UC Merced has made a name for itself by giving undergraduates the opportunity to engage in research early in their academic careers.
This summer, 41 students have been conducting research with world-class faculty, thanks to sponsorships from seven different programs. According to Jesus Cisneros, director for undergraduate research programs, these student scholars represent an investment in the future.
“We are coaching these students to present their research at competitive regional and national conferences, in addition to helping them to develop skills to prepare them for the rigors of graduate school and professional careers,” he said.
Some program students are brand-new to UC-level research. Others are seasoned veterans who have spent most of their undergraduate career working with faculty. UC LEADS Scholar Emmanuel Villanueva, a junior psychology major from Fresno, is one such example. Since enrolling at UC Merced, he’s worked in psychology and cognitive science labs with renown faculty such as Anna Song, David Noelle and Teenie Matlock.
The UC LEADS program lasts for two years with Villanueva conducting research here this summer and spending next summer at a different campus. With faculty mentor Jitske Tiemensma, he began a literature review on the effects of emotions on the immune system and found himself amazed at the wealth of knowledge available and that which is still unknown.
“The amount of literature available on any given topic is infinite; you can search and search, and the results never end,” he said. “But in the world of research, there is always more to be done. There is always something that was overlooked or requires replication.”
According to Tiemensma, the value of Villanueva’s summer research is that it fills a void in the world of academia.
“When it comes to exploring the pathways through which emotions/emotion regulation can influence the immune system, there is no clear overview in existing literature,” she said. “But it’s essential to have an overview before we can start designing exciting experiments and interventions.”
Like all of the summer research scholars, Villanueva is grateful for the funding he’s received but also for the invaluable experience of being part of the big picture that academic research represents.
“When I pursue graduate school, I will not see myself as one among many, but as part of a group of first-generation students who are facilitating the path for those who come after us.”
