For Lily Maya, choosing UC Riverside was years in the making. She first remembers visiting UCR during a middle school field trip, when the campus left a lasting impression on her. Later, while researching colleges in high school, she was drawn to UCR's strong support for first-generation and Hispanic students—an important factor in her decision...
When James Riggs arrived at UC Riverside as a biology major, he knew he wanted a career in healthcare—but he wasn't yet sure what that would look like. Four years later, he graduated with a clear path forward, shaped by the experiences and community he found along the way. James is spending a gap year...
For Allison Matthews, graduating from the University of California, Riverside marks both an ending and a continuation. A biology major with a minor in feminist studies, Allison will remain at UCR to pursue her master's degree through the university's Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (CMDB) program. While she came to UCR with a clear academic...
When Sreenidhi (Sree) Surineni learned he had been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Marshall Scholarship, one of the first calls he made was to the mentors who had supported him throughout his journey at the University of California, Riverside. "It was really cool to share that moment with them and see how far...
More than 480 undergraduate students from across the University of California, Riverside presented faculty-mentored research and creative projects during the 20th annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium, held April 21–24. The symposium culminated with in-person poster presentations on April 24 in HUB 302, where students shared research spanning molecular biology, agriculture, medicine, environmental science...
On May 6, the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) welcomed agricultural educators from across Riverside County for a day of learning, discussion, and exploration centered on the future of agriculture, sustainability, and science education. The visit included a tour of UCR’s Agricultural Operations, where teachers learned more about the university’s historic...
Admitted transfer students and their families explored academic programs, connected with faculty and students, and experienced campus life firsthand during Highlander Day for Transfer Students on May 9 at UC Riverside. Throughout the day, CNAS welcomed future Highlanders with a full lineup of transfer-focused programming, including multilingual tours led by CNAS Science Ambassadors, faculty meet-and-greets...
If you love your major, enjoy connecting with people, and want to make an impact beyond the classroom, this is your moment. The CNAS Science Ambassador program is now accepting applications—and it’s one of the most meaningful ways to get involved at UC Riverside. As a Science Ambassador, you don’t just represent CNAS—you bring it...
The CCB-SEEDS Mentorship Program is recruiting mentors for the Spring 2026 cohort! Please sign up by Wednesday, April 15, 2026 if your research is in the fields of Ecology, Evolution, and/or Conservation Biology, and you have a desire to foster undergraduate interest in your field. No previous experience is required and grad students of all...
The Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) hosted its annual Women’s Day Forum on March 10 at the Moreno Valley Conference Center, bringing together more than 200 attendees from across the Inland Empire for a half-day of connection, reflection, and inspiration. Centered on the theme “Give to Gain,” the event highlighted the power of collaboration...
Panel and dinner conversations highlight the breadth of opportunities available to science graduates. Students, alumni and campus partners gathered Feb. 18 at the UC Riverside Alumni and Visitors Center for “Dinner with Alumni: Science Careers Beyond Healthcare,” an evening designed to broaden career exploration and strengthen connections across the Highlander network. Hosted by the Student...
On February 27, CNAS Science Ambassadors served as volunteer judges at the Riverside County Science and Engineering Fair at the Riverside Convention Center, joining educators, industry professionals, and community partners in supporting the region’s next generation of scientists. Hosted by the Riverside County Office of Education, the fair represents the culmination of months of student...
On January 29, 2026, UC Riverside's HUB 302 was filled with an uncommon mix of people: high school students seeing a research campus for the first time, undergraduates imagining what might come next, graduate students reflecting on how far they’ve come, and faculty and campus leaders eager to meet them where they are. The occasion...
Students looking to take the next step in their academic journeys had the opportunity to connect directly with faculty, graduate students, and campus partners during the R’STEM Find Your Research Match event, held on February 3, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in HUB 302. A collaborative effort between the College of Natural and...
On January 22, 2026, REACH Leadership STEAM Academy in Riverside hosted its annual science fair, welcoming students, educators, and community partners for a late-afternoon event that highlighted curiosity, experimentation, and discovery. UC Riverside’s College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) participated by sending graduate students to serve as judges and mentors, reinforcing the college’s commitment...
The story of how one chemistry teacher— Michelle Hampton—at Riverside Unified School District’s (RUSD) Martin Luther King High School (MLK) reached out to faculty at UC Riverside with an idea of giving her chemistry students practical experience in a bona fide research lab exemplifies the old idiom: nothing ventured, nothing gained. But in this case...
Maritssa Nolasco, a fourth-year Mathematics for Teachers of Secondary School (MTSS) major at the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences and a Digital Agriculture Fellowship (DAF) participant, has been awarded the 2025 National Student Recognition award. Co-sponsored by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) and the...
Sreenidhi Surineni, a neuroscience major with a minor in philosophy in UC Riverside’s College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS), has been named a 2025 Goldwater Scholar with the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, one of the most prestigious national honors awarded to undergraduate researchers in the STEM fields. Surineni was...
To say that Adler R. Dillman is fascinated by a particular ubiquitous organism best viewed through a microscope is a bit of an understatement. A Professor of Parasitology & Nematologist as well as the Chair of the Department of Nematology at UC Riverside, Dillman is “all about” parasitic nematodes...although, to be sure, he had never...
The UC Riverside departments of Evolution, Ecology & Organismal Biology, Botany and Plant Sciences, and Environmental Sciences hosted the inaugural Southern California Conference on Ecological Change on February 14. The inaugural event was organized in response to the effects of warming climate, larger and more frequent fires, urbanization and land development, and invasive species on...
