Research Opportunities

Students at UC Riverside have a distinct advantage in the multitude of opportunities available for participating in faculty research programs. Independent participation in such research helps students develop technical skills, explore areas of modern research, and learn how the world of research operates. In addition, working with faculty members gives students the opportunity to interact closely with professors, who, in turn, get to know the students.

To participate in undergraduate research opportunities on campus, students can: • Check out the college and multicampus research opportunities listed below and visit https://www.ucr.edu/research for other opportunities • Explore the undergraduate research opportunities portal at engage.ucr.edu. • Examine research-specific websites posted by colleges and departments • Contact departmental advisors directly • See the Internship Program under Career Center in the Services for Students section in this catalog. Also, the Capitol Internship program at UC Riverside provides a variety of opportunities for eligible students to earn course credit for substantive internships associated with their academic and career goals. Visit https://engage.ucr.edu/internship/ overview for more information.

California Center for Native Nations Director: Michelle Raheja, Ph.D. 2006 Humanities and Social Sciences Building

• (951) 827-1799

michelle.raheja@ucr.edu; ccnn.ucr.edu

Provides opportunities for research collaborations with California’s native peoples and other Indian tribes that benefit tribal communities and expand scholarly knowledge. As UCR is a neighbor to more than 30 tribes in the surrounding area, the center particularly supports interdis- ciplinary and culturally sensitive research in collaboration with these communities.

Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research Director: Brian Geiger, Ph.D., MLS INTN M1006

• (951) 827-5841; fax (951) 827-4120

cbsr.ucr.edu

Supports research and publication in bibliography and the history of the book. It manages five internationally renowned programs.

• The English Short Title Catalog (ESTC) records every item published in Great Britain and any British governed territories from the beginning of printing (1473) through the end of the eighteenth century. The catalog is searchable free of cost via the British Library at estc.bl.uk. • The California Newspaper Project (CNP) records surviving issues of all newspapers published in California, freely available for searching at the cnp.ucr.edu.

• The California Newspaper Microfilm Archive (CNMA) preserves and stores approximately 100,000 reels of California newspaper microfilm from 1846 to the present. Accessible at cnma.ucr.edu.

• The California Digital Newspaper Collection (CDNC) is a text-searchable collection of more than 550,000 pages of digitized California newspapers from 1848 to the present. Accessible at cdnc.ucr.edu.

• Un Catálogo Colectivo de Impresos Latinoamericanos hasta 1900 (CCILA) is a comprehensive union catalog of Latin American imprints through 1900. Searchable at ccila.ucr.edu.

Center for Family Studies Director: Nancy Guerra, Ph.D. Olmsted Hall, Third Floor

• (951) 827-6421

nancy.guerra@ucr.edu

Focuses on significant advances in family theory, research, and application requiring an interdisciplinary perspective and intra- and cross-cultural approaches to family issues. Represents anthropology, education, history, sociology, and psychology.

Center for Ideas and Society Director: Georgia Warnke, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Political Science College Building South

• (951) 827-1555; fax (951) 827-6377;

ideasandsociety.ucr.edu

The Center for Ideas and Society is an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to advancing humanistic studies and creativity at UC River- side. The Center’s fellowships, research workshops, and public events strengthen the intellectual and creative life of the university. The center is committed to disseminating the results of its programs to the River- side community and beyond.

The center also houses the Institute for the Study of Immigrant Religions and the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program.

Institute for Research on World-Systems Director: Christopher Chase-Dunn, Ph.D. 4111 Interdisciplinary Building South

• (951) 827-2062;

chriscd@ucr.edu; irows.ucr.edu

Organizes collaborative research among social, biological, and physical scientists on long-term, large-scale social change and its ecological, geographical and climatological causes and effects. Research foci in- clude globalization; global inequalities; transnational social movements; urbanization and settlement systems; biotechnology and hegemony; the rise and fall of cities, states, and empires; and climate change.

Alternative Earths Astrobiology Center Director: Dr. Timothy Lyons, Ph.D. timothy.lyons@ucr.edu; https://astrobiology.ucr.edu/

The Alternative Earths Astrobiology Center is cultivating a “search engine” for life on distant worlds using the best possible template: the billions of years that Earth was teeming with simple life, long before the evolution of animals. Building on $12 million in NASA-funded assets at UC Riverside, this cross-departmental integration of Earth science and astronomy—plus a broader array of on-campus collaborations spawned by this alliance—will position the university as a world leader in the search for habitable worlds and life beyond Earth. Botanic Gardens Director: Jodie S. Holt, Ph.D.

• (951) 784-7090;

ucrbg@ucr.edu https://gardens.ucr.edu/

The UCR Botanic Gardens is a living museum with more than 3,500 plant species and thousands of specimens with a focus on plants from Medi- terranean climate and arid lands. The Gardens are utilized for teaching, research, and demonstration purposes, as well as enjoyment and appre- ciation of nature. Numerous engagement activities are offered each year including plant sales, classes and workshops, tours and walks, and an annual fundraiser. The Gardens are supported by an active Friends of the Botanic Gardens membership group and hundreds of volunteers from the campus and community.

California Agriculture and Food Enterprise (CAFÉ) Director: Dr. Norman Ellstrand, Ph.D.

• (951) 827-4194

https://cafe.ucr.edu/

The California Agriculture and Food Enterprise (CAFÉ) builds on UCR’s unique history and strengths in interdisciplinary research, facilities and outreach to positively impact the science, policies and practices related to the critical role of food and agriculture to human health and well-being.

Center for Interactive Bee Research (CIBER) CIBER is located at the Department of Entomology. Collectively, the team currently includes 10 faculty and their research groups that conduct col- laborative and cross-disciplinary research on pollinator health. Activities connect landscape-level processes with organismal-level interactions and molecular mechanisms to develop tools to identify, quantify, and manage threats to pollinators. The goal is to halt and reverse nationwide declines in pollination services to ensure food security and agricultural sustainability and ecosystem stability. For more information see ciber. ucr.edu

Center for Catalysis https://catalysis.ucr.edu/

The mission of the Center for Catalysis is to tackle new and novel in- terdisciplinary challenges faced by the field of chemical catalysis in the 21st century. Emphasis is placed on addressing catalytic needs in several areas of current importance in society, including energy storage and generation, environmental remediation, green chemistry and synthesis of specialty chemicals. The center draws from expertise across multiple departments at UCR in undertaking projects in the collaborative, inter- disciplinary manner that is prevalent in the field today.

Center for Conservation Biology Director: G. Darrel Jenerette, Ph.D. darrel.jenerette@ucr.edu; ccb.ucr.edu

The Center for Conservation Biology assists in the conservation and restoration of species and ecosystems by facilitating the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of scientific information. The CCB proactively identifies new research priorities in conservation biology and inaugurates new collaborative research programs. It also develops research programs in response to existing needs in conservation biology.

Center of Nano-Scale Electronics, Phenomena, and Technology Director: Chun Ning (Jeanie) Lau, Ph.D. jeanie.lau@ucr.edu

The Center of Nano-Scale Electronics, Phenomena, and Technology (CON- SEPT) focuses on exploring novel electronic, optical, thermal, and me- chanical phenomena that emerge in nanoscale systems, and exploiting these phenomena for next-generation devices and systems. Researchers explore novel materials such materials as graphene, carbon nanotubes, magnetic systems, and topological insulators as well as nanomechanical systems and chemical and biological sensing. Center for Invasive Species Research Director: Mark Hoddle, Ph.D.

• (951) 827-4714;

mark.hoddle@ucr.edu; cisr.ucr.edu

The Center for Invasive Species Research provides a forward-looking approach to managing invasions by exotic pests and diseases in Califor- nia. CISR programs on exotic pests involve: (a) risk assessment; (b) early detection; (c) rapid development of control or eradication measures;

• (d) pest control via biological, microbial, genetic, and chemical practic-

es, and (e) better understanding of patterns and processes facilitating invasions.

Citrus Clonal Protection Program https://ccpp.ucr.edu/

The Citrus Clonal Protection Program provides a safe mechanism for the introduction of citrus varieties from any citrus-growing area of the world for the purposes of research, variety improvement, or direct use by the commercial industry. CCPP maintains blocks of trees that serve as the primary source of disease free, true to type budwood of all important fruits and rootsock variets for California’s citrus industry and citrus researchers.

The EDGE Institute https://edge.ucr.edu/

The Environmental Dynamics and GeoEcology Institute (EDGE) brings together interdisciplinary scientists to answer questions and enable scientific discovery about our changing world while educating students and the public. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the focus of the EDGE Institute is to examine life in a changing environment. In particular, this institute focuses on the fate of carbon, nutrients and water in time and in space.

Integrative Biological Collections (CIBC) https://cibc.ucr.edu/

The Center for Integrative Biological Collections has a mission to ad- vance research and teaching in biodiversity and to provide support for the management of natural resources by fostering an interdepartmental alliance among UCR’s world-class natural history collections. This will be accomplished through integrated and transformative approaches across UCR collections that leverage novel systems in communication, relational databases, datamining, georeferencing, outreach, advocacy and securing enhanced funding.

Institute for Integrative Genome Biology Director: Katayoon (Katie) Dehesh, Ph.D. Genomics Building genomics.ucr.edu

The Institute for Integrative Genome Biology (IIGB) brings together facul- ty from a wide variety of campus units to participate in this era of rapid genomics-based discovery. Research efforts are focused on the areas of biology, vector biology, mammalian biology, plant biology, bioengineering and public policy issues and are directed toward pioneering solutions towards hunger, disease and environmental sustainability.

Center for Infectious Disease and Vector Research Director: Karine Le Roch, Ph.D. karinel@ucr.edu; cdvr.ucr.edu

The Center for Infectious Disease and Vector Research is dedicated to obtaining and maintaining an economically and environmentally viable agricultural industry by utilizing the knowledge of insect biology towards the control of insect pests. Researchers collaborate across disciplines to find new approaches to alleviate the medical and economic burden exacted by insect-borne disease.

Center for Integrative Biological Collections Director: Christiane Weirauch, Ph.D. cibc.ucr.edu

The mission of the Center for Integrative Biological Collections is to advance research and teaching in biodiversity and to provide support for the management of natural resources by fostering an interdepartmen- tal alliance among UCR’s world-class natural history collections. This is accomplished through integrated and transformative approaches across UCR collections that leverage novel systems in communication, relational databases, data mining, geo-referencing, outreach, and advocacy.

Center for Plant Cell Biology Director: Julia Bailey-Serres, Ph.D. cepceb.ucr.edu

The Center for Plant Cell Biology (CPCB) answers significant outstanding questions in plant biology by integrating genomic, bioinformatic, cellular, molecular, biochemical, and genetic approaches. Their goal is to apply the knowledge of how plants respond to their dynamic environment toward manipulation of crop plants safely and efficiently for better and more sustainable production.

Plant Transformation Research Center (PTRC) https://ptrc.ucr.edu/services

The University of California at Riverside has a state-of-art facility that can provide you with the infrastructure and expertise for the imple- mentation of molecular biology and genetic engineering technologies for scientific research and teaching purposes. The Center is equipped with two BL-2 greenhouses, a growth room, three tissue culture rooms, a laboratory with all the essential equipment for molecular biology, image analyses, and genetic technologies. Beyond our state of the art facilities, the scientific staff at the Center has extensive experience in working with in vitro plant tissue culture and micropropagation, molecular biology and plant genetic transformation techniques.

The SHINES Center https://efrcshines.ucr.edu/

SHINES (Spins and Heat in Nanoscale Electronic Systems) is a new Ener- gy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) funded in 2014 by the US Department of Energy. The SHINES EFRC has three inter-related research themes to address the central question: how do we harvest energy more efficiently from spins and heat on the nanoscale? The boundaries between themes are rather artificial. Many PIs are cross-theme members who work with members in other themes.

Statistical Consulting Collaboratory Director: Yehua Li, Ph.D. 1414 Olmsted Hall

• (951) 827-3327

yehuali@ucr.edu; collaboratory.ucr.edu

Associate Director: Karen Xu Ph.D. 1349 Olmsted Hall

• (951) 827-6062

karen.xu@ucr.edu; collaboratory.ucr.edu

Provides statistical consulting services in areas including bioinformatics, agricultural field trials, health studies, ecological studies, entomological studies, sociological studies, marketing studies, industrial experiments, quality and reliability studies, and product and process development studies. Clients include the campus research community and off-campus agencies from all disciplines who use statistics. The collaboratory devel- ops collaborative research relationships as well as research publications. It also provides financial support and consulting experiences to UCR undergraduate and graduate students.

Stem Cell Center Director: Prudence Talbot, Ph.D.

• (951) 827-5689;

stemcells@ucr.edu; stemcells.ucr.edu

Focuses on understanding the basic mechanisms that control stem cell function and deciphering how the tremendous potential of stem cells can be used to improve human health. Researchers at the center have expertise in many different fields including developmental biology, cancer biology, endocrinology, biomaterials for tissue regeneration, micro/nanotechnologies to control differentiation, neuroscience, toxicology, skeletal tissue repair, endothelial cell differentiation, osteogenesis, differentiation of microglia, brain development, neural crest cell differentiation, and bioengineering. USDA-ARS U.S. Salinity Laboratory Acting Research Leader, Todd Skaggs, Ph.D. 450 West Big Springs Road Riverside, CA 92507

• (951) 369-4814;

ars.usda.gov/ussl

The only research facility in the nation devoted to the study and amelio- ration of salinity-related agricultural and environmental problems.

Focal areas include: sensing, mapping, and managing soil salinity; alter- native water resources for irrigation; genetics and physiology of plant salt tolerance; and antibiotic resistance.

College of Engineering–Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT)

Director: Matthew Barth, Ph.D. 1084 Columbia Avenue Riverside, CA 92507

• (951) 781-5791; fax (951) 781-5790

info@cert.ucr.edu; cert.ucr.edu

A model for partnerships among industry, government, and the academic community, CE-CERT is one of California’s premier facilities for research into air quality, transportation, and energy efficiency. The research mission includes transportation systems, emissions and fuels, renewable energy, environmental modeling and policy, and atmospheric processes.

Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) Nanofabrication Facility Director: Dr. Alexander A. Balandin, Distinguished Professor

• (951) 827-3058; fax (951) 827-6262

balandin@ece.ucr.edu; cnse.ucr.edu

The Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) was estab- lished by the Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) and the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS), and maintains strong ties to the Materials Science and Engineering Program, the Division of Bio- medical Sciences, and the UCR Medical School. CNSE brings together researchers from engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science, and medicine, and fosters interdisciplinary research and cooperation by providing a state-of-the-art environment for graduate students, postdoc- toral researchers and faculty. Its Nanofabrication Cleanroom Facility sup- ports world-class research and graduate student training in all areas of nanotechnology. CNSE supports externally funded multi-PI projects and research centers at UCR, and facilitates cooperation with the high-tech industry in the region and the State. The research thrusts supported by CNSE include next-generation electronics, spintronics, low-dimensional materials and devices, and nano-medicine, as well as emerging interdis- ciplinary fields such as heterogeneously integrated devices and circuits, sensor technologies, biomedical, renewable energy, and environmental engineering.

Center on Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CRIS) Director: Amit Roy Chowdhury, Ph.D. Associate Director: Fabio Pasqualetti, Ph.D. Winston Chung Hall, Room 216

• (951) 827-7886; fax: (951) 827-2425

amitrc@ece.ucr.edu; cris.ucr.edu

The Center for Research in Intelligent Systems conducts cutting-edge research on the foundations and applications of intelligent and auton- omous systems, including robotics, computer vision, controls, machine learning, real-time systems, and biomedical systems, among others. The center brings together faculty from across UCR and outside in developing cross-disciplinary and highly impactful projects, while fostering industri- al collaborations and training the next generation of researchers. Data Science Center Director: Vassilis Tsotras, Ph.D. Multidisciplinary Research Building

• (951) 827-2888; fax: (951) 827-4643

tsotras@cs.ucr.edu; datascience.ucr.edu

The purpose of the Data Science Center (DiSCoveR) is to establish UCR as a prominent player in data science related research. It does so by promoting collaborations between the faculty in the data science group with researchers across campus. In addition to its research activities, the Center runs a weekly Data Science Seminar where speakers describe re- search challenges they face dealing with data. Education is also a major focus of the center.

Winston Chung Global Energy Center (WCGEC) Director: Reza Abbaschian, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Associate Director: Hamed Mohsenian-Rad, Ph.D. Main Campus: Bourns Hall, A203 Off Campus: 1084 Columbia Ave, Riverside, CA 92507

• (951) 827-6452; fax: (951) 827-5696

wcgecinfo@wcgec.ucr.edu; wcgec.ucr.edu

The Winston Chung Global Energy Center (WCGEC) focuses on solutions for today’s energy storage demands, while developing far-sighted energy storage research and energy-use strategies for tomorrow’s applications. Bridging the gap between industry and academia, the center’s goal is to contribute to the economic, social and environmental health of commu- nities around the world. The activities of this innovative center include fostering a premier academic environment of research and discovery in sustainable energy, with a focus on storage issues; educating a diverse and distinguished engineering workforce that is dedicated to addressing global energy needs; offering tools and training that will increase the capacity of public and private planners, architects, engineers, utilities and developers to design and build energy-efficient community projects; reaching out to global organizations and businesses as a partner in foster- ing clean energy storage solutions; and inspiring leadership and community action to address energy storage issues in California and the world.

UCR Center for Advanced Neuroengineering (UCR CAN) Director: Xiaoping Xu, Ph.D. MRI Building

• (951) 827-7535

can@ucr.edu; can.ucr.edu

The Center for Advanced Neuroimaging (CAN) is an interdisciplinary research center bringing together faculty from bioengineering and other engineering disciplines, psychology, and medicine. The center houses a 3 Tesla Siemens Prisma Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner and a MRI compatible 64 channel electroencephalogram (EEG), allowing CAN researchers to probe brain structure and function. The ultimate goal of CAN is to improve our understanding of normal brain function and dysfunction. Ongoing research includes (but is not limited to) studies examining brain function/structure in normal subjects and brain dys- function in autism spectrum disorders, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.

Center for Industrial Biotechnology (CIB) Director: Ian Wheeldon, Ph.D. Bourns Hall

• (951) 827-2471; fax: (951) 827-5696

ian.wheeldon@ucr.edu; cib.ucr.edu

The UCR Center for Industrial Biotechnology (CIB) seeks to co-train a new generation of engineers and life scientists to collaborate in entrepreneurial and multidisciplinary settings, employing biotechnology in the manufacture of chemicals, biofuels, and healthcare products and in agriculture and crop production. With a focus on microbial and plant synthetic biology, the Center’s research activities will translate the rapid advances in engineering and life sciences into industrially useful products and processes that address important societal needs. The Center pursues innovation in four areas of application: agriculture, the production of industrial chemicals, biofuels and healthcare. The training of students, development of processes, products, and “toolboxes” for manipulation, control and optimization of biological systems will result in discoveries and innovations that are ready for commercialization. The develop- ment of plant synthetic biology will provide new routes to monitor and regulate plant stress responses, providing new approaches to enhance crop productivity. UCR Center for Research and Education in Cyber Security and Privacy (CRESP) Director: Heng Yin, Ph.D. Winston Chung Hall

• (951) 827-6437

heng@cs.ucr.edu; cresp.cs.ucr.edu

The mission of the Center for Research and Education in Cyber Security and Privacy (CRESP) is to bring together academic researchers, students, and industrial partners to develop innovative and disruptive technolo- gies for the prevention, mitigation, detection, and analysis of attacks in cyberspace. We seek to be a premier center for cybersecurity, designing novel approaches to building secure systems and enabling them to de- tect and tolerate attacks. We also seek to prepare talented engineers and researchers with the technical and problem-solving skills in this area of national need.

BREATHE – A Multidisciplinary Collaborative on Air Quali- ty & Heath Research Director: David Lo M.D., Ph.D. david.lo@medsch.ucr.edu; breathe.ucr.edu

The BREATHE Center at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine is a multidisciplinary collaborative for studies Bridging Regional Ecology, Aerosolized Toxins, and Health Effects. Research efforts among the collaborative include regional climate modeling, culture and policy studies on air quality and health, environmental justice and health disparities, and the health impacts of aerosolized particles including dusts, soil microbes, allergenic pollens from invasive species, and pollutants.

The main partners in this work include faculty in the Center for Conser- vation Biology (CCB), the College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), and Biomedical Sciences in the School of Medicine. Affiliated faculty include researchers in the Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE),the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS), the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS), the School of Public Policy (SPP), and the School of Medicine (SOM). There are also affiliations with the Science and Technology Stud- ies group in the UCR Center for Ideas and Society, and Health Assess- ment and Research for Communities (HARC).

Center for Glial-Neuronal Interactions: Innovative Collaborations Applied to Problems of Brain Health and Disease Director: Monica J. Carson, Ph.D. monica.carson@ucr.edu; cgni.ucr.edu

The Center for Glial-Neuronal Interactions (CGNI) in UCR’s School of Medicine is dedicated to facilitating innovative collaborations between neuro- and glial-centric researchers as well as with researchers from outside the field of neuroscience. The ultimate goal is to understand central nervous system function at a molecular level with the goal of identifying risk factors and therapeutic targets of intervention for cogni- tive, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative central nervous system diseases. Ongoing research includes programs on Alzheimer’s disease, autism spectrum disorders, cognitive disorders, epilepsy, glioblastoma, infections of the brain, multiple sclerosis, neuroinflammatory disorders, phantom limb syndrome, stroke, substance abuse and traumatic brain injury.

Center for Healthy Communities Deputy Director: Michelle C. Burroughs, M.P.H. michelle.burroughs@medsch.ucr.edu healthycommunities.ucr.edu

The Center for Healthy Communities (CHC) works with community part- ners to employ innovative community-based research that promotes the health of communities in Inland Southern California. CHC is building bridges with community groups and interdisciplinary health-field faculty to improve the health of the culturally and economically diverse popula- tion surrounding UCR, particularly the medically underserved. The center fosters collaborations between UCR faculty, community-based organizations, grass-roots community leaders, and investigators at RAND and UCLA. Although the center is housed in the UCR School of Medicine, the intention is for it be of benefit to all UCR faculty and programs and to community-based partners.

Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine Director: Maurizio Pellecchia, Ph.D. maurizio.pellecchia@ucr.edu; molmed.ucr.edu

This campus-wide initiative provides a forum to accelerate and enhance collaboration among faculty whose research is devoted to the transla- tion of basic sciences into potential therapeutics, medical devices or diagnostics. With this initiative, UC Riverside and the School of Medi- cine commit to devote resources to assist in the development of novel treatments. The translation of basic laboratory discoveries into potential therapies, however, requires a multitude of efforts and expertise that no individual laboratory or funding source can, in isolation, fulfill. Potential- ly effective therapeutic strategies often never reach the patients due to the lack proper support necessary to channel basic laboratory pre-clin- ical studies through the complex and rigorous testing of experimental therapeutics. It is envisioned that the Center would either directly support or catalyze funding initiatives to advance the most promising innovative targeting approaches and agents into early stage clinical experimental therapeutics, therefore actively assisting in the first steps toward their development.

Blum Initiative on Global and Regional Poverty Director: David Brady, Ph.D. blum.ucr.edu

The UCR Blum Initiative on Global and Regional Poverty promotes the study of poverty on campus by conducting research on the social science of poverty in developed economies, providing grants to UCR researchers, and supporting immersive learning opportunities for UCR students. Additionally, the Initiative provides a forum for students, faculty, and regional stakeholders to discuss issues of poverty in Inland Southern California with experts from across the U.S. through its annual conference and community engagement events.

Center for Social Innovation Director: Karthick Ramakrishnan, Ph.D. socialinnovation.ucr.edu

The School of Public Policy is building a Center for Social Innovation that is designed to connect with local communities and provide a credible research voice that can shift away from a “problem and deficit” narrative to an “opportunity and asset” narrative, one that will help unlock the region’s potential in the eyes of government agencies and foundations, as well as the corporate sector and elected officials.

Inland Center for Sustainable Development Internal Director: Qingfang Wang, Ph.D. External Director: Rick Bishop Deputy Director: Ronald Loveridge cssd.ucr.edu

Explores the social, economic, political and ecological questions posed by population growth and movement, using neighboring communities as a laboratory while recognizing these are global issues. Involves inter- disciplinary collaborations in the community and among faculty and researchers.

Robert Presley Center of Crime and Justice Studies Director (Academic): Sharon Oselin, Ph.D. Co-Directors (External): Sergio Diaz & Michael Ramos presleycenter.ucr.edu

Conducts empirical research that informs evidence-based practice on issues related to crime and the criminal justice system. The center maintains an active research agenda in the areas of re-entry, recidivism, and justice and collaborates with regional and state agencies on projects that contribute to improved policy and practice.

Agricultural Experiment Station – Citrus Research Center http://cnas.ucr.edu/about/aes/aes.html

A branch of the University of California’s statewide Agricultural Experiment Station, the nation’s largest land-grant experiment station and the research arm of the University of California’s Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources headquartered in Davis. Conducts research in plants, pests and disease, and natural resource sciences; through Cooperative Extension, provides leadership in the dissemination and application of research-based knowledge in agricultural and environmental science to the people of California. Through educational programs and research opportunities, prepares tomorrow’s leaders in agricultural and environmental science.

Ubiquitous Communication by Light (UC-Light) Director: Albert Wang, Ph.D. 234 Winston Chung Hall

• (951) 827-2986

aw@ece.ucr.edu; uclight.ucr.edu

The mission of the UC-Light center is to enable wireless communications by embedding signals into the light emitted by next-generation LEDs in systems for illumination, traffic control, advertising, and other purposes. Funded from the Multicampus Research Program and Initiatives (MRPI) competition within the University of California (UC) system and under assistance of Founding Director, Zhengyuan Xu, the UC-Light center is situated in a modern engineering complex at UC Riverside. The Center research comprehensively and uniquely covers three thrust areas perti- nent to LED lighting – efficient lighting, communication, and navigation – with significant potential for creating new technological innovations, economic activity, and energy savings benefits. Developed protocols and sub-systems are further integrated into modern architecture design and ASIC chips to ultimately deliver deployable systems and transfer tech- nologies. The iterative experimentation, modeling, design, validation, and multi-dimensional feedback constitute a unified coherent framework to ensure Center success.

The Center closely interacts with a large community, from communica- tion to lighting industries, standardization organizations, peer research- ers, funding agencies, and general public.

Cooperative Extension http://cnas.ucr.edu/about/aes/ces.html

Cooperative Extension specialists headquartered at UCR oversee research programs that provide technologies and scientific information to aid the region’s residents and help coordinate the activities of farm, family and consumer services advisors based in more than 50 county offices. Programs include sustainable agriculture, pest and disease management, irrigation, water quality, urban horticulture, and natural resources management.

Natural Reserve System Director: Kimberly Hammond, Ph.D. Assistant Director: Richard Redak, Ph,D. kimberly.hammond@ucr.edu; richard.redak@ucr.edu ucnrs.org

The University of California Natural Reserve System maintains for teach- ing and research a system of reserves encompassing the diversity of Cal- ifornia’s natural terrain. Any qualified individual or institution may use the reserves under the direction and with the approval of the university. UCR administers 8 of the approximately 40 reserves systemwide.

Philip L. Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center encompasses 6,122 acres of desert habitat around Deep Canyon, near Palm Desert. An air-conditioned field station with living quarters and laboratories is located near the mouth of Deep Canyon. A primitive campground and 2-square-mile teaching area is available for class use. uncrs.org Box Springs Reserve consists of 160 acres near the top of Box Springs Mountains and includes a coastal sage scrub. No laboratory facilities are present on the property, because of the proximity of such facilities on the UCR campus. This reserve has been used for field class laboratories and student research projects, but other research projects can be con- ducted at this site. ucnrs.org

James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve near Idyllwild is approximately 30 acres, surrounded on all sides by relatively undisturbed national forest land. Nearby there are 60 miles of hiking trails with access to thousands of acres of mid- and high-elevation wilderness, from nearby Lake Fulmor to the summit of Black Mountain, at 7,800 feet. The reserve is equipped for over seventy researchers and classes of student in four fully-equipped cabins. The reserve can also accommodate visitors in a stand-alone classroom. james. ucnrs.org

Oasis de los Osos Reserve is a satellite reserve of the James San Jacinto Mountains Reserve and is located near Snow Creek at the northern base of Mount San Jacinto. This property consists of 160 acres of rocky desert slopes and a dry alluvial fan. It also contains a perennial stream (Lamb Creek) with some waterfalls. A riparian woodland grows along this stream. A semi-desert scrub plant community occurs on the dry slopes and alluvial fan and along the washes. No facilities are available at this site. https://james.ucnrs.org/oasis-de-los-osos/

Jack and Marilyn Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center Encompasses 9,000 acres embedded in the 1.8 million-acre Mojave National Preserve in eastern San Bernardino County. Rising to near 7,000 ft, this rugged and scenic site offers exceptional local and regional biotic diversity, ranging from species typical of the Mojave, Sonoran and Great Basin Deserts, and relictual taxa affiliated with the Colorado Plateau and Transverse Ranges. The Kenneth Norris Teaching Area offers both indoor and camping facilities for class use, and the Allanson complex in Granite Cove includes a state-of-the-art research laboratory, conference room, and lodging for up to 20 researchers. granite. ucnrs.org

Sacramento Mountains Reserve is a satellite of the Sweeney Granite Mountains Desear Reserve Center and contains approximately 590 acres of Mojave Desert habitat at the Sonoran Desert transition. It is located about 18 miles west of Needles, CA, in San Bernardino County. The reserve contains ten species of cacti, including one of the best displays of Bigelow Cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) in California. It also boasts the north- westernmost occurrence of Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens). No laboratory facilities or living quarters are on this site, but lodging is available just off- site or at the nearby Granite Mountains Desert Research Center, for anyone wishing to use the reserve for teaching or research. granite. ucnrs.org

Motte Rimrock Reserve consists of approximately 715 acres at the north- western corner of Perris, about 15 miles from campus. The vegetation is principally coastal sage scrub and grassland with riparian corridors in the canyons. This land is of particular biological interest for this region because it contains several species of conservation interest. Indian pictographs and a former Indian village site also are on this reserve. A headquarters building contains sleeping facilities for reserve users. ucnrs.org

Emerson Oaks Reserve is located 5 miles east of Temecula and 1 mile south of Highway 79. This 255-acre site contains coastal sage scrub on the lower hills, and oak woodland. ucnrs.org

UC Institute for Mexico and the United States (UC MEXUS) Interim Director: Stefano Bertozzi, Ph.D. 3324 Olmsted Hall

• (951) 827-3519; fax (951) 827-3856;

ucmexus@ucr.edu; ucmexus.ucr.edu

Since its establishment in 1980, the University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States (UC MEXUS) has maintained the primary mission of developing and sustaining a coordinated, university-wide approach to Mexico-related studies. The institute’s broad objectives are:

• to increase the quantity, visibility, and effectiveness of Mexico-United

States projects in the university;

• to strengthen and develop research, exchange programs, and teaching;

• to support and coordinate interdisciplinary and inter-campus projects;

• to encourage and enable collaborative approaches by UC and Mexican scholars to the issues which affect both nations; • to act as a source of information about university-sponsored United States-Mexico activities;

• to develop new sources for support of research and instructional programs;

• and to promote a better understanding between the two countries.

Within this broad definition, UC MEXUS seeks to identify, encourage, secure financial support for, and publicize programs which promise to contribute substantially to scholarship, to enhance university instruc- tion—particularly in graduate and professional areas—to improve bina- tional understanding, and to make positive contributions to society in both Mexico and the United States. The Institute has been located at the UC Riverside campus since 1984.

The School of Education’s website for research specific centers, pro- grams, and labs is: education.ucr.edu/research.

Center for Educational Transformation (CET) The Center for Educational Transformation (CET) is directed by Dr. Louie Rodriguez and is committed to equity-driven, visionary, and social justice-oriented work that aims to explore, highlight, develop, and learn from region-wide examples of educational policy, practice, and pedagogy for the purposes of serving as a national model for community-engaged research. CET provides collaborative and participatory research oppor- tunities, professional and community development with the district and partners, hand-on research experiences for students, and, through the dissemination of research reports, blogs, and op-eds, the Center will strive to become a leading local and national voice on the critical issues facing education today.

Louie.Rodriguez@ucr.edu cet.ucr.edu

STEM Teaching and Leaning Lab The Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Teaching and Learning Lab is directed by Dr. Kinnari Atit. In the lab, research is conducted to better understand how to improve teaching and learning in the STEM fields.

Kinnari.Atit@ucr.edu stemteachlearn.ucr.edu

SEARCH Family Autism Resource Center SEARCH is the acronym for Support, Education, Advocacy, Resources, Community, and Hope. The center is the University of California’s first family autism resource center focused exclusively on family needs, such as educational access. Housed in the UCR School of Education, the mission of SEARCH is to reduce the amount of stress they experience in attempting to learn about autism and access appropriate programs and treatments. While simultaneously training the next generation of autism researchers and educators, SEARCH provides assessments in both Spanish and English, and students learn procedures used both in clinic and schools.

• (951) 827-3849

searchcenter@ucr.edu; searchcenter.ucr.edu

Vocabulary CHAAOS Many students gain most of their advanced vocabulary through the wide reading they do in and out of school. Students who have disabilities that affect reading (for example, students with learning disabilities or mild cognitive impairments), students who are learning English as well as learning to read, and other students who read below grade level may not read enough text and text at a sufficiently high level to learn the academic language needed to succeed in their course work in middle and high school. With financial backing from the Institute of Education Sciences procedures will be developed for teaching academic words to students who read well below grade level in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

• (951) 827-6052

rollanda.oconnor@ucr.edu Civic Engagement Research Group (CERG) CERG’s mission is to provide an evidence base that informs the design of policies and programs that promote the development of citizens for an effective, just, and humane democratic society. We conduct quantitative and qualitative research focused on understanding:

• The nature of youth civic engagement

• The impact of civic learning opportunities and digital media participation on young people’s civic capacities and commitments

• The quantity, quality, and equality of civic opportunities and outcomes in public schools and other contexts

The goal is to monitor trends, frame priorities, and develop an evidence base regarding effective civic education practices and policies.

Joseph.Kahne@ucr.edu; www.civicsurvey.org