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UC Merced has attracted more than 100 new graduate students who are working toward an advanced degree from the first American research university of the 21st century.
The students are coming from across the country and even the world. Some received their undergraduate degrees at other UCs, including Berkeley and Davis, while others attended school at University of Michigan, John Hopkins University and University of Washington.
Students choose graduate studies at UC Merced because the small size of our individualized graduate groups and interdisciplinary approach to advanced learning lay a foundation for academic exploration not often found on other campuses. Our students develop close working relationships with faculty in an informal atmosphere conducive to professional growth.
Recruitment period has begun for the 2015-16 academic year and application information is now available online.
Known for having world-class faculty and innovative students working to solve real-world problems today, UC Merced is at the forefront of research being conducted in various fields such as climate change, solar and renewable energy, water quality and resources, artificial intelligence, cognitive science and biomedicine.
Our campus offers graduate degrees in 13 different programs of study, most of which are interdisciplinary in nature. They are:
- Applied Mathematics (M.S./Ph.D.)
- Biological Engineering and Small-Scale Technologies (M.S./Ph.D.)
- Chemistry and Chemical Biology (M.S./Ph.D.)
- Cognitive and Information Sciences (Ph.D.
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (M.S./Ph.D.)
- Environmental Systems (M.S./Ph.D.)
- Interdisciplinary Humanities (M.A./Ph.D.)
- Mechanical Engineering (M.S./Ph.D.)
- Physics (M.S./Ph.D.)
- Political Science (Ph.D.)
- Psychological Sciences (Ph.D.)
- Quantitative and Systems Biology (M.S./Ph.D.)
- Social Sciences (M.S./Ph.D.)
If your research goals are in line with our academic areas of expertise, the next important factor to consider is quality of life as a graduate student. UC Merced offers a unique experience on all fronts. We're located in an area with a low cost of living and close proximity to the best California has to offer. Yosemite National Park, San Francisco and Monterey are all within a two-hour car ride.
Our campus is fortunate to provide financial support and resources to our graduate students. About 95 percent of our graduate students receive funding, which can come in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships (TA), and graduate student researcher (GSR) assistantships. For example, the following internal fellowships have been awarded for the 2014-15 academic year:
- Chancellor's Graduate Fellowship -- James Stinecipher (Environmental Systems) and Yi Zhu (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)
- Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship -- Violet Barton (Social Sciences) and Sabah Ul-Hasan (Quantitative & Systems Biology)
- Faculty Mentor Program Fellowship -- Nikko Da Paz (Psychological Sciences) and Wendy Puquirre (Social Sciences)
- Fletcher Jones Fellowship – Jose Amaral (Physics)
- Miguel Velez Scholarship – Yuriana Aguilar (Quantitative & Systems Biology)
- President's Dissertation Year Fellowship -- Otto Alvarez (Environmental Systems) and Drew Glaser (Bioengineering & Small-Scale Technologies)
- Graduate Dean's Dissertation Year Fellowship – David Ando (Physics), Liza Gomez Daglio (Quantitative & Systems Biology), Tao Ren (Mechanical Engineering), Sarah Scott (Psychological Sciences), Emily Wilson (Quantitative & Systems Biology) and Jimei Yang (Electrical Engineering & Computer Science)
At UC Merced, our faculty and staff are invested in the success of our graduate students. The enrichment of the educational and social experience of the graduate community is an essential part of UC Merced. We provide coordinated events and services to assist our students in enhancing their professional, intellectual and leadership skills.
Heather Thompson (Quantitative & Systems Biology, 2014), a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona, credits our supportive faculty for making it easier to land her current position.
“Because our campus is still small, my principal investigator isn’t the only professor who knows me or my skills,” she said. “I’ve been plugged into a variety of networks simply because the professors in my school know me well enough to introduce me to their contacts.”
Students wanting full consideration for admissions and funding should submit their application by Dec. 15, though some programs accept applicants through Jan. 15. If you’re serious about advancing your education, now is the time to discover what UC Merced has to offer to you. Contact the Graduate Division directly at (209) 228-4723 or grad@ucmerced.edu.
