ϰٿ

Lorena Anderson

ϰٿ campus photo of sign

Senior Writer and Public Information Representative

Office: (209) 228-4406

Mobile: (209) 201-6255

landerson4@ucmerced.edu

ϰٿ Leads National Effort to Unlock Quantum Secrets of Twisty Molecules

A team of scientists led by ϰٿ is embarking on a project to understand how the twisted shapes of specific molecules can influence the spin of electrons — a phenomenon that could revolutionize solar energy, electronics and quantum computing.

The research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing (SciDAC) program, focuses on a mysterious effect known as chirality-induced spin selectivity, or CISS.

Two Weeks, One Challenge, Lifelong Impact: Bobcats Dive into Data Science Challenge

Kathy Chau believed she knew what her future would look like. The first in her family to attend college, she had long been advised to aim for a safe and stable job — one that might not light a fire in her soul but would pay the bills.

“I resigned myself to working a corporate job. I didn't like the sound of it, but I didn't hate it, either,” she said.

From Soil to Climate Solutions: Berhe Leads Sierra Nevada Research Institute into its Next Chapter

When Professor arrived at ϰٿ in 2009, she and her husband, Professor , were leaving major research institutions to join a brand-new campus in California’s Central Valley. It was a leap of faith — one made easier by the .

Research into Hidden Chemistry Shaping Future Air Quality Earns Zhang an NSF Award

As nations cut emissions that once fueled urban smog, scientists are discovering unexpected chemistry taking place in the atmosphere.

ϰٿ is leading a project to uncover how these chemical shifts could affect the air we breathe and the climate. The project is supported by a National Science Foundation CAREER Award.

Zhang is the 43rd researcher from ϰٿ to earn a CAREER award from the NSF.

Hellman Fellowships Welcome Three New Members from ϰٿ

As the Hellman Fellowships celebrate their 30th year, three more researchers, one from each of ϰٿ’s schools, have joined the prestigious ranks of recipients.

Electrical engineering , sociology and Earth systems will receive funding through their fellowships for projects they have proposed.

Simple Chemical Treatment Makes Next-Gen Electronics More Reliable

A team of international researchers has discovered that a simple chemical treatment can enhance the strength and reliability of one of the world’s thinnest materials for use in future electronics.

The study, , demonstrates that treating monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) with a specialized acid not only repairs tiny defects in the material but also enhances its durability and electrical conductivity consistency.

A New Adventure for Two Founding Faculty Chemists: Retirement

Starting a university from scratch isn’t for the faint of heart — or the slow of foot. Lucky for ϰٿ, Anne Myers Kelley and David Kelley are neither.

Anne, a former Olympic marathon trials qualifier, and David, a competitive cyclist, were no strangers to long, grueling efforts when they packed up their lab gear and headed west from Kansas State University in 2003.

Vaping Produces a Chemical that Destroys Human Tissue, Research Shows

In addition to being used recreationally, marijuana and cannabidiol, or CBD, one of the cannabinoids produced by the marijuana plant, are thought to have medical benefits such as helping with chemotherapy-induced nausea, treating epilepsy, relieving pain and helping with a variety of mental health issues.

Amemiya Awarded for Research, Teaching, Outreach and Service

, former interim director of the , has been honored by the Pan American Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology (PASEDB) with the Service Award.