Join us during the week of April 13–17 as UC Merced proudly celebrates one year as an R1 institution. Organized by the Office of Research and Economic Development, Research Week highlights the innovative work of UC Merced’s departments, students, faculty, and staff while encouraging continued engagement in research across campus.
The week provides an opportunity for the UC Merced community to present research findings, participate in events and workshops, explore tours, and connect with fellow researchers in a collaborative environment.
Schedule of Events
Monday, April 13
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM |
Research Week Welcome
We invite you to the Research Week Welcome, where we’ll kick off a week dedicated to celebrating UC Merced’s research excellence and community collaboration. Enjoy a light breakfast as we gather to recognize the week’s events, connect with colleagues, and celebrate the diverse research community at UC Merced.
Open to all, RSVP link coming soon.
|
Conference Center, Lakireddy Ballroom |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Celebration of 10 Years of NSF CREST CCBM Research All are invited to learn about fascinating scientific discoveries and innovations coming out of CCBM labs at UC Merced. Learn about bio-focused research with a range of application areas, including human health, food and agriculture, environment and climate, and national security. |
Conference Center, Lakireddy Ballroom |
| TBA |
SNRI Event
Additional details will be announced soon.
|
Conference Center, Lakireddy Ballroom |
| TBA |
SNRI Event
Additional details will be announced soon.
|
Conference Center, Lakireddy Ballroom |
Tuesday, April 14
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| TBA |
UC Merced – LLNL Workshop
Additional details will be announced soon.
|
Conference Center, Lakireddy Ballroom |
| 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM |
MVPGR Walking Tour
Join NRS for a guided walking tour of the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve, showcasing ongoing research on vernal pool ecosystems, flora and fauna, soils, geology, and drone technology, along with conservation-focused land management and stewardship, including a visit to the new Field Education & Research Center. Open to all, RSVP Here.
|
MVPGR Main Gate (Corner of Ansel Adams & Rancher’s) |
| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM |
BSP Vivarium Tour
Explore behind-the-scenes animal care with DARS-guided Vivarium Tours. Guests will learn how research animals are housed and cared for, and how veterinarians, technicians, and researchers work together to support ethical, responsible science. This educational experience offers a unique look into daily operations while highlighting the importance of animal welfare and regulatory compliance. Open to all, 15 people/tour, RSVP Here.
|
BSP Basement Vivarium (Meet in lobby of BSP) |
| 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM |
Stronger Research in Food Systems
Stronger Research in Food Systems brings together students, researchers, and industry partners to explore how science and innovation drive today’s food systems. In partnership with the Almond Board, this event highlights real-world research, career pathways, and job opportunities that support sustainable and resilient food production.
Open to all, RSVP Here.
|
Conference Center, Room 110 |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM |
SE1 Vivarium Tour
Explore behind-the-scenes animal care with DARS-guided Vivarium Tours. Guests will learn how research animals are housed and cared for, and how veterinarians, technicians, and researchers work together to support ethical, responsible science. This educational experience offers a unique look into daily operations while highlighting the importance of animal welfare and regulatory compliance.
Open to all, 15 people/tour, RSVP Here.
|
SE1 Basement Vivarium (Meet in lobby of SE1) |
| 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
Turning Up the Heat
INSITE graduate students turn up the heat on their faculty, literally! Inspired by the hit show Hot Ones, this event will feature INSITE faculty members answering tough (and fun!) student questions while working their way through increasingly spicy wings.
Open to all, for more information, visit here.
|
Conference Center, Room 105 |
| 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM |
CITRIS Researcher Reception
A networking event to connect CITRIS faculty and researchers during Research Week, where they will share opportunities with CITRIS and celebrate CITRIS’ 25th anniversary. |
Conference Center, Room 105 |
Wednesday, April 15
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
National Lab Day
National Labs Day is an annual one-day professional development conference hosted by the Graduate Division, connecting graduate students, postdocs, and researchers with scientists from major national laboratories.
|
Conference Center, Lakireddy Ballroom |
| 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
HSRI Symposium: Climate, Environment and Health
All are invited to the Health Sciences Research Institute’s Research Week symposium, focused on Climate, Environment, and Health and featuring presentations on current research by HSRI faculty, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students on local, regional and national health impacts of environment and climate, including: air quality, climate change, and HSRI's mobile lab (the nation’s first all-electric vehicle mobile laboratory).
Open to all, for more information, visit here.
|
Conference Center, Room 105 |
| 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Research Core Facilities Event
This event will showcase the research capabilities and technical expertise of UC Merced’s Core Facilities, with Directors presenting the instrumentation, services, and support available to the campus community. In addition, students who have conducted research within these facilities will share success stories highlighting how access to core resources enabled high-impact research outcomes. Open to all, for more information, visit here.
|
Conference Center, Room 110 |
| 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Research Core Facilities Open House
This event offers the UC Merced academic community the opportunity to visit Core Facilities, tour the laboratories, and see available instrumentation firsthand. Facility Directors will lead guided tours, provide overviews of capabilities and services, and answer questions about how the facilities support research and training. Open to all, for more information, visit here.
|
BSP Basement & 4th Floor, SE1 Floors 1 & 2, SE2 Basement |
Thursday, April 16
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Merced to Market (M2M)
A full-day innovation and entrepreneurship event that brings together UC Merced researchers, industry leaders, investors, and regional partners to accelerate the journey from research to market. M2M creates a collaborative space to connect ideas with capital, partnerships, and the resources needed to drive real-world impact.
Open to all, RSVP link coming soon.
|
Conference Center, Lakireddy Ballroom & Room 105 |
| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM |
BSP Vivarium Tour
Explore behind-the-scenes animal care with DARS-guided Vivarium Tours. Guests will learn how research animals are housed and cared for, and how veterinarians, technicians, and researchers work together to support ethical, responsible science. This educational experience offers a unique look into daily operations while highlighting the importance of animal welfare and regulatory compliance. Open to all, 15 people/tour, RSVP Here.
|
BSP Basement Vivarium (Meet in lobby of BSP) |
| 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM |
HPC Data Center Tour
Get a behind-the-scenes look at BorgCube, UC Merced’s high-performance computing (HPC) data center that hosts the MERCED and Pinnacles clusters.
Open to all, 7 people/tour, RSVP Here.
|
SE2 Building |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Gallery of Biotech and Bioscience Research All are invited to attend this event, which will celebrate UC Merced research through a focus on bioscience and biotechnology research images. All research groups are invited to select an image to be included. Visit CCBM to register from March 1-31. Light refreshments will be provided. |
BSP Atrium |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM |
SE1 Vivarium Tour
Explore behind-the-scenes animal care with DARS-guided Vivarium Tours. Guests will learn how research animals are housed and cared for, and how veterinarians, technicians, and researchers work together to support ethical, responsible science. This educational experience offers a unique look into daily operations while highlighting the importance of animal welfare and regulatory compliance.
Open to all, 15 people/tour, RSVP Here.
|
SE1 Basement Vivarium (Meet in SE1 lobby) |
| 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Research Week Poster Showcase
The UC Merced Research Week Poster Showcase will feature research posters from undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty, staff, and UC Merced research centers, celebrating the diverse research community on campus. The event will include poster sessions and networking opportunities to foster engagement across disciplines.
Open to all, sign up here.
|
Common Area, between ACS & SE Buildings |
| 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM |
Undergraduate Research Time Capsule
A campus-wide initiative that captures the spirit, practices, and impact of undergraduate research across disciplines and communities, put together by UROC. This time capsule commemorates a milestone in our institutional history, preserving how research is practiced today while challenging us to imagine the scholars, collaborations, and community we aim to become over the next twenty years.
|
Common Area, between ACS & SE Buildings |
Friday, April 17
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
SoE Industry Day
The School of Engineering will host Industry Day to connect faculty researchers with industry partners through a curated showcase of cutting-edge research, innovation, and collaboration opportunities.
|
SoE 102 |
| 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM |
Film Screening: The Spectrum of Life
A special on-campus screening of The Spectrum of Life, a film documenting BioSCape, NASA’s first biodiversity-focused field campaign. The film features interviews with international scientists and engineers, including UC Merced Professor Erin Hestir, who co-led the research. Learn how NASA’s latest remote sensing technology has the potential to revolutionize how we measure, monitor, and conserve ecosystems around the world, as well as offering a new lens on the life that surrounds us.
Join CITRIS and the Banatao Institute for a special screening of this 36-minute documentary, followed by a panel discussion featuring scientists and engineers involved in the project.
|
ACS 120 |
