UNC Research

5th

in the US for federal research among universities

$1.10B

in research activity annually

11th

Largest US research university in research volume & annual expenditures

62%

of all UNC system research is performed by UNC-Chapel Hill

An Origin Story

Most theoretical physicists don’t see their predictions confirmed in their lifetimes, as it can take centuries to discover the physical phenomena that marks them true. But that hasn’t been the case for UNC's Laura Mersini-Houghton, who’s seen six of her predictions about the origins of the universe verified in the last decade — a feat that’s grabbed everyone’s attention, from documentary filmmakers to the late Stephen Hawking.
The Survivors

Heat-resistant. Cold-weather tough. Outer space savvy. If anything, tardigrades are survivors above all else. But what makes them so resilient? Thomas Boothby strives to figure that out and discover how these microscopic animals can be used to refrigerate biological samples like blood, human tissue, and vaccines.
Ready, Set, Brake

While autonomous vehicles begin to appear on roadways, gaps in knowledge are blocking the way to their full integration. Researchers at UNC are asking the tough questions to ensure that the driverless car picking you up will be safe for passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians alike.
The Big Dig

Serving the interests of students, scholars, and the general public, the Research Laboratories of Archaeology is currently one of the leading institutes for archaeological teaching and research in the South — and will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2019.
Carolina Rises to Fifth Among U.S. Universities for Federal Research Funding

UNC-Chapel Hill has reached the ranks of the top-five research universities in the United States for federal research expenditures, according to the latest National Science Foundation (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey.
Carpe Datum

Every day, humans create 2.5 quintillion bytes of data. How do we protect, store, and transfer it all? A team at RENCI has spent the last decade developing the Swiss Army knife of data management, called iRODS, that does all those things — and it’s used by a variety of institutions across the globe.

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an opalescent tardigrade under a microscope

80 years of archaeology research conducted in NC, over 200 projects

Banner for the story "Carpe Datum" Every day, humans create 2.5 quintillion bytes of data. How do we protect, store, and transfer it all? A team at RENCI has spent the last decade developing the Swiss Army knife of data management, called iRODS, that does all those things — and it’s used by avariety of institutions across the globe. Click to read more.

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Carolina Research in the News

UNC Professor Shares Research on Decline of Local News

Research conducted by UNC professor & journalist Penny Abernathy examines the decline of small newspapers and what communities can do to revitalize local news sources.
New Study Examines Ride-Hailing Tech & Access to Health Care

A recent study by UNC professor Dr. Noreen McDonald and doctoral candidate Mary Wolfe explores how patients and hospitals can take advantage of ride hailing to improve access to health care.
Woman in Science: Juanita Limas

UNC School of Medicine PhD candidate Juanita Limas researches genes with the potential to cause cancer — specifically those that disrupt the cell cycle by affecting mechanisms of DNA replication.
UNC Student Named Churchill Scholar

Scott Emmons, a senior at UNC, was awarded the prestigious research-based Churchill Scholarship for his work in computer science and applied mathematics. He is the 18th recipient of this scholarship from UNC.

Earlier News Stories…

Home

Carolina Research in the News

UNC Professor Shares Research on Decline of Local News

New Study Examines Ride-Hailing Tech & Access to Health Care

Woman in Science: Juanita Limas

UNC Student Named Churchill Scholar