As a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, UC Riverside is driving discoveries that save lives and shape the world. UCR is not just a leading research university, it’s one of the most diverse universities in the country. More than half of our undergraduates are the first in their family to go to college and we enroll more students receiving Pell Grants than nearly every university in the country. Learn more about how the opportunities created at UCR, including federally-funded research and educational experiences, are changing lives for a better world.
Below are some of the ways UC Riverside researchers are putting federal dollars to work.
First-Gen in STEM: Our Biggest Struggles & How We Conquered College
Being first generation students in STEM comes with unique challenges—from explaining what bioengineering is to your family to feeling isolated on campus. But as these inspiring UCR students prove, it's absolutely possible to overcome them and thrive!
How UCR is Driving Social Mobility
UCR No. 1 for social mobility
U.S. News & World Report in September named UC Riverside the No. 1 university in the nation for social mobility. This is the seventh year that U.S. News has featured a breakout category for social mobility. UCR has been ranked No. 1 for five of those seven years.
Supporting Kessler Scholars
UCR recently received a $1.1 million grant from the Judy and Fred Wilpon Family Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies to continue its participation in the Kessler Scholars Collaborative, a national initiative supporting students who are the first in their families to attend college.
Celebrating the Class of 2025
We asked students from the UC Riverside Class of 2025 to share memorable moments captured throughout their university journey. As more than half of UCR students are the first in their families to go to college, many acknowledged the sacrifices their families made and expressed how proud their loved ones are of this accomplishment.
McNair Scholars Complete Research
18 undergraduates who’ve set their sights on earning doctoral degrees completed summer research programs as part of UCR’s McNair Scholars program. The program honors pioneering Black astronaut Ronald E. McNair and aims to increase doctoral degrees awarded to income-eligible, first-generation, and/or underrepresented students.
Helping First-generation Students Succeed
UCR alumna Josefina Canchola, who earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1988, has devoted her over 40-year career to working with youth at UCR and across California. Canchola recently made history as the first Latino person to lead the UCR Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Charting a Pathway to Success
First-generation student Ulises Mata learned to put himself out there to get the most out of his education. A fourth-year student double majoring in education and psychology, he has compiled an impressive list of academic achievements: making the Dean’s Honor List, earning a Chancellor’s Research Fellowship, and being admitted to the University Honors program.
News & Commentary
Science funding and immigration fuel America’s innovation. They’re at risk
President Milliken highlights the essential role of the University of California in supporting California’s and the nation’s economies. He emphasizes the important partnership between the federal government and universities that has established the U.S. as a global leader in science, technology, and medicine.
Slashing NIH funding means slashing innovative research
In an opinion article, UC Riverside Chancellor-Emeritus Kim Wilcox speaks to the model of federal research funding that has for 70 years made the United States the worldwide standard for innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does the federal government fund research?
- Through “direct costs,” which covers the scientists, lab supplies, equipment, and travel needed to conduct a government-funded project.
- Via “facilities and administrative (F&A) costs,” which are essential costs that are not tied to a single project. That can include lab space and support personnel, such as those who manage the paperwork to maintain facilities, to keep the lights on, and to pay for personnel to support the project and ensure compliance to many federal requirements.
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What research costs have been targeted by the federal government?
Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs have been targeted. These are the essential costs required to conduct research.
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With the NIH funding that has been targeted by the federal government, how much does UCR stand to lose?
UCR could lose up to $12 million this year from its loss of NIH funding. That figure could climb to more than $20 million if other federal agencies such as NSF begin cuts.
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What percentage of UCR’s research costs is F&A?
F&A stands for Facilities and Administrative costs. The percentage for F&A is 57% of which the A part is capped at 26%. Above 26%, the university pays for any additional administrative costs, even though much of those costs are tied to federal rules and regulations to which the university is required to comply.
Speak Up for Science!
Science makes our lives better. Now it’s at risk. Join us in asking Congress to reject drastic cuts to research.
By the Numbers: Total UCR Research Expenditures
$214M
total UCR research expenditures
$41M
Dept. of Health and Human Services, which includes the National Institutes of Health
$33.1M
National Science Foundation
$19.6M
Dept. Of Agriculture
$11.6M
Dept. Of Defense
$9.8M
Dept. Of Energy