OpenFieldUC Merced · Merced, California, United States
The University of California, Merced (UC Merced) is the 10th and newest campus in the world-renowned University of California system, founded in 2005 in California's San Joaquin Valley. Recognized as the fastest-growing public research university in the United States and the only American research campus where all buildings are LEED-certified, UC Merced is acclaimed for solar energy technology, Sierra Nevada water sustainability, and bioengineering.
UC Merced comprises the School of Engineering, School of Natural Sciences, and School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts. It operates unique research enterprises including the Sierra Nevada Research Institute (SNRI), the Health Sciences Research Institute (HSRI), and the University of California Solar (UC Solar) research consortium.
Undergraduate admissions are evaluated through the University of California application (holistic review; test-free). Graduate and doctoral applicants require a baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, transcripts, statements of purpose, and three letters of recommendation.
Cutting-edge doctoral research exploring alpine snowpack hydrology, wildfire dynamics, California Central Valley groundwater aquifers, and sustainable ecosystem policy.
Doctoral research curriculum exploring computer vision, autonomous aerial robotics, distributed sensor networks, cyber-physical systems, and AI hardware acceleration.
Interdisciplinary biological doctorate combining mathematical modeling, computational genomics, developmental epigenetics, and immunology.
Doctoral training investigating concentrated solar nanomaterials, soft biomaterials for drug delivery, 2D quantum materials, and additive biomanufacturing.
Interdisciplinary professional master's preparing managers for leadership in clean energy enterprise, agricultural technology innovation, and corporate carbon accounting.
ABET-accredited bioengineering program featuring laboratory immersion in microfluidics, biomolecular modeling, tissue fabrication, and medical device design.
Distinguished Professor & Director of UC Solar
School of Engineering & Department of Physics
Dr. Winston is the world-renowned inventor of Nonimaging Optics and Compound Parabolic Concentrators, pioneering solar thermal energy and optical thermodynamic ...
View researcher profile ↗Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Sierra Nevada Research Institute
Dr. Viers conducts research on watershed hydrology, California water rights governance, freshwater ecosystem conservation, and climate adaptation in the Sierra ...
View researcher profile ↗Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Dr. Manilay's laboratory explores the mechanisms of hematopoietic stem cell fate decisions, immune cell development in bone marrow microenvironments, and T-cell...
View researcher profile ↗OpenField is an independent research platform not officially affiliated with University of California, Merced. Information reflects public documentation reviewed on 2026-10-16. Students must verify application deadlines, fee structures, and prerequisite details directly with official university admissions departments before applying.
Updated 2026-10-16 · Editorial policy · Submit corrections