Our Mission
The study of neuroscience stands as one of the most dynamic and challenging fields in contemporary scientific exploration. By delineating the intricacies of the brain and describing its interactions with the body and the world around it, neuroscience has the potential to unlock new frontiers of knowledge and inspire groundbreaking advances in medicine, technology, and beyond.
The Center for Interdisciplinary Neuroscience (CIN) at UC Merced brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines relevant to Neuroscience to share their research, develop novel collaborations, and equip both undergraduate and graduate students for career paths in Neuroscience-related fields. The breadth of knowledge of our faculty—across departments and schools—supports interdisciplinary training drawing from a variety of topics, techniques, and perspectives, including neuroanatomy, biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, biophysics, psychology, pharmacology, in vivo brain imaging (e.g., fNIRS, EEG), and computational modeling. All research topics and methodologies related to neuroscience, broadly construed, are welcome. Such cross-disciplinary exposure is critical for faculty to develop innovative programs of research and for students to be prepared to pursue a wide range of careers in the biomedical sciences and biotechnology. Furthermore, CIN aims to foster collaborations across UC Merced, as well as with clinics and institutes in the larger community, thus centering the needs of the San Joaquin Valley’s diverse population.
About the Center
What does it mean that we are “center” and not a department? It means that we draw faculty from departments across campus and from affiliated institutes in Merced County and the Central Valley for wide ranging discussions. We envision a training environment whereby students are considered de facto members of the department in which their major is declared (for undergraduates) or in which their faculty mentors have a primary appointment (for graduate students), but in which they can develop their neuroscience bona fides. Faculty and students who engage with CIN are bound together by a common commitment to interdisciplinary training. Together, we benefit from the synergy of our diverse approaches to understanding the brain and nervous system.
UC Merced boasts a wealth of opportunities for undergraduate students with an interest in the neurosciences. There are degree and course options in areas of Neuroscience, Psychology, Human Development, Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, Biomedical Engineering, Cognitive Neuroscience and more. These programs are highly popular, and students have ample opportunity to gain an appreciation of brain physiology, biology, function, behavior and control. Students are encouraged to participate in mentored research in any of the UCM CIN affiliated Neuroscience laboratories. This training often comes with course credit through the relevant department.
To stay informed about events related to CIN and Neuroscience at UC Merced more broadly, please join the CIN mailing list: https://lists.ucmerced.edu/mailman/listinfo/cin-announce
Faculty interested in becoming affiliates of the Center for Interdisciplinary Neuroscience should reach out to one of the center directors (see Faculty page).
