Inside UCR

Creative writing professor’s latest novel nominated for Edgar Award

John Sanford — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800

Laila Lalami’s dystopian thriller, “The Dream Hotel” (2025), has been nominated for the 2026 Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Novel.

Startup created by UCR grads chosen for mayor’s innovation award

David Danelski — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0800

EDGE Sound Research, a startup founded by UC Riverside graduates that is focused on creating immersive audio experiences in sports and entertainment, will receive the city of Riverside’s Innovation Award.

A coming home for Susan Straight and 'Sacrament'

John Warren — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0800

Susan Straight had a front-row seat to the impacts of COVID-19, from the window of her home in Riverside’s Wood Streets. During COVID-19, nurses working shifts at Riverside Community Hospital lived in RVs or rented rooms near the hospital, which is in Straight’s neighborhood.

UCR researchers recognized as ‘Highly Cited’ in 2025

Jules Bernstein — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0800

Six UCR faculty members make Clarivate Analytics' 2025 list.

Artist awarded prestigious fellowship

Imran Ghori — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Gerald Clarke, an artist and professor of ethnic studies at UC Riverside, is one of 15 recipients of the 2025 Joan Mitchell Fellowship, which supports artists making important contributions to artistic and cultural discourse. The New- York-based Joan Mitchell Foundation, which announced the honorees on Aug. 13, selected U.S.-based artists working in painting and sculpture. The artists will receive $60,000 in funding over five years along with support through professional development, peer engagement, and network-building programs.

Psychologist will use AI to study infant motor development

Iqbal Pittalwala — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0700

UCR study will examine how infants’ movements develop over time and how caregiving practices influence that growth

Psychologist elected fellow of American Psychological Association

Iqbal Pittalwala — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Rachel Wu's research explores how infants and children learn and whether these methods can enhance adult cognitive development

Professor honored for theatrical designs

Imran Ghori — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0700

UC Riverside assistant professor of teaching Christopher Scott Murillo has been named “Scenic Designer of the Year” by a Southern California website for his work on several theatrical productions. Murillo, an assistant professor of teaching in production design for stage and screen with the Department of Theatre, Film, and Digital Production, is a scenic designer and artist who has created set designs for theater and television.

Early-career faculty win fellowships

UCR News — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Eight UC Riverside assistant professors, whose research spans innovations in computer science to discoveries in Latin American history, have been awarded competitive 2025–26 Hellman Fellowships that support promising early-career faculty on the path to tenure.

Book explores complexity of 'Performing Vulnerability'

Nicole Elyse Feldman — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

In 2013, exiled Burmese artist Chaw Ei Thein gave a performance in New York City. She used her own body to display torture positions that political prisoners experience in her home country of Burma/Myanmar. During the Q&A that followed, she said that she found the torture positions “kind of beautiful…” and was quickly ushered off-stage as members of the crowd shifted in discomfort.

Psychologist receives 2025 Bowlby-Ainsworth Award

Iqbal Pittalwala — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Tuppett Yates is recognized for her research on attachment and trauma

Highlights from UCR’s 71st Commencement

Malinn Loeung — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

UC Riverside concluded its 71st Commencement season on June 17, with UCR’s Class of 2025 walking at eight discipline- or degree-based ceremonies. Approximately 6,100 graduates, 35,000 in-person guests, 32,000 online streamers, and about 375 volunteer staff participated in the celebrations, which started on June 6. Highlanders belonging to specific groups also took part in additional micro celebrations organized by various student resources like the University Honors Cording, and year-end celebrations hosted by UCR’s ethnic and gender centers.

Researchers contribute chapter to pediatric psychology handbook

Iqbal Pittalwala — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Addressing DEI meaningfully will help reduce disparities and improve well-being, authors argue

Grant will consider whether retirement is ‘one very long summer slide’

John Warren — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Psychology researcher Rachel Wu has received a $700,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The grant, which will be administered over three years, will consider how learning and the brain are affected during retirement years. While much is known about well-being in retirement as it relates to social interactions and financial security, Wu said little is known about the impact of retirement on learning opportunities and cognitive abilities.

Professor wins grant to study juvenile incarceration

John Warren — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Economics Professor Ozkan Eren has received a $244,721 grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. The two-year grant will be used to study the long-term effects of juvenile incarceration and its spillover effects on family members. Eren’s research will involve two components. In the first, he will investigate the relationships among juvenile incarceration, educational outcomes, adult criminal involvement, and labor market outcomes. In the second, his study will focus on fertility, adult health, and health care utilization and birth outcomes.

Anthropologist honored for promoting scientific research

Imran Ghori — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Sang-Hee Lee, a UC Riverside professor of anthropology, has been honored by the American Association of Biological Anthropologists, or AABA, for outstanding public engagement in the field.

Professor receives $300,000 Mellon Foundation fellowship

John Warren — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0700

UC Riverside received a $300,000 fellowship from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support Crystal Mun-hye Baik, an associate professor of gender and sexuality studies. The fellowship is part of Mellon’s New Directions program, which assists faculty members in the humanities and social sciences in attaining their PhDs and acquiring training outside their disciplines. Fellowships include one year’s salary; two summers of additional support; and tuition or course fees for the fellow’s training program. 

NEH grant supports book on 1600s Ukrainian resistance

John Warren — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Georg Michels, a UCR professor of history, has received a $60,000 fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities, or NEH, to support an upcoming book project.

UCR scholars honored by the White House for early career achievements

UCR News — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0800

UCR professors Rachel Wu, Eunsoo Cho and Mahesh Raj Neupane have each received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, or PECASE, according to a recent announcement from The White House.

Gerald Clarke receives Distinguished Artist Award

Jordan Cornet — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Professor honored for contributions to Native art and advocacy.

Cecilia Vásquez recognized for anthropology work

Sandra Baltazar Martinez — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Award comes from the Association of Latina/o & Latinx Anthropologists.

‘This Dissonance’ to show in New York

Sandra Baltazar Martinez — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0800

The short film by Christophe Katrib, assistant professor of teaching, will showcase Dec. 7.

UCR adds to its ‘Highly Cited’ faculty members in 2024

Jules Bernstein — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800

List celebrates faculty influence

José Luis Reynoso wins the Oscar G. Brockett Book Prize

Jordan Cornet — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800

The award recognizes the best scholarly work in dance

Imani Kai Johnson wins de la Torre Bueno Prize

Jordan Cornet — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800

The award recognizes her new book, “Dark Matter in Breaking Cyphers: The Life of Africanist Aesthetics in Global Hip Hop.”

UCR's Sigma Phi receives Best Chapter Award

Jordan Cornet — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700

This achievement was made possible with the support of the chapter’s advisors, David Pion-Berlin and Donna Perez.

Alumni win over $300K in 2024-25 awards through CUREL

Malinn Loeung — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700

With the help of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Engaged Learning, or CUREL, recent graduates of UC Riverside racked up over $300,000 worth of funding for the 2024-25 academic year to pursue their studies and research.

Professor wins grant to further study of the hiring of formerly incarcerated people

David Danelski — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700

UCR public policy and sociology professor Sharon Oselin has received a Haynes Foundation Faculty Fellowship Award, which provides her with $16,000 toward her study of the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated people when they seek employment.

Victoria Reyes wins the William Foote Whyte Career Award

Sandra Baltazar Martinez — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700

The recognition comes from the American Sociological Association, or ASA.

LAist includes Carol Park in new podcast, ‘Inheriting’

Sandra Baltazar Martinez — Sat, 18 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700

The show about Asian American and Pacific Islander families first airs on May 23.