Congratulations to Political Science Assistant Professor Anil Menon on receiving the 2025 UC Merced Senate Award for Distinguished Early Career Research!
This award recognizes a non-tenured faculty member whose research and creative activities have significantly impacted their field - either through a sustained record of excellence or a singular, highly influential contribution.
After considering a competitive field of highly qualified candidates, the award committee selected Dr. Anil Menon as this year’s recipient for his particularly impressive research record, despite his relatively short tenure at UC Merced and being a 2022 PhD graduate. His work addresses critical questions on the polarization of the electorate, the political implications of migration flows, and public health perspectives. His research has garnered national recognition; he has published in top-tier political science and economics journals and earned several "best paper" awards. Prestigious funding from organizations such as the NSF, DoD, and the Russell Sage Foundation further underscores the impact of his projects.
In his brief time on campus, Dr. Menon has made significant contributions by mentoring graduate students and forging strong interdisciplinary collaborations across social science and beyond. The award committee eagerly anticipates the next steps in his ambitious research career.
