2024
Undergraduate & Graduate Student Awards:
- Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award: Biviana Oseguera
For her impactful research on the Radcliffe Wave within the Milky Way and her outstanding academic achievements, which include receiving the prestigious Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Award and being recognized at the American Astronomical Society meeting for compelling science and engaging presentation skills.
- Outstanding Senior Thesis: Izaiah Martinez
Also recognized by SNS as outstanding graduating senior in the physics major.
- Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award: Teddy Adams
For his exceptional commitment by providing special accommodations for students facing various challenges, extending office hours and proctoring exams to accommodate their needs. His proactive support extended to peer counseling for students engaging in academic dishonesty, demonstrating outstanding maturity and leadership.
- Outstanding Graduate Student Service & Outreach Award: Micah Oeur
For her commitment to diversity and equality in physics, for bringing in resources for the EquiTea event and hosting the event this year.
Faculty/Lecturer/Postdoc Awards:
- Outstanding Teaching Award: Dustin Kleckner
For his notable contributions to undergraduate education in designing the freshman SPARK seminar, "Measuring Our Physical World." For his commitment to enhancing the upper-division curriculum by redesigning the second semester of the electromagnetism course and beyond the classroom, for teaching many undergraduate students in research within his lab.
- Outstanding Teaching Award: John Wilson
For his continued excellence in teaching the physics introductory sequence and for transitioning successfully from a former graduate student into a lecturer role.
- Outstanding Mentor Award: Jing Xu
For her hands-on research mentorship in the physics department, especially with undergraduates. Many of her mentees having advancing to prestigious graduate and postbaccalaureate programs often with peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals. Jing's commitment to fostering the research skills of her mentees, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, demonstrates her dedication to inclusive mentorship.
- Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award: David Strubbe
For his multifaceted and impactful contributions to CUWiP, Cal-Bridge, and the DEI Committee and for his efforts in increasing diversity via numerous recruitment efforts.
- Outstanding Service & Outreach Award: Jay Sharping
For his remarkable impact on undergraduate education at UC Merced, demonstrated through his extensive leadership of the Undergraduate Council Committee (UGC) as chair for multiple terms and as a dedicated member, marking an extraordinary and often overlooked contribution to the campus community.
Staff Award:
- Outstanding Staff Member: Shannon Adamson
For her outstanding performance, consistent and effective work with the physics department and instructors on course scheduling, planning and problem solving and her work handling course proposals in Curriculog to help make the physics program run smoothly.
2023
Undergraduate Graduate Student Awards:
- Outstanding Graduating Senior: Nathan Simons
- Outstanding Undergraduate Research: Maria Gamez
- Senior Thesis Award: Christopher Mastandrea
Graduate Student Awards:
- Outstanding Graduate Research: Samuel Erickson
- Outstanding Graduate Teaching: Michael Leveille
- Outstanding Graduate Teaching: Kevin Collins
- Outstanding Graduate Student Service and Outreach: Arabi Seshappan
2022
Undergraduate & Graduate Student Awards:
- Outstanding Graduating Senior Award: Calista Lum
- Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award: Zachary Mauri
- Outstanding Graduate TA Award: Pooja Chopra/Dylan Benton
- Outstanding Graduate Research Award: William Delmas/Enrique Guerrero
- Outstanding Contribution to DEIJ Award: Jenny Quinn
- Outstanding Service & Outreach Award: Micah Oeur & Abhinav Kumar
Faculty/Lecturer/Postdoc Awards:
- Outstanding Teaching Award: Kristina Callaghan
- Outstanding Mentoring Award: Jay Sharping
- Outstanding Contribution to DEIJ Award: Sarah Loebman
- Outstanding Service & Outreach Award: Brian Utter
Staff Awards:
- Outstanding Performance (Academic/Advising): Paul Roberts/Donna Jaramillo Fellin
- Outstanding Performance (Administrative): Tom Martinez
2021
Undergraduate & Graduate Student Awards
- Outstanding Graduating Senior Award: Thomas Virgen
- Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award: Grace Newman, Thomas Virgen
- Outstanding Graduate TA Award: Alauna Wheeler and Davoud Masoumi
- Outstanding Graduate Research Award: William Delmas
- Outstanding Contribution to DEIJ Award: Christina Valletta
- Outstanding Service & Outreach Award: Karla Leon-Aguilar, Niranjan Sarpangala & Ritwika Sugasree
Faculty/Lecturer/Postdoc Awards:
- Outstanding Teaching Award: Toni Stone
- Outstanding Mentoring Award: David Strubbe
- Outstanding Contribution to DEIJ Award: Sayantani Ghosh
Staff Awards:
- Outstanding Performance (Academic/Advising): Jenn Souza
- Outstanding Performance (Administrative): Mariah Gonsalez
