While the students were away, the support services of UNC Research played — by hosting colleagues from around the state and country to learn and share insights on a variety of topics.
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) at UNC-Chapel Hill played host to three national and regional professional conferences this summer, distinguishing the University as a leader among research institutions and showcasing the growth Carolina has experienced over recent years.
Postdoctoral Affairs
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) hosted the first-ever North Carolina Postdoc Research Symposium on June 14 at the NC Biotechnology Center. The event was coordinated by UNC-Chapel Hill with collaborators across the state, including NC State, NC A&T, UNC-Charlotte, East Carolina University, and UNC-Wilmington, and the UNC system office.
The multidisciplinary event showcased research from postdoctoral scholars at participating universities and featured a poster session, flash talks, networking, and a keynote address.
“This inaugural research symposium was an opportunity for postdocs across the state to showcase their amazing research, continue to build their core competencies, and expand their professional network,” says Essie Torres, OPA interim director. “This collaboration is part of system-wide efforts with postdoctoral leaders across institutions to create effective training experiences to ensure the success of our scholars.”
There were 120 postdoctoral scholars in attendance, with 70 poster presentations and 17 flash talk presenters. There were also prizes for the top poster presentations and talk.
At the mentor networking session, postdocs discussed academic life with faculty mentors, including tenure, funding, writing grants, the academic interview process, and job search strategies.
The event provided a unique opportunity for collaboration across the UNC System. Attendees also practiced sharing their research with people from diverse disciplines, strengthening their communication skills.
“We are thrilled to have spear-headed this new symposium for our postdoctoral scholars, providing a forum for communication of research and networking locally in North Carolina,” says Alan Marsh, OPA associate director.
“The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and we are looking forward to this becoming an annual event.”
The event was sponsored by Re-Imagining STEM Equity Utilizing Postdoc Pathways, the University of North Carolina System, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, NC Biotechnology Center, and UNC Peer Support Core.
Compliance
The Office of Research Compliance Services hosted the annual meeting of the Association of University Export Control Officers (AUECO) from May 6-9 at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel.
AUECO monitors changes in the administration of export control laws and regulations that may affect higher education and academia, including academic and research collaborations.
UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State submitted a joint bid to host AUECO this year and secured scholarships from the UNC System Office for each one of the UNC System schools to participate.
“I was particularly proud to demonstrate the power of collaboration between research administrators and institutions by bringing this professional event to North Carolina,” says Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Compliance Quinton Johnson. “AUECO is the leading organization in both training and advocacy to protect fundamental research at our universities. Bringing the organization to the Triangle both solidifies Carolina as an important supporter of that effort and ensures our compliance professionals get access to cutting edge advice and best practice from fellow practitioners and representatives from the U.S. Department of State, Commerce, Treasury, and Energy.”
There were 257 compliance professionals in attendance at this year’s conference. The organization was formed in 2008 and focuses on various export compliance topics of concern to higher education and scientific communities. It has grown to more than 500 export control professionals with compliance responsibilities at 272 institutions of higher education within the U.S.
Research Communications
The Office of Research Communications (ORC) held the annual University Research Magazine Association (URMA) conference on Carolina’s campus from May 14-17, welcoming communications professionals from universities, research centers, and science institutes across the country. Attendees communicate about research through online and print magazines, long-form stories, press releases, social media, videos, podcasts and more. The event was sold out — with 72 attendees converging in Chapel Hill.
The conference featured tours of the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, N.C. Botanical Garden, and the UNC Fluids Lab. Session topics included leveraging cross-campus collaborations, discussing the pros and cons of generative AI within the communications field, and incorporating data visualization into the storytelling process.
“URMA’s selection of UNC-Chapel Hill as the host site for its annual conference validates the work of the Office of Research Communications,” says Alyssa LaFaro, the research communications manager within ORC. “It allowed us to showcase our incredible research services and expertise, drawing attention to Carolina as a national research powerhouse.”