Facilities

UC Merced has diverse top-notch research facilities, including the Stem Cell Instrumentation Foundry (SCIF), a shared high-performance computing (HPC) cluster for Multi-Environment Research Computer for Exploration and Discovery (MERCED), a shared Illumina MiSeq for Next-Generation Sequencing, and many more. You can learn more about the full set of facilities on the Office of Research website, but we've highlighted a few below.

 

Scientific computing catalyzes discovery. An unusually large and diverse fraction of UC Merced faculty specialize in computational science across all three of its Schools: Natural Sciences (SNS), Engineering (SoE), and Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts (SSHA). Several years ago, UC Merced faculty Hrant Hratchian, Suzanne Sindi, and Jian-Qiao Sun were awarded a National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Award to develop the Multi-Environment Research Computer for Exploration and Discovery (MERCED) Cluster, a shared High-Performance Computing (HPC) Cluster. See this article for a full description of the MERCED cluster. Since then, several new clusters have been added, and research computing is now supported through the Cyberinfrastructure and Research Technologies group.

 

With support from the University of California Office of the President, UC Merced's School of Natural Sciences has invested in an Illumina MiSeq to facilitate Next-Generation Sequencing as a shared faculty resource.  This instrument is currently overseen by Prof. Carolin Frank, with day-to-day management and support provided by Lolo Cardenas.

 

In collaboration with individual labs, the core provides sequencing for smaller scale projects (i.e. on an Illumina MiSeq) as well as quality control and library preparation for larger-scale sequencing projects at other UC core facilities (i.e. on the Illumina HiSeq). The core has developed expertise in targeted gene sequencing, metagenomics, small genome sequencing, targeted gene expression, and amplicon sequencing, and maintains the following equipment; an Illumina MiSeq, a 2100 Agilent BioAnalyzer, a Qubit fluorometer, and a Covaris M220 focused ultrasonicator.

 

 

The SCIF provides stem cell researchers at UC Merced and throughout California access to advanced instruments, techniques and collaborators for single cell analysis. See here for additional info.