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Research and Impact

Our faculty and students are asking big questions about the causes of poor health and the policies, social change, and community resources needed to protect and promote well-being. Our faculty are at the forefront of their subfields, expanding knowledge on issues ranging from the risk factors for suicide to the impact of climate change on maternal health to the inequities that immigrants experience in our health care system. We work with collaborators across the University of California system and other universities, as well as local partners engaged providing services and organizing communities. The foundation of our work is a commitment to contributing knowledge that can advance health equity locally, nationally, and globally.

Featured Research and Action

Improving environmental health through community-engaged research

UC Merced faculty are at the forefront of understanding and addressing the adverse health effects of environmental hazards and climate-change related health threats. We highlight their efforts to work with communities to monitor and mitigate environmental challenges such as air and water pollution and extreme heat.

UC Merced faculty conducted groundbreaking work, documenting racial disparities in health care access and combatting vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Student Research

Our graduate and undergraduate students are deeply involved in research on campus and in the community. Students receive mentorship from and collaborate with faculty on numerous studies. Our doctoral students are tackling a diverse range of issues that influence physical and mental health - from air pollution to occupational risks to racial inequity. They have published and presented their work in numerous venues. Many of our undergraduate students also pursue independent research with faculty and through our campus’ Undergraduate Research Opportunity Center.