Dear Colleagues,
At UC Riverside, research is central to our mission—and it is a shared effort. Every day, our faculty and students contribute to scholarship and discovery with global impact—whether placing a sample under a microscope, testing a new system, recording results, or supporting the work behind the scenes. Often, that work rises to a level that captures wider attention—advancing knowledge in ways that are both significant and inspiring.
Here are just a few of the latest research headlines appearing in major media outlets in the last few months.
Nvidia says its new AI chips won't require as much AC (Marketplace/NPR)
UCR AI researcher Shaolei Ren talks with NPR's Marketplace about the benefits of next-generation chips that require less cooling.
These charcoal-eating fungi flourish after fires. Uncovering their genetic secrets could help rebuild burned ecosystems (Smithsonian Magazine).
Sydney Glassman, a microbial ecologist at UCR, uncovers genetic secrets that allow some fungi to thrive in wildfire-ravaged areas when everything else dies off. These secrets could help burned areas recover.
Scientists warn against breathing in secondhand vape ‘smoke’ (Newsweek)
Researchers including UC Riverside environmental scientist Ying-Hsuan Lin found that aged vape aerosols contain fine particles bearing metals and highly reactive compounds that have the potential to damage lung tissues.
Writer’s Week returns for its 49th year
Experimentation in the arts takes center stage as California’s longest-running free literary festival, UCR Writers Week, returns May 5–8. Nationally recognized authors and emerging voices gather for readings and conversations that advance creative work, guided by the same spirit of inquiry that drives research across the university. More information is available on the Writer’s Week website.
Student researchers win national recognition
Two UCR students have earned national recognition for their research contributions.
This year, Sreenidhi Surineni became UC Riverside’s first Marshall Scholar—one of 43 selected nationwide for the prestigious scholarship. The Marshall Scholarship awards American students up to three years of fully funded graduate study in any field at a university in the United Kingdom. A neuroscience major studying Alzheimer’s disease, Surineni is developing technologies to improve patient care while expanding access to innovation. Beginning in Fall 2026, he will pursue two master’s degrees at Imperial College London—a Master of Research (MRes) in neurotechnology and a Master of Science (MSc) in medical device design and entrepreneurship.
Inchara Jagadeesh, a physics and astronomy major, was named a Goldwater Scholar, one of the nation’s top honors for undergraduate researchers in STEM. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in cosmology and contribute to international telescope collaborations studying the formation and evolution of the universe.
Congratulations to the students as well as the faculty and staff who have supported these students during their UCR journey.
New ways to learn more
The UCR News website and the weekly newsletters UCR Life and Inside UCR are several ways research articles are delivered on campus and to our broader UCR community.
But we also have exciting new ways to learn about the research work occurring here. Jules Bernstein, a senior public information officer, hosts two podcasts and a new monthly community event highlighting a UCR researcher.
Can I Bug You? is a twice-monthly deep dive into the sometimes creepy but mostly fascinating world of insects with one of the world's foremost experts on the topic, UC Riverside entomologist Dr. Doug Yanega. From gifts of love to the threat of extinction, listeners can learn about the big world of small things and why UCR has one of the best entomology programs in the world. (Link to “Can I Bug You?” episodes)
The newest podcast, Snackademic, is dedicated to UC Riverside food research - how food is made, what it does to our bodies, and how it impacts our world. (Link to Snackademic episodes). Launched in January, the first three episodes addressed the dangers of soybean oil, a deep dive into fat, and making a better avocado.
And a few months ago, Bernstein launched “Sip with a Scientist,” a monthly event series where one UCR researcher shares information about their work with community members. In January, Professor Stephen Kane, wowed the audience with his knowledge of planetary astrophysics. In February, entomologist Professor Barbara Baer-Imhoof shared the buzz on the language of honey bees. And, in March, Professor Adler Dillman talked about a possible weapon in fighting auto-immune diseases. Worms.
Sip with a Scientist occurs on the last Monday of the month at a community venue. The next event on April 27 at Bar Ni Modo will feature Dr. Tracy Kahn, who will share insights from the Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection.
Industry Partnerships to support research and students
Research at scale requires collaboration. Working with industry partners helps us translate research into real-world applications, creates opportunities for students, and helps strengthen our regional economy when collaboration becomes a path to commercialization.
One example of how we can create partnerships with industry took place on April 15 when executives from Esri were on campus for workshops and a public lecture. Esri Founder and President Jack Dangermond spoke about the science of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and his experience as an entrepreneur.
Commencement
In less than two months, many of our current students will cross the stage to become graduates, teachers, masters, and doctors. Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and teaching credentials will be conferred at the Toyota Arena on Monday, June 15, and Tuesday, June 16, organized by school or college. The School of Medicine Commencement Ceremony and the Graduate Division Hooding Ceremony will take place at the UCR Student Recreation Center on June 6 and June 7, respectively.
You’ll find more details including times of ceremonies on this link to a webpage for graduation 2026.
I look forward to congratulating our graduates and welcome them to the UCR alumni association.