the lives of citizens of Latin American countries.

The week concluded with a Sigma Xi Symposium titled “Service Science”. The occasion featured guest speaker Richard B. Chase, from the University of Southern California; Shelly Evenson, who works with Facebook; Paul P. Maglio, who does IBM Research here at UCM; and William B. Rouse, from the Georgia Institute of Technology.