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Research Magazine

Research & Innovation

A Journey of Intellectual Inquiry

2025 Research Magazine

UNCW remains committed to making meaningful impact through research, scholarship and innovation that discovers new knowledge, solves critical problems and enhances student learning. We invite you to keep scrolling the digital 2025 Research Magazine to gain a deeper insight into UNCW’s research achievements. 

Discovering New Knowledge
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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.

Researcher Leads Effort to Eliminate Malaria in Uganda

Humpback Whales See Less Than We Thought

Assistant Professor Lori Schweikert gained international attention for a study with Duke University collaborators revealing humpback whales’ limited visual acuity. Featured in The New York Times, it raises questions about how whales perceive their environment and impacts from human activity.

Read More on Whale Vision
Dr. Lori Schweikert and Vanessa Moreno examine a whale eye in the lab

Turning Teaching into Research

Associate Professor Nadine Gibson joined the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) as associate director for the scholarship of teaching and learning, advancing CTE’s commitment to advancing scholarship focused on teaching and learning. Gibson also co-edits CTE’s "Journal of Effective Teaching in Higher Education."

Read UNCW’s Other Peer-Reviewed Journal
Nadine Gibson

TEAL-SHIPS

TEAL-SHIPS, led by UNCW with collaborators from across North Carolina and funded by the UNC System Research Opportunities Initiative, harnesses an interdisciplinary approach to characterize key interactions between terrestrial and marine ecosystems that stretch from the Cape Fear River to the Gulf Stream.

Read More About TEAL-SHIPS
Transect Expedition to Assess Land-To-Sea Habitats Via Interdisciplinary Process Studies (TEAL-SHIPS) team members with the vessel

TEAL-SHIPS Cruise Advances Hurricane Forecasting

The UNCW-led TEAL-SHIPS collaborative research project deployed drifter instruments during its recent offshore cruise, capturing data as Hurricane Erin brushes past the North Carolina Coast.

Read the Story
Drifters, used to measure sea surface temperature, air pressure, properties of waves and more, being loaded onto the R/V Cape Hatteras ahead of its expedition to the Gulf Stream.
Recognition

UNCW’s Fulbright Awardees

${newsImageAlt} Michelle Cathorall Receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award Michelle Cathorall, an associate professor in the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences has been selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award in Public Health for the 2025-2026 academic year. Michelle Cathorall Receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award
${newsImageAlt} Daidone Wins Fulbright Research Award Associate professor of Spanish and linguistics Dr. Danielle Daidone has been chosen for a Fulbright Postdoctoral Research Award, through which she’ll be researching second language acquisition in Barcelona in the spring 2026 semester. Daidone Wins Fulbright Research Award
${newsImageAlt} Christine Liao Receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award Christine Liao, professor of Art Education at UNCW’s Watson College of Education, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award for the 2025-26 academic year. Christine Liao Receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award
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UNCW Names 2025 Research Achievement Awardees

UNCW Research & Innovation announced eight faculty researchers have been named recipients of the 2025 Research Achievement Awards.

UNCW Names 2025 Research Achievement Awardees

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 Inventors.

Associate Professor Joseph Covi Among National Class of Emerging Inventors

Elizabeth Crawford Appointed to CE International Board

Elizabeth Crawford has been appointed to Childhood Educational International’s Board of Directors. Dr. Crawford is a professor of elementary education at UNCW’s Watson College.

Elizabeth Crawford Appointed to CE International Board

Waity Selected as RTI University Scholar

Jill Waity, professor of sociology and chair of the UNCW Department of Sociology and Criminology, has been selected as one of four 2024-2025 RTI University Scholars, opening up new and collaborative research opportunities.

Waity Selected as RTI University Scholar

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 Council.

Clark, Greer Pave Way for Cybersecurity Partnerships

Sutter Selected for MONet Spring Soil Sampling

Representing the Mid-Atlantic ecoregion and studying wetlands along the Cape Fear River, Lori Sutter, assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology, was one of five researchers selected nationally by the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) to lead a soil sampling project for the Molecular Observation Network.

More About the Researchers
Solving Critical Problems

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.

CIE and OIC Drive Change Through Innovation and Collaboration
Involving Caregivers in Brain Tumor Clinical Research Laurie Minns, assistant professor of clinical research in the School of Nursing in the College of Health and Human Services began her journey into clinical research shortly after earning her PhD in immunology. Involving Caregivers in Brain Tumor Clinical Research
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 North Carolina called Living with Water. Living with Water at Battleship North Carolina
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 retain highly skilled healthcare professionals. Building a Healthcare Workforce Superhighway

UNCW’s Research Hubs

In campus labs, students and faculty conduct experiments using electroencephalography (EEG), which records the brain’s activity using sensors in specialized caps. Brain Health Resilience The Brain Health Resilience (BHR) Research Hub aims to advance the understanding of biological and environmental factors influencing brain health outcomes to guide development of novel preventative and therapeutic intervention. More on Brain Health Resilience
Container Ship Rome Express, flying under the Portugal flag and stretching to 366 meters, enters the Port of Wilmington fully loaded. MCARTEC The Maritime Cybersecurity Applied Research, Technology, and Education Center (MCARTEC) advances cybersecurity resilience in the maritime transportation system — a critical component of national infrastructure — through applied research, workforce development and strategic public-private-academic partnerships. More About Maritime Cybersecurity
Enhancing Student Learning

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 experience is unlike most at other institutions.

Research Starts Here: UNCW Engineering's Undergraduate Edge
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, particularly chemistry. Jared Wood ’20, Ph.D.’25
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 students. High-tech Job Opportunities on the Horizon for Students
Dylan Bradshaw ’19 UNCW alumnus Dylan Bradshaw ’19 reached a turning point in his film career after winning a million-dollar prize for a TV ad he co-created with his best friend. Dylan Bradshaw ’19

Team to Participate in National Undergraduate Research Program

A team from UNC Wilmington’s College of Health and Human Services and the College of Science and Engineering has been accepted into the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)’s 2024-25 Scholars Transforming Through Research (STR) Program. This five-month initiative aims to elevate undergraduate research through skill-building exercises, mentorship and advocacy training.

Team to Participate in National Undergraduate Research Program

Students Earn Top National Honors

Seahawks Named NOAA Hollings Scholars Out of 820 applications from 85 campuses, three undergraduate Seahawks were recognized in the 2025-2027 class of NOAA Hollings Scholars. Read More About the Scholars
UNCW Students Appointed as Knauss Fellows UNCW graduate students were named to one of the nation’s most prestigious marine science fellowships through the NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program. Read More About the Fellows
Luchansky Selected as Mountains to Sea Fellow North Carolina Sea Grant and the North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute selected a UNCW student for a new “Mountains to Sea Graduate Research Fellowship.” Read More About Luchansky’s Work
FY25

$19M+

Externally Sponsored Awards

$103,436

License Revenue

20

Invention Disclosures

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 Club recipient.

2025 Million Dollar Club Announced; Bingham Tops $5M

UNCW Celebrates Excellence at Annual Research Reception

The 2024-25 achievements, successes and impacts of UNCW’s research and innovation community were formally applauded at the 18th annual research reception in September.

More from the Research Reception
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