Physics at UC Merced
The physics group at UC Merced provides opportunities and instruction for undergraduates majoring in physics and graduate degrees leading to the PhD. Our energetic, award winning faculty are committed to excellence in research and instruction and we offer a variety of fundamental and applied classes and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in cutting-edge projects in experimental and theoretical physics.
Our research programs are highly interdisciplinary, with collaborative faculty working in both emerging and established research areas such as condensed matter, quantum information, solar energy, atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) physics, soft matter and biological physics and nanoscience.
Why UC Merced?
As the first new American research university of the 21st century, UC Merced features a unique academic structure that removes barriers to interdisciplinary research common in traditional departments and fosters strong ties of our physical sciences research to life sciences, materials and electrical engineering.
Graduate Students will have the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. on a wide range of cutting-edge research topics, ranging from traditional fields such as condensed matter and atomic and molecular physics the cutting edge emerging fields of solar energy science, nanoscience, soft matter and biophysics. You can read about specific projects on our research pages.
Studying at the University of California
As the 10th campus of the University of California, UC Merced draws on the outstanding resources of the UC system, a world renowned center for research and education. The research groups in this graduate group have access to major facillities, such as state of the art laser systems, an electron microscopy facility, a nanofabrication facility and NMR on campus. Other large facilities, such as synchrotron light sources, located at Livermore and Berkeley labs, are within two hours of driving distances. Students also have access to the extensive library holdings and journal subscriptions of the UC system.
A smaller collegial community
Our young, diverse group of faculty is enthusiastic, driven and invested in student success. The faculty at UC Merced is large enough to offer rigorous and comprehensive training but our group is small enough that students receive a lot of personal attention, a significant departure from many research universities. The academic structure and physical proximity also allow collaborative opportunities with other research groups.
Watch a video about UC Merced here
Our location
Merced is conveniently located in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley, within a short two-hour drive from the cities of San Francisco and Sacramento, and from the natural beauty of the Pacific Ocean and Yosemite National Park. Merced enjoys a low cost-of-living and an excellent quality of life.
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