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The University of California, Merced is recruiting new graduate students, postdocs, and staff scientists.
Andy LiWang lab research in Protein Metamorphosis and Responsive Nanodevices
Protein Metamorphosis and Responsive Nanodevices
Thrust 1 research focuses on the emerging theme of protein metamorphosis as mechanism to enable natural and synthetic controllable biological nanodevices, organized in two broad areas: the functional...
Adaptive and Responsive Mesoscale Assemblies
Adaptive and Responsive Mesoscale Assemblies
The focus of the research is to understand the mechanisms that enable assemblies to function collectively in adaptive and responsive ways as well as exploiting them for applications. 
Adaptive Cellular Communication
We will examine the impact of cell-cell and cell-matrix mechanical interactions on collective cell motility, patterning and the emergence of function, combining experimental and modeling approaches.
Science & Technology Enrichment Program
The CCBM has created an infrastructure that enables engaging research and learning opportunities for K-12 students.

CCBM Highlights

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The NSF CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines was established with a $5 million Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) grant in 2016 from the National Science Foundation. The CCBM brings together more than 30 faculty members from multiple units across campus, including bioengineering, physics, chemistry and chemical biology, biomaterials science and engineering, cell and molecular biology, and applied mathematics. The center received an additional $5 million in 2021 for another 5 years of funding. Researchers are studying how biological matter like proteins or cells come together to perform specific tasks, in hopes of eventually being able to engineer and develop innovations ranging from designer cells and tissue to novel diagnostic and therapeutic devices. The CCBM also hosts an integrated, interdisciplinary training program for graduate students that emphasizes physical and biological components, research and training experiences for undergraduate and high school students to enhance the recruitment of underrepresented groups into STEM research, and outreach experiences for the local community and beyond.

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Research

physics, bioengineering, biomaterials science and engineering, quantitative biology, applied mathematics, and chemistry and chemical biology forming a diverse, interdisciplinary research community with a common vision

Education

nurturing teamwork, creativity, versatility and entrepreneurship for undergraduate and graduate students with a special emphasis on technical training 

Outreach

engaging K-12 programs focused on increasing the number and diversity of talented students in STEM fields & other community-focused efforts

Featured News

Professor Eva de Alba, Eduardo A. Gaspar-Morales and Ayomide J. Adeoye display a hydrogel.
August 18, 2023

Bioengineering Professor Eva de Alba has been awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to study a potential process to reduce inflammation. The $405,375 grant will fund de Alba's project...

NASA mounted samples of solar films developed at UC Merced on a cube outside the International Space Station for 10 months.
April 12, 2023

Solar films developed by a graduate student in the Department of Physics at UC Merced while on an internship at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) not only survived 10 months in space with minimal...

March 27, 2023

Merced-area mothers and their daughters participated in engaging hands-on chemistry projects recently, in two sessions hosted by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded CREST Center for...

March 27, 2023

Merced-area mothers and their daughters participated in engaging hands-on chemistry projects recently, in two sessions hosted by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded CREST Center for...

Events and Happenings

Sep
22
Friday, September 22, 2023 UC Merced Conference Center  All day
Sep
08
“What Will Your Mechanobiology Do?” “CREST Fellows Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program at UC Merced”  Friday...
Sep
01
Thrust 1, 2, and 3 Meeting dates TBD.
Aug
21
All day at Vista Ranch in Merced All center faculty, scientists, postdocs, staff, center affiliates, and graduate students invited.

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