Dean of the School of Natural Sciences
Michael Findlater joined UC Merced in 2021 as a Professor of Chemistry. Prior to coming to UC Merced, Michael was a faculty member at Texas Tech University, where he won awards for research and teaching and where, as Graduate Director for the Department of Chemistry, he played a key role in increasing graduate student enrollment and associated funding support. Since joining UC Merced, Michael has served as the Graduate Chair in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and as Chair of the Committee on Academic Planning and Resource Allocation (CAPRA).
Michael received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 2008. He is the author of more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and holds two patents, with others filed. His research is regularly funded by the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, various foundations, and industry. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2023.
ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP
Michael Findlater | Interim Dean
Gordon Bennett | Associate Dean for Academic Programs
Michele Nishiguchi | Associate Dean for Equity, Justice and Inclusive Excellence
Angie Salinas | Assistant Dean for Student Support
Jory McKune | Sr. Assistant Dean and Chief of Finance and Operations
DEPARTMENT CHAIRS
Roummel Marcia | Applied Mathematics
Ryan Baxter | Chemistry and Biochemistry
Carolin Frank | Life and Environmental Sciences
Kirk Jensen | Molecular and Cell Biology
Linda Hirst | Physics
PROGRAM CHAIR
Justin Yeakel | Biology
GRADUATE GROUP CHAIRS
Chrysoula Tsogka | Applied Mathematics
Liang Shi | Chemistry and Biochemistry
Emily Moran | Environmental Systems
Fred Wolf | Quantitative and Systems Biology
David Strubbe | Physics
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jennifer Manilay | Chair & Molecular and Cell Biology Representative
Anne Kelley | Vice Chair & Chemistry and Biochemistry Representative
Shilpa Khatri | Applied Mathematics Representative
Lin Tian | Physics Representative
Marcos Garcia Ojeda | Medical Education Representative
Teamrat Ghezzehei | Life and Environmental Sciences Representative
