Carrie Kouadio, Roberto Andresen Eguiluz, Petia Gueorguieva, Ayesha Boyce, Kara McCloskey, Sayantani Ghosh, Ajay Gopinathan, and Victor Muñoz.

Overview

The Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines (CCBM), established with a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, is a Center of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (NSF-CREST) at the University of California, Merced, with a focus on biophysics, bioengineering and biochemistry. UC Merced is designated as both an MSI and HSI and stands as the newest campus of the UC system. The CCBM brings together thirty faculty members from multiple units across campus, including bioengineering, physics, chemistry and chemical biology, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering and molecular cell biology. The CCBM uses an interdisciplinary approach combining physical, biological and engineering methods to understand and control the functioning of multi-scale assemblies of biomolecules and cells, and to design and develop novel bioinspired functioning machines ranging from designer cells and tissue to diagnostic and therapeutic devices.

The CCBM also hosts an integrated, interdisciplinary training program for graduate students that emphasizes physical and biological components and research/training experiences for undergraduate and high school students to enhance the recruitment of underrepresented groups into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. In addition, the center leads STEM-focused broadening participation and outreach activities for K-12 students and the community. Through its research, education, and outreach goals, the Center aims to broaden participation in STEM fields and implement University goals in diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion.

By integrating research, education, and outreach in this manner, the Center aims to develop a robust pipeline for underrepresented populations in the STEM workforce at all levels and produce graduates that feel comfortable in both physical and biological sciences who can thus pursue cross-disciplinary STEM careers in academia, labs or industry thereby directly spurring growth in STEM fields in the Central Valley.

Funded by the National Science Foundation - NSF-HRD-1547848 and NSF-HRD-2112675