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Thank you to everyone who made this year’s University Research Week the most successful yet. Together we hosted more than 65 events that celebrated Carolina’s unique and outstanding research enterprise.

More than 1,000 students, staff, postdoctoral trainees, and faculty attended a variety of events that celebrated the exceptional achievements made by researchers across all our schools, centers, and institutes. Throughout the 65+ events held during University Research Week, our community became more familiar with the world-class advancements and collaborative research that make Carolina one of the top research institutions across the globe, and we hope students were inspired to pursue their own research interests. Here’s a look at some highlights of the week.

Hettleman Talks

Three recipients of the 2022 Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Prizes for Scholarly Achievement gave presentations on their innovative and groundbreaking research. Seth A. Berkowitz explained how he examines and addresses health-related social needs and how, in many cases, the most important root causes of health are social and economic. Yuliya Pylayeva-Gupta showed how her research aims to reverse the immunosuppressive pancreatic tumor microenvironment in one of the deadliest and most difficult to treat cancers. Frank Leibfarth shared how his research of polymer stereochemistry and functionalization is overturning decades-old beliefs of what is possible in the design of next-generation sustainable and functional materials. The fourth Hettleman winner, Danielle Christmas, will present her studies of 20th- and 21st-century American literature at a later date.

Yuliya Pylayeva-Gupta stands at a podium at the front of the room, she looks to the side at a slide that reads "Many Immune Cell Types are Present in Cancers."

Frank Leibfarth holds a microphone as he presents his research.

Seth A. Berkowitz stands at a podium, presenting his research.

Frank Leibfarth talks to a guest at the end of the presentation.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Broader Impacts Open House

This event demonstrated how Morehead Planetarium and Science Center partners with Carolina faculty and researchers applying for grants to develop projects with broader impacts, producing outcomes that are then made available and accessible to a wide range of audiences. Participants were able to browse through and interact with the renovated exhibits throughout the science center.

Photo of the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center main foyer. There are four large marble columns with banners that read "Celestial Indicator" on one and "Gateway of Science" on the other. People are walking around the foyer.
A person is interacting with a Morehead Planetarium and Science Center exhibit.
A person stands in front of a wall with a "NASA" sticker on it, labeled "Guidance System." They're pressing buttons.
Photo of a group of people sitting around a table while someone stands up and a presents.

PARE Talks

The recipients of the Postdoctoral Awards for Research Excellence (PARE) gave short talks on their research. Nipun Saini studies nutrient-alcohol interactions in alcohol-exposed pregnancies, specifically the effects of alcohol-glucose metabolic interactions in the maternal-fetal dyad in a mouse model of prenatal alcohol exposure. Laura Ornelas studies the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie sex differences in comorbid alcohol use and stress. Wei Shi aims to reveal the mechanisms underlying heart failure progression and cardiac tissue regeneration. Aobo Li leverages artificial intelligence to facilitate the experimental search of neutrino-less double-beta decay — part of an effort to explain why there was matter left after the Big Bang instead of only pure energy. Sophie Maiocchi focuses on how to deliver pharmacologic and biologic therapies, such as proteins and RNA, to treat cardiovascular disease and its clinical implications.

Group photo of the PARE winners; from left to right, Laura Ornelas, Aobo Li, Nipun Saini, Sophie Maiocchi, and Wei Shi.
Photo of Nipun Saint presenting.
Photo of Wei She presenting.
Laura Ornelas presents.
Sophia Malocchi presents with a powerpoint slide, the slide reads "Nanoparticle encapsulation may improve Antioxidant Therapy."
Aobo Li presents.
Two people chat as they clap their hands after a presentation.

Blue Sky Innovations Future of Emerging Tech Open House

Blue Sky Innovations showed us what’s next in emerging technologies by bringing us into the Metaverse, both online using Spatial and in the lab with virtual reality (VR) goggles. Attendees learned about research in robotics, volumetric capture, and more in an interactive VR presentation.

A person wears a VR headset while they're smiling, presenters are talking in the background.
At the UNC Blue Sky Innovations lab, presenters stand up and talk about their research.
A photo of how the metaverse classroom looks. There are people's avatars seated and Bhargav Bompalli stands at the front of the room, presenting through his avatar.
At the UNC Blue Sky Innovations lab, presenters stand up and talk about their research.

Three-Minute Thesis

The final round of The Graduate School’s Three-Minute Thesis competition positioned Mackenna Wood as the first-place winner. Wood is a graduate student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College. Her thesis described how astronomers can better determine the planetary evolutionary process, what geological evidence shows, and what made the Earth capable of supporting life.

Lauren Herlihy, a graduate student in the UNC School of Nursing, won second place for her research titled “Early Peanut Introduction in Infants to Prevent Peanut Allergy.” Rachel DuMez, a graduate student studying genetics and molecular biology, won the peoples’ choice award for her research on the health benefits of kombucha.

Photo of Mackenna Wood, Rachel DuMez, Lauren Herlihy, and Town of Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger.
Photo of Mackenna Wood.
Photo of Mackenna Wood, Rachel DuMez, Lauren Herlihy, and The Graduate School’s Dean Beth Mayer-Davis.
The Three Minute Thesis logo and the UNC The Graduate School logo.

(photos courtesy of The Graduate School at UNC-Chapel Hill)

Research Labs of Archaeology Open House

Attendees left with their snack cravings satisfied after building their own edible archaeological site by adding trail mix to a clear cup. By creating different strata of salty and sweet snacks, the exercise helped demonstrate stratigraphy while also serving up a delicious treat.

Someone holds a small dish of snacks out to the camera. The have three distinct layers of snacks. Chocolate chips, cheerios, and pink candies.
A bowl of goldfish crackers are labeled "Late Woodland (AD 800 - 1600)."
A student stands over bowls of snacks, all labeled as different strata layers.
Professor Lapham talks to a few participants.

Building an Inclusive and Transformative Data Strategy in Research and Community Engagement

In this well-attended online seminar, we heard from interdisciplinary experts who defined data equity and discussed considerations for how data are collected, analyzed, interpreted, and distributed. The discussion explored ways that data can reinforce stereotypes, exacerbate problems like racial bias, or otherwise undermine social justice. Additionally, panelists discussed how data equity can empower communities, yield informed decision making, and share best practices for inclusivity and improving data equity.

University Day

The featured event of University Research Week was the annual recognition of the University’s founding. This year, University Day featured researchers presenting alongside their undergraduate students on projects that have a direct impact on the wellbeing of North Carolinians. Orlando Coronell and Christian Chung shared their North Carolina Collaboratory research on a novel technology for effectively removing toxic pollutants from our drinking water. Caela O’Connell and Margot Midkiff highlighted the impact of hurricanes, flooding, pollution, and other factors on human and environmental relationships in communities across our state.

Photo of people in graduation robs, holding Carolina blue banners lined up near the Old Well.
(Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Kevin Guskiewicz, wearing Carolina blue graduation robes, fist bumps Christian Chung outside a building that has a banner that reads "The Nation's First Public University."
(Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Orlando Coronell and Christian Chung stand on stage with a slide behind them that reads "A Novel Sorbent for the Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Water."
(Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Caela O’Connell and Margot Midkiff standing on stage with a slide behind them that reads "Understanding Human Environment Relationship through Crisis for Change."
(Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Orlando Coronell and Christian Chung smile to the audience as they're presenting.
(Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Thank you again to everyone who hosted and attended University Research Week events. We’ll see you all again next year!

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