UNC-‘Sea’-W: Advancing Turtle Conservation, Education and Outreach
UNCW graduate researchers Caroline VanDuzer and Jamie Clark are exploring sea turtle biology to gain insights into how rising temperatures affect...
Research & Innovation
Welcome to our News! Here, you'll find the latest updates, stories, and articles from the Research & Innovation Office. Stay connected by exploring our news below.
Recent Posts
Cyber-PARK Project Selected for NCInnovation Funding
Ebrahimi's Cyber-PARK project, which teaches elementary students cybersecurity skills, is the latest UNCW initiative selected for NCInnovation...
Digital Safety Starts Early with Cyber-PARK Program
Guided by a singular mission to close the critical K-5th grade cybersecurity gap, a UNCW research team led by Ellie Ebrahimi developed Cyber-PARK,...
UNCW Receives Grant to Advance Flooding Research
UNC Wilmington’s Center for Marine Science (CMS) has been awarded a $500,000 planning grant from the New Hanover Community Endowment to...
Program Piloted by UNCW, ECU Receives UNC System Award
An innovative, interdisciplinary, intercollegiate research training program spearheaded by UNCW has received an Undergraduate Research Program Award.
UNCW Tackles Flood Risks and Water Resource Management
UNCW researchers, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability, the Office of Facilities and the University of Hull (UK), have installed a...
UNCW Researchers Produce Award-Winning Documentary
A UNCW research expedition to Greenland is the focus of an award-winning feature documentary that premiered at the Raw Science Film Festival in New...
Fried Fruit: A Window into Wilmington's Experimental Art Scene
The Fried Fruit Art Space, a glass-fronted cargo container in Wilmington, bridges UNCW and the local arts community. Started by Assistant Professor...
Research Starts Here: UNCW Engineering's Undergraduate Edge
UNCW Engineering students work alongside faculty engaging in research that impacts local communities and industry. The undergraduate research...
Mapson Appointed Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs
The College of Health and Human Services is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kristin Mapson as the new Associate Dean for Research and...
CIE and OIC Drive Change Through Innovation and Collaboration
UNCW's CIE and OIC continue to drive progress through research, commercialization, startup support and strategic partnerships.
Researcher Leads Effort to Eliminate Malaria in Uganda
Michelle Cathorall leads the Malaria Mastery Prevention Program, a community-driven project aimed at eliminating malaria in Uganda.
Fawell to Explore Imperial History in Sherman Lecture
UNCW’s Department of History will host historian Charles Begue Fawell, visiting assistant professor at Williams College, as the 24th annual...
Research and Innovation Celebrates Excellence at Annual Reception
Research and Innovation Celebrates Excellence at Annual Reception
Melissa Green Certified as IRB Professional
Melissa Green Certified as IRB Professional
2025 Million Dollar Club Announced; Bingham Tops $5M
Research & Innovation announced a record number of 2025 Million Dollar Club Inductees and recognized Frederick Bingham as a $5 Million Dollar...
TEAL-SHIPS Cruise Advances Hurricane Forecasting
The UNCW-led TEAL-SHIPS collaborative research project deployed drifter instruments during its recent offshore cruise, capturing data ahead of...
UNCW Scientist Helps Advance Forest-Based Climate Solutions
Peng Gao, associate professor in the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences at UNCW, is one of 19 global experts contributing to a new article...
CIE to Host Third Annual Ocean Innovation Conference in September
Registration open for third annual Ocean Innovation Conference in September.
Celebrating 20 Years of Community Engagement
UNCW and the Town of St. James celebrate 20 years of partnership for shoreline preservation.
UNCW Names Robert T. Burrus Jr. Interim Provost and VC for Academic Affairs
Robert T. Burrus Jr., dean of the UNCW Cameron School of Business, has been named interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, the...
Protecting Beauty of Coral Reefs Provides Economic Benefits
Matthew McLean's recent study explores what makes a coral reef appear beautiful to the public.
Probiotics Show Promise in Slowing Coral Disease Impacting Caribbean Reefs
Assistant Professor Blake Ushijima co-authored a groundbreaking study revealing a bacterial probiotic can slow the spread of stony coral tissue...
Supporting Global Ocean Education
In South Africa, the nonprofit organization I AM WATER Ocean Conservation is making waves in environmental education with the help of a team of...
Ricanek Receives Intellectual Property Grant
Karl Ricanek Jr., professor in the UNCW Department of Computer Science and director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Identity Sciences (I3S),...
Cathorall, Daidone Receive Fulbright Awards
Michelle Cathorall has received a U.S. Scholar Fulbright Award and Danielle Daidone has received a Fulbright postdoctoral fellowship.
CIE's McWhorter Elected to NC IDEA Board of Directors
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Director Heather McWhorter has been elected to serve on the NC IDEA Foundation's Board of Directors.
UNCW Research Team Approved for NCInnovation Funding
A multidisciplinary team developing a Neck Strength Assessment Tool received NCInnovation funding, bringing the technology closer to market.
Humpback Whales See Less Than We Thought
A new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Duke University finds new knowledge of the humpback whale eye,...
UNCW Celebrates Faculty Awards Ceremony
UNCW Celebrates Faculty Awards Ceremony
Zack Shail ’22 Honored as 2025 Staff Award for Excellence Winner
The UNCW Staff Award for Excellence reception was held at the Burney Center on April 29 to recognize members of the campus community who have...
FY2026 Research and Innovation Catalytic Funding Awardees
Research and Innovation announced the recipients of FY26 internal catalytic funding.
UNCW Names 2025 Research Achievement Awardees
UNCW Research & Innovation announced eight faculty researchers have been named recipients of the 2025 Research Achievement Awards.
OIC Director Streuli Recognized as Registered Technology Transfer Professional
OIC Director Justin Streuli was certified as a Registered Technology Transfer Professional by the Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals.
Jared Wood '20, Ph.D.'25
Jared Wood’s path to pursue a doctoral degree in pharmaceutical chemistry at UNCW has been driven by a lifelong passion for science,...
UNCW Awards Honorary Doctorate to Philanthropist Linda Sayed
Linda Sayed ’78, ’85M will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during UNCW’s Spring 2025 Graduate Commencement Ceremony,...
Clark, Greer Pave Way for Cybersecurity Partnerships
Ulku Clark and Jeff Greer were invited to present to the Maritime Domain Awareness Executive Steering Committee for the National Security...
Associate Professor Joseph Covi Among National Class of Emerging Inventors
Department of Biology and Marine Biology Associate Professor Joseph Covi is among 162 honorees recognized this year by the National Academy of...
UNCW's Rising Impact on Coral Research
UNCW's faculty are advancing coral reef conservation with groundbreaking research on coral spawning, restoration and genetic resilience.
Love Data Week Explores Open Access and Collaborative Research Trends
Love Data Week Explores Open Access
Guidance and Support Following Federal Executive Actions
RIST Staff Guidance and Support Following Federal Executive Actions
UNCW Receives $25 Million Gift to Boost Teacher Education and Healthcare Programs
The University of North Carolina Wilmington has received a $25 million gift commitment from Dr. Yousry Sayed and his wife Linda ’78,...
High-tech Job Opportunities on the Horizon for Students
A partnership with the College of Science and Engineering, Protocase and 45Drives will provide training, research and career opportunities for UNCW...
NCInnovation Names Wilmington Hub Director
Scott Davis ’17, ’18M has been named NCInnovation’s hub director for Wilmington and the southeastern NC region.
UNCW Awarded $1.5M for Coastal Research
UNCW has received $1.5 million in grant funding to lead the TEAL-SHIPS Transect Expedition, a groundbreaking project aimed at studying coastal...
UNCW Climbs in 2025 U.S. News Best Online Programs Rankings
UNCW has climbed in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report “Best Online Programs” rankings, demonstrating its commitment to academic...
Research Team Headed to Antarctica to Study Sea Urchins
Jake Warner, an assistant professor in UNC Wilmington's Department of Biology and Marine Biology, is leading a research expedition to McMurdo...
UNCW Graduates Embark on New Journeys
Approximately 2,500 graduates embarked on a journey in their lives on Dec. 14, equipped with the knowledge, skills and experiences to help shape...
UNCW, CFCC Partner to Address Nursing Shortage
CHHS and CFCC have partnered to implement “Try Teal,” an innovative program to address the critical shortage of nurses.
UNCW Students Earn Prestigious Awards to Study in Oman
Three students, Saleen Aljakhbeer ’24, Roman Fermanian ’26, and Philip Nazzaro ’24, won highly competitive awards that allowed...
Research Hubs Dive Deep
The UNCW’s Research Hubs program is a new initiative that provides the wide-ranging support necessary to address overwhelming problems. The...
Anna Vreeling ’25
Anna Vreeling ’25 is dedicated to studying clinical research at UNCW. Inspired by her personal experiences, she aims to make significant...
UNCW Seals Partnerships with Three International Universities
UNC Wilmington has established partnerships with international universities to create opportunities to elevate academic and cultural experiences.
NCInnovation Selects UNCW as Research Hub
UNC Wilmington is proud to announce it is now a headquarter location for NCInnovation’s applied research support.
UNCW Launches NSF-Funded Initiative to Promote Women in STEM
UNC Wilmington has been awarded a prestigious grant from the National Science Foundation to launch the “UNC-by-the-S.E.A. (STEM Equity...
Where You Belong: UEDA Awards UNCW for Community Impact
UNC Wilmington has been recognized by the University Economic Development Association’s 2024 Awards of Excellence, reinforcing the...
Two UNCW Students Appointed to Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
UNC Wilmington graduate students Maylyn Hinson ’24M and Delaney McBride have been named to one of the nation’s most prestigious marine...
McLean Lab Receives NSF EMBRACE Grant for North Sea Research
UNCW Assistant Professor of Biology and Marine Biology Matthew McLean and doctoral student Adrian Gonzalez-Ortiz have received a $400,000 NSF...
UNCW Honors Excellence in Research and Innovation
The achievements, scholarly productivity and creative works of UNCW’s research leaders were formally applauded at the annual research...
UNCW Drives $3.2 Billion Economic Growth in NC
The University of North Carolina Wilmington has released an economic development impact study that reveals a $3.2 billion impact on the state of...
Dare to Discover: UNCW Library Renovations Complete
UNC Wilmington is proud to announce the completion of the highly anticipated renovation of the UNCW Library. The library opened to the public on...
UNCW's Research Report Earns An A
For the 2023-24 fiscal year, the university reports a record in new awards, exceeding $33 million.
UNCW Announces Major Addition to Research Vessel Fleet
The Center for Marine Science at the University of North Carolina Wilmington is acquiring a cutting-edge 73-foot research vessel for its fleet....
CIE Hosting 2nd Annual Ocean Innovation Conference
CIE hosting 2nd Annual Ocean Innovation Conference
Blue Economy Index Blends Academics, Science, Business
UNCW has launched a groundbreaking stock index that measures the economic activities of oceans and waterways with a focus on environmental...
Researcher Leads Efforts to Understand PFAS Effects
The NC PFAS Testing Network leverages the expertise of university researchers within North Carolina. These researchers collaborate with state...
Undergraduates Step into Physics Research
UNCW undergraduates have a rare opportunity to be directly involved in cutting-edge nuclear physics research at a national laboratory. The...
Stuart Borrett Appointed NSF Rotating Program Director
For the 2024-25 academic year, Stuart Borrett, associate provost for Research and Innovation, will serve at the U.S. National Science Foundation...
Living with Water at Battleship North Carolina
Three UNCW labs are among those collaborating on physical and biological monitoring in support of a floodwater-mitigation project at Battleship...
Building a Healthcare Workforce Superhighway
The collaboration among UNCW, Cape Fear Community College, New Hanover County Schools and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce aims to produce and...
UNCW Library Makerspace Helps Recreate Battleship Parts
UNCW has taken a key role in using cutting-edge technology to put the World War II-era Battleship North Carolina back together.
New Parasite Found in N.C. Scallops
A team of UNCW researchers has identified a previously undescribed species of trematode parasite infecting native bay scallops in North Carolina.
Clyde Edgerton Signs Off from UNCW
Kenan Distinguished Professor in Creative Writing Clyde Edgerton has officially retired from UNCW.
Heart Health Hubs
Barbershops in Wilmington are becoming more than just places for haircuts—they have evolved into hubs for health education and outreach.
Decades in the [Print]Making
Art professor Donald Furst celebrated five decades of his work with a retrospective exhibition titled “Fifty Years of Printmaking” at...
UNCW Students Receive Prestigious NSF and Hollings Awards
Five UNCW Seahawks are recipients of prestigious fellowships and scholarships that will allow them to delve deeper into their research and...
Innovative MedTech Honored at Coastal Entrepreneur Awards
Morris Nguyen and Kody Roza with Predicate HPG were named the 2024 Coastal Entrepreneurs of the Year at the Coastal Entrepreneur Awards, hosted by...
Ying Wang Selected for NCInnovation Grant
UNC Wilmington Associate Professor of Chemistry Ying Wang has been approved for grant funding from NCInnovation to continue his work in developing...
Hawkes Team Receives $750,000
National Science Foundation powers multi-institutional research on seismic activity and tsunami hazards on the west coast.
UNCW Spinoff Secures NSF Grant
DuraVax Inc. has been awarded a National Science Foundation Phase One Small Business Technology Transfer grant in the amount of $274,991.
UNCW Among Universities Receiving Instruments for PFAS Research
UNC Wilmington faculty have been equipped with a cutting-edge instrument from the North Carolina Collaboratory and Thermo Fisher Scientific to...
CHHS Commissions New Corbett Anatomy Lab
The Dr. J. Richard “Dick” Corbett Anatomy Laboratory joins Veterans Hall’s suite of interprofessional teaching clinics,...
Excavating Evidence of Early Agricultural Engineering
Within the depths of the lower Cape Fear and Brunswick rivers lie remnants of the region's history of rice cultivation and the enslaved West...
US Secretary of Interior Visits Center for Marine Science
UNCW and the CMS hosted the Honorable Deb Haaland and Liz Klein, Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
UNCW’s Lecci Advances Brain Injury Research Work
UNCW Professor of Psychology Dr. Len Lecci has been awarded $149,224 from the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research for the project...
UNCW Launches Blue Economy Index
UNCW announces the launch of the UNC Wilmington Blue Economy Index, an equity benchmark designed to track the performance of companies involved in...
Jason Mott Receives NEA Fellowship
Jason Mott ’06, ’08M, author and an associate professor in UNCW’s Department of Creative Writing, has been selected to receive a...
Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW Surpasses Historic Milestone
The largest and most ambitious campaign in UNC Wilmington history, Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW, surpassed its $125 million stretch goal...
Ryan Mieras Awarded $1M for Swash Zone Study
To better understand how sand is transported in the swash zone, the U.S. Coastal Research Program (USCRP), via the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers...
Allie Best '23M
UNCW graduate student Allie Best received the North Carolina Sea and Space Grant, a fellowship awarded to students whose research explores...
SPARC Director Kati Chipps to Step Down Jan. 16
Kati Chipps, Director of Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance (SPARC), has announced a decision to step away from her position with UNCW....
UNCW Receives Grant Funding for Groundbreaking Healthcare Workforce Partnerships
UNCW Receives Grant Funding for Groundbreaking Healthcare Workforce Partnerships
New Curriculum Uses Hip-Hop for Healing
An initiative launched by the UNCW Office of the Arts tapped into hip-hop to help D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy students find their voices.
Katie Barton '23
Katie Barton has always wanted a career centered around animals, so a biology major was her first choice. Participation in UNCW's First Year...
Grove Named UNC System Faculty Fellow
Nathan Grove, chemistry professor and director of the Center for the Support of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, has been selected as one of...
River Sediment Study Published in Science
The first continent-wide study of its kind, UNCW Professor Joanne Halls’ research sheds new light on the impact of river sediment on the...
UNCW Receives Accreditation Reaffirmation from SACSCOC
The University of North Carolina Wilmington’s accreditation has been reaffirmed by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
Communication Studies Faculty Receive National Awards
Faculty in the UNCW Department of Communication Studies have received awards recognizing excellence in research and service from the National...
Tift, Pearson Receive Marine Mammal Commission Grant
Michael Tift, assistant professor of biology and marine biology, is the lead investigator on a nearly $60,000 grant from the Marine Mammal...
Coral Researchers Receive Global CORDAP Grants
Four UNCW faculty will receive nearly $2 million to advance their research to help save the world’s endangered coral reefs. The Coral...
Discovery: Stranded Whale Ingested Balloon
The UNCW Marine Mammal Stranding Program recently collaborated with marine mammal scientists, veterinarians and students from a variety of state...
Daidone, Lidster Receive Spencer Grant
Dr. Danielle Daidone, assistant professor of Spanish, and Dr. Ryan Lidster, assistant professor of Japanese, in the Department of World Languages...
Louis Bon-Ami, NextGen Postdoctoral Fellow
Louis Bon-Ami hopes to repay the investment educators made in him by investing in other students. Bon-Ami serves as a NextGen Postdoctoral Fellow.
UNCW Joins Global Network that Promotes Age-Inclusive Environments
UNC Wilmington has been accepted for membership in the Age-Friendly University Global Network, an international community of 100 higher education...
Envisioning the Future: UNCW Seeks Input for Campus Master Plan
UNCW is in the process of formulating a long-term comprehensive campus master plan to support the university’s mission and vision.
Dr. Ronald Vetter Receives Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Ronald J. Vetter, founding dean of the College of Science and Engineering and professor of computer science, is the recipient of the 2023...
UNCW Studying Frying Pan Shoals as Possible Offshore Sand Source
Dr. Joe Long, director of UNC Wilmington's Coastal Engineering program, and UNCW researchers will take dozens of trips to Frying Pan Shoals to...
Jack Watson, CHHS Dean
Jack Watson always thought he would become a practicing sports psychologist, but in graduate school he discovered a passion for teaching that led...
UNCW Researchers Awarded $1.75 Million to Continue National Drug Court Resource Center
UNCW was awarded an additional $1.75 million from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to continue the work of the NDCRC for the next two years.
Dr. Maia Butler Receives SAMLA Studies Book Award
Dr. Maia Butler, associate professor in the UNCW Department of English, is a recipient of a 2023 South Atlantic Modern Language Association Studies...
Ghoneim to Lead Egyptian Expedition
UNCW Professor Eman Ghoneim Awarded International Grant by The Explorers Club and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Impact Like No Other: UNCW Celebrates Its Research Leaders
The achievements, scholarly productivity and creative works of UNCW’s research leaders were formally applauded at the 16th annual research...
Distinguished Professor, Noted Author Clyde Edgerton Honored for Life’s Work
Clyde Edgerton is the recipient of the 2023 John Tyler Caldwell Award for the Humanities.
Two Seahawks Receive NC Sea Grant Fellowship
Kathryn Little and Aaron Ramus are recipients of the NC Sea Grant STEM Fellowship.
UNCW Celebrates Faculty Award Recipients at Fall Faculty Meeting
UNCW recognized faculty who have made significant contributions in teaching, research and service during its Fall Faculty Meeting on Sept. 14.
UNCW Chancellor Volety Joins NCBiotech Board of Directors
Chancellor Aswani K. Volety, an advocate for strong collaborations among higher education, government, industry and community leaders, has joined...
CHSSA Faculty Receive Prestigious National Fellowships
Two assistant professors in the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts (CHSSA) have received national fellowships that recognize and...
UNCW Researchers to Collaborate on New Earthquake Research Center
UNCW researchers will participate in a $15 million NSF-funded effort to create an earthquake research center to study the Cascadia subduction zone...
Student Resilience Team Studying NC Reefs
Students from UNCW are recipients of North Carolina Sea Grant’s Resilience Team Competition funding for a new study of reef ecosystems in...
UNCW Receives $177,639 in NEH Funding
Two teams at the University of North Carolina Wilmington were named among humanities projects nationwide to receive grant funding from the National...
Ocean Innovation Conference to Explore Blue Economy and Innovation
The UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Alliance for the Blue Economy (All Blue) will host the inaugural Ocean Innovation...
Hogfish Can “See” Using More Than Their Eyes
A research breakthrough at UNCW and the Center for Marine Science suggests that some color-changing fish species may be able to "see"...
MBA, Psychology Programs Receive STEM Designation
The Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington has received a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and...
Dr. Brian Arbogast Receives 2023 Joseph Grinnell Award
Dr. Brian Arbogast, professor in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology, is the recipient of the American Society of Mammalogists 2023 Joseph...
UNCW Joins the Carolina Cyber Network
UNCW is among four institutions of higher education selected to join the fast-growing ranks of the Carolina Cyber Network, an organization...
Ecotone Magazine Honored for Excellence
Having been nominated in 2018 and 2020 for a Firecracker Award from the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses, this year it took top honors in...
CORMP’s Real-Time Data Aids Storm Tracking, Forecasting
June kicked off the start of the 2023 hurricane season, and UNCW's Coastal Ocean Research and Monitoring Program team is busy ensuring its...
Center for Cyber Defense Education Honored
The National Security Agency’s National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program directors recently recognized UNCW for the...
Screen Savvy: UNCW Students, Employees Earn Telly Awards
UNCW's Department of Communication Studies, Distance Education and eLearning and Media Production teams are among the recipients of this...
Coastal Entrepreneur Awards Celebrates 15th Anniversary
The Coastal Entrepreneur Awards, a joint effort of UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Greater Wilmington...
UNCW Commissions Wave Flume Lab
UNCW students and faculty in the undergraduate Coastal Engineering program now have new ways to study the power of ocean waves.
NSF Developing Engine Award
The North Carolina Ecosystem Technology project has been awarded $1 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation's Regional Innovation...
A Quality Connection: UNCW Supported by Generosity of Sayeds
It’s been said if you want to help the world, start with science.
UNCW & CFCC Establish Transfer Agreement for Oceanography
The University of North Carolina Wilmington has partnered with Cape Fear Community College to create a transfer opportunity for community college...
Newly Discovered Probiotic Could Protect Caribbean Corals
Researchers with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have discovered the first effective bacterial probiotic for treating...
Probiotic Could Protect Caribbean Corals
Blake Ushijima, assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology, is lead author of a study collaborating with...
Researcher Awarded $1 Million Grant
UNCW Research Professor Catharina Alves-de-Souza has been awarded a $1 million grant.
Geologist Digs Into Earth’s Oldest Rocks
UNCW Assistant Professor of Geology Peter J. Haproff is on a six-week excursion in Greenland searching for answers in its 3-billion-year-old rocks.
Professor Receives Applied Research Fellowship
Dr. Ralph Mead is among four researchers awarded the inaugural North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Applied Research Fellowship.
UNCW and NC A&T Launch Program
UNCW and NC A&T have launched a new initiative that creates a pipeline for the universities to recruit diverse faculty.