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Research and Innovation Celebrates Excellence at Annual Reception

  • September 30, 2025

The achievements, successes and impacts of UNC Wilmington’s research and innovation community were formally applauded at the 18th annual research reception on Thursday, Sept. 25. Faculty, staff and students were recognized and celebrated for career accomplishments as well as scholarly activity from the preceding fiscal year. 

“UNCW researchers are making new discoveries, advancing the frontiers of knowledge, addressing urgent societal challenges and contributing to the public good. This includes work in marine science, healthcare innovation, new technologies and classic disciplines like languages and history. It was a delightful evening celebrating some of the university’s outstanding research successes. The promise of a research university is that by coupling research and innovation with teaching and learning, both types of activities are enhanced.  At UNCW students are not just learning from the research enterprise – they are contributing to it in meaningful ways.  My congratulations to all who were recognized.”   – Stuart Borrett, associate provost for Research and Innovation

This year's Research Celebration was supported in part by NCInnovation. The following is a list of award recipients and those recognized during last Thursday’s event. 

The Research Administration Outstanding Campus Partner Award honors staff making improvements to support research administration efforts across campus and celebrates partners contributing to the efficiency and effectiveness of the UNCW research enterprise.  

  • Zerek Olson | governance, risk and information privacy officer | Information Technology Services 

Most Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications   

Cameron School of Business  

College of Health and Human Services 

College of Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts 

College of Science and Engineering 

Watson College of Education 

  • Nirmal Ghimire | Instructional Technology, Foundations and Secondary Education 
  • Julia Lynch | Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, Literacy and Special Education 
  • Jennifer Park | Instructional Technology, Foundations and Secondary Education 

Invention Disclosures  

At the beginning of the patenting process, an Invention Disclosure is the first notification that an invention has been created and establishes the description and chronology of the invention. Please take note of the many students engaged and listed as contributors in the invention disclosure process.

The Breathe in and Stand Down Study 

Look and See 

Autonomous Foosball Table 

  • Hamed Saeidi | Computer Science 
  • Charlie Caputo 
  • Anna Knorr 
  • Joseph Scott 
  • Benjamin Simpson 

Gaze-Guided Teleoperation of Robotic Manipulators

Synthesis and Biological Activity of CBC Cycloadducts 

Introduction of karlotoxin-2 exudation and production via environmental plastics 

New mRNA-LNP Formulations 

  • Ying Wang | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  • Harrison Wooten 

STEPS: Simulation Tool to Enhance Psychological Safety 

SIM-U 

PROaCTIVE 

Tropical Corals as a Source of Novel Therapeutics for Vibriosis in Humans 

High-Throughput Probiotic Discovery Platform 

Eco-Aquafeed and Marine Aquaculture System 

Readiness to Engage in Self-Care – Heart Failure Screening Tool 

Zero Knowledge Biometric Authentication and Server-Based Biometric Authentication 

Cyber-PARK: Cybersecurity Practice and Awareness for Rising Kids 

D-alanine Inhibitor  

AI Coral Imaging Tool 

  • Tracy Chen | Mathematics and Statistics 
  • Nicole Fogarty | Biology and Marine Biology 
  • Megan Van Horn 
  • Richard Zhao 

The Research Achievement Awards, which encompass both the Rising Research Excellence individual awards and the Research Collaboration team award, recognize faculty for their excellence in research, innovation and scholarship leading to the advancement of knowledge in their fields, discoveries with significant societal impact and the engagement of students in the process. 

Rising Research Excellence Awardees 

Research Collaboration Awardees 

The James F. Merritt Million Dollar Club is a university honor and recognition for faculty and staff who have been awarded $1 million or more in external research funding. This year’s class of 21 new inductees was the largest in the award’s 21-year history. 

$5 Million  

$1 Million  

The Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award recognizes all aspects of excellence in scholarship, research and creativity including activities that involve colleagues and students. The Distinguished Scholarly Engagement and Public Service Award recognizes excellence in addressing crucial local, regional, national, or global issues through collaborative scholarly activity directed towards persons and groups outside UNCW 

Both honors are presented at the annual Faculty Awards Celebration by the Faculty Senate President. The annual research celebration is proud to also honor the 2025 recipients.  

Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award 

Distinguished Scholarly Engagement and Public Service Award 

This article has the following tags: CMS - Center for Marine Science CHHS - College of Health & Human Services Innovation & Discovery Research & Innovation Area CSE - College of Science & Engineering CHSSA - College of Humanities, Social Sciences, & the Arts Accomplishments Engagement CSB - Cameron School of Business WCE - Watson College of Education