Each year, the Postdoctoral Awards for Research Excellence (PARE) are given in recognition of the research promise demonstrated by individual postdoctoral scholars. The awards are open to postdoctoral scholars in all disciplines. Each recipient receives a monetary award of $1,200.

2026 PARE Winners

Athena Stein, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine 

“My research is redefining how brain stimulation is designed. Rather than imposing generic, synthetic waveforms conventionally used, I develop personalized neurostimulation interventions using an individual’s actual (endogenous) brain activity. I invented transcranial endogenous current stimulation and am currently testing its neurophysiological mechanisms and preliminary efficacy in a clinical trial in antenatal depression. At the same time, I am translating this framework into other brain stimulation modalities such as transcranial magnetic stimulation. My long-term goal is to understand the brain biomarkers underlying neurostimulation response in depression and other psychiatric disorders, and to establish endogenous neurostimulation as a new precision-treatment paradigm for these disorders.” 

Evan Paules, Nutrition Research Institute 

“I am focused on advancing precision nutrition. Diets and weight-loss drugs work well for some people and barely at all for others, and we cannot currently tell in advance who will not benefit from a given therapy. I study how the nutrients we eat, particularly choline, shape metabolic health, and I build metabolic profiles that identify whether a given treatment will work for someone. My goal is to turn nutrient status into a simple test that tells clinicians which treatment will help a patient, and to determine whether repleting certain nutrients can move people who do not benefit into the group that does.” 

Grigory Terlov, Department of Statistics and Operations Research, College of Arts and Sciences 

“My research lies in probability theory and its connections with other branches of mathematics and applied sciences. This work has two main threads: quantitative limit theorems, typically via Stein’s method, in random graph models and random optimization problems; and percolation on transitive graphs, especially in relation to measured group theory and measurable combinatorics. A common thread throughout my work is understanding how geometric and structural notions interact with randomness.”  

Hyunji (Amy) Lee, Department of Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences 

“My research aims to build AI systems that can keep learning and adapting after they are deployed, rather than remaining fixed as the world, their users, and available information change. I study and develop how these systems can learn from real-world deployment by collecting and filtering experience into useful training and evaluation data, methods that help models recognize what they know and when to adapt, and systems that coordinate knowledge across models, memories, tools, and other agents. Ultimately, I want to create long-lived AI systems that remain useful, reliable, and coherent as they learn from ongoing interactions and changing environments.” 

Kuan-Yi Lu, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine 

“Why do antibiotics sometimes fail, even when drug concentrations far exceed the threshold normally required to clear an infection? My postdoctoral research at UNC-Chapel Hill has focused on solving the fundamental challenge of the systematic failure of antibiotics to eradicate infections within the body. Supported by a highly competitive NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, my research integrates biology, chemical analysis, and animal modeling to identify why bacteria tolerate antibiotics during infections.” 

Earlier Recipients

2025

Marta Overchuk, Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State: In Dr. Imran Rizvi’s lab, Overchuk explores photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer, a minimally invasive approach using light and light-activatable compounds to generate therapeutic reactive oxygen species. Her work focuses on how PDT can help overcome chemotherapy resistance and make treatments safer and more effective for ovarian cancer. Recently, the lab discovered that PDT activates a cell death process similar to ferroptosis — a pathway that remains available even in cancers that no longer respond to chemotherapy. These insights are paving the way toward new light-driven therapies designed to target and eliminate hard-to-treat tumors. 

Juhyun Ahn, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine: In the lab of Janelle Arthur, Ahn’s research seeks to define mechanisms by which certain gut bacteria disrupt host-microbe interactions in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and colorectal cancer. Her work has revealed a presumed microbial trigger for intestinal fibrosis — a serious complication for many IBD patients that involves intestinal narrowing and blockages that require surgery. By further understanding this disease process and identifying microbial markers to facilitate early diagnosis, researchers can create new ways to prevent and treat intestinal fibrosis and improve the lives of people with IBD. 

Joaquin Douton, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences: In the Regina Carelli lab, Douton studies how addiction and negative emotions affect brain function and how these changes contribute to drug relapse. Using animal models, he tracks changes in brain circuits occurring due to addiction and tests highly translational treatment strategies to reverse these effects and restore healthy brain function. Douton’s goal is to turn these discoveries into therapies that help people recover from substance use disorders. 

Christopher Genito, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry: In Lance Thurlow’s lab, Genito studies how diabetes makes people more vulnerable to potentially life-threatening infections. A recent discovery of the lab shows that diabetes promotes the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Genito’s future work aims to understand how diabetes affects vaccine efficacy with the goal of protecting people with diabetes from acquiring preventable severe infections.  

Jeanna Campbell, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research: Campbell’s research explores the impact of income, community resources, and primary health care services on cardiometabolic health outcomes, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. She is passionate about community-tailored services that meet community members’ unique health needs and preferences. Currently, she assists in the implementation of a culturally tailored dietary intervention posited to reduce inflammation and cardiometabolic disease risk, as well as an intervention linking rural community members with tailored disease prevention resources. 

Eric Hurwitz, Department of Genetics, School of Medicine: In the Translational and Integrative Sciences Lab led by Melissa Haendel, Hurwitz’s research harnesses big data from multiple sources, including electronic health records, passive data from consumer-grade wearable devices, and self-reported patient outcomes to develop personalized strategies for early disease detection and enhanced patient monitoring. He uses advanced statistical and machine learning methods to improve traditional methods that may not generalize across patient populations. Hurwitz’s goal is to combine data streams with personalized methods to promote a pro-active and preventative approach to human health for enhanced precision medicine efforts. 

2024

• László Bálint, Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, School of Medicine
• Katherine Barnett, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine
• Kaneesha R. Johnson, Department of Political Science, College of Arts and Sciences
• Matthew Kessinger, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
• Maria White, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine

2023

• Jessica Hoffman, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies
• Joji Tanaka, Chemistry
• Aleksandra Skrajna, Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Ying Zhou, Applied Physical Sciences
• Woosuk Steve Hur, UNC Blood Research Center

2022

• Aobo Li, Physics and Astronomy
• Sophie Maiocchi, Cell Biology and Physiology, Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery
• Laura Ornelas, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies
• Nipun Saini, Nutrition Research Institute
• Wei Shi, Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences

2021

• Li Ke, School of Education
• Rebecca Krupenevich, Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Zhenyi Ni, Applied Physical Sciences
• Kai Wang, Department of Ophthalmology
• Jessica C. Young, Sheps Center for Health Services Research

2020

• Kathryn Gunn, Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Kerrel Murray, School of Law
• Liujiang Song, Gene Therapy Center & Ophthalmology
• Deshira Wallace, Health Behavior
• Margeaux Wetendorf, Cell Biology and Physiology

2019

• Karen Boschen, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies
• Tao Che, Pharmacology
• Lauren Hill, Sheps Center for Health Services Research
• Chantel Martin, Epidemiology
• Yu Mi, Pharmacy
• Lisa Spees, LCCC
• Aaron Teator, Chemistry
• Yanyan Yang, Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Xiao Yang, Geological Sciences
• Yue Zhang, Environmental Sciences & Engineering

2018

• Hongwei Du, LCCC
• Kathryn Harper, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies
• Laura Raffield, Genetics
• Wentao Li, Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Michael Sidorov, Cell Biology and Physiology
• Cassandra Spracklen, Genetics
• Marie Stoner, Carolina Population Center
• Ludovic Troian-Gautier, Chemistry
• Song Zhang, LCCC
• Yang Zhou, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

2017

• Lauren Gaydosh, Sociology
• Zhe Ma, LCCC
• Rajendra Mitra, Ophthalmogoly
• Ciara O’Flanagan, Nutrition
• Renato Sampaio, UNC Energy Frontier Research Center

2016

• Aadra Bhatt, Chemistry
• Sarah Davies, Marine Sciences
• Dan Dickenson, Biology
• Tory Eiselohr-Moul, Psychiatry
• Lori Hoggard, Center for Health Equity Research
• Gabriel Lazaro, Center for Genomics and Society
• Catherine Marcinkiewcz, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies
• Saray Shai, Mathematics
• Aussie Suzuki, Biology
• Amanda Van Swearingen, LCCC

2015

• Kemi Doll, Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Byron Farnum, Chemistry
• Adam Gracz, Gastroenterology and Hematology
• Jinchuan Hu, Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Amy Johnson, Nutrition
• Lavar Munroe, Art
• Anya Prince, Social Medicine
• Jeremy Rotty, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Dane Taylor, Mathematics
• Jason Yi, Pharmacology

2014

• Yosuf Aachoui, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
• Yacine Boulaftali, McAllister Heart Institute
• Marci Cottingham, Department of Social Medicine
• Shannon Crowley, Department of Psychiatry
• Anne Justice, Department of Epidemiology
• Peng Kang, Department of Chemistry
• Anthony Lau, Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Vineet Menachery, Department of Epidemiology
• Mika Mustonen, Department of Physics and Astronomy
• William Sturkey, Department of History

2013

• J. Mauro Calabrese, Department of Genetics
• Shobhan Gaddameedhi, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Matteo Giletta, Department of Psychology
• Jennifer Kane, Carolina Population Center
• Portia Kunz McCoy, Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology
• Jennifer Prairie, Departments of Mathematics and Marine Sciences
• Scott Rothbart, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Sara Trace, Department of Psychiatry/Eating Disorders Program
• Daisuke Urano, Department of Biology
• Aaron Vannucci, Department of Chemistry

2012

• Sandra Albrecht, Carolina Population Center
• Jessica Baker, Department of Psychiatry/Eating Disorders Program
• Vivian Gama, Department of Neuroscience Center
• Hsien-Sung Huang, Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology
• Mosi Ifatunji, Department of Sociology/Carolina Population Center (Carolina Postdoc for Faculty Diversity)
• Kathryn Muessig, School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease
• Tadashi Nakagawa, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Dileep Varma, Department of Biology
• Haitao Wen, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Jason Wolff, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities

2011

• Karla Ausderau, Allied Health Sciences
• Silvia Bezer, Department of Chemistry
• Karl D. Castillo, Department of Marine Sciences
• Zuofeng Chen, Department of Chemistry
• Tae-Yeon Eom, Neuroscience Center
• Nuri Ozturk, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Kimberly Powers, Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine
• Laura Widman, HIV/STD Infectious Disease Center
• Nathalie Williams, Carolina Population Center
• Pengcheng Xun, Department of Nutrition

2010

• Cendra Agulhon, Department of Pharmacology
• Christy Avery, Department of Epidemiology
• Janne Boone-Heinonen, Interdisciplinary Obesity Training/Carolina Population Center
• Jacquelyn Bower, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Charles Davis, Department of Art History (Carolina Postdoc for Faculty Diversity)
• Jun Li, Molecular Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy
• Paul Reiter, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Courtney Thaxton, Department of Cell & Molecular Physiology
• Yang Wang, Department of Pharmacology
• Angela Wendel, Department of Nutrition

2009

• Irving Coy Allen, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Sergio Chavez, Carolina Population Center
• Joyee Ghosh, Department of Biostatistics
• Tae-Hong Kang, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Conggang Li, Department of Chemistry
• Liqing Ma, Department of Chemistry
• Aaron Neumann, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
• Nasser Rusan, Biology Department
• Mindy Steiniger, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Kai Ziervogel, Department of Marine Sciences

2008

• Guohua Cao, Department of Physics and Astronomy
• Javier Concepcion, Department of Chemistry
• Molly De Marco, Sheps Center for Health Services Research
• Paul Hoertz, Department of Chemistry
• Xiaoyang Hua, Pulmonary Division of the Department of Medicine & Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology
• Ajit Joglekar, Department of Biology
• Alexey Savelyev, Department of Chemistry
• Naomi Spence, Carolina Population Center
• Jill Weimer, Neuroscience Research Center
• Shuangye Yin, Department of Biochemistry

2007

• James Patrick Cronin, Department of Biological Sciences
• Mathew Dupre, Carolina Population Center
• Matthew Frieman, Hooker Research Center, School of Public Health
• Hegui Gong, Department of Chemistry
• Laura Halperin, Department of English and Comparative Literature
• Heidi M. Mansour, Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy
• Dan Marston, Department of Biology
• Joanna Poblete-Cross, Department of History
• Rachael Rigby, Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology
• Leslie Sombers, Department of Chemistry

2006

• Zhongying Chen, Department of Biology
• Shannon Davis, Carolina Population Center
• Nora Franceschini, Department of Epidemiology
• Andrea (Nackley) Neely, School of Dentistry’s Center for Neurosensory Disorders
• Thomas Parsons, Department of Neurology
• David Singleton, Department of ESE
• Anthony Yannarell, Institute of Marine Sciences

2005

• Melanie Bishop, Institue of Marine Sciences
• Jennifer DeLuca, Department of Biology
• Feng Ding, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics
• Jay Garcia, Carolina Postdoc for Faculty Diversity
• Steven Hitlin, Carolina Population Center
• Karen Kim, Department of Health Behavior & Health Education
• Craig Lee, Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics
• Kristopher Preacher, Department of Psychology
• Eric Wagner, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics

2004

• J. Scott Brown, Carolina Population Center
• David Carr, Carolina Population Center
• Daniela Cimini, Department of Biology
• Raymond Coakley, Cystic Fibrosis/Pulmonary Research and Treatment Center
• Timothy Donaldson, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Heidi Gazelle, Center for Developmental Science
• Aiguo Hu, Department of Chemistry
• Robert Maile, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
• Hengbin Wang, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Francis Willard, Department of Pharmacology