Undergraduate Research Program Award
In 2023, the Council on Undergraduate Research Issues offered the following definition of undergraduate reserach:
A mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a schoalrly or artistic contribution to knowledge (cur.org)
Research is integral to many of our students’ educational experience. All UNC System undergraduates interact with faculty members whose scholarship is nationally and regionally acclaimed. Sometimes these collaborations generate original research and creative activities that can lead to publications, presentations, creative works, and other outcomes. This work benefits our universities, our students, and the communities we serve.
Research projects large and small provide high impact learning opportunities. Studies show that undergraduate research experiences positively affect academic performance, critical thinking, satisfaction, and persistence. In addition, research opportunities can influence a student’s academic and career choices and other outcomes. The discoveries students yield in our science labs, in fields, and abroad prepare undergraduates to be innovative problem solvers and creative thinkers when they enter the workforce.
Undergraduate Research Program Award
URPA 2025 Timeline
- February 10, 2025: URPA RFP announced
- April 1, 2025: URPA proposals due at 5 pm
- Award notification pending update on State budget for FY 2026
- August 24, 2026: URPA Awardee progress report due
FY 2026 Undergraduate Research Program Awardees:
Advancing Smart Manufacturing Education through AI-Driven Embedded Robotics Courses Integrating Special Topics and Undergraduate Research at WCU
PI: Dr. Abdallah Abdallah
Primary Focus Area: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience
Institution: Western Carolina Univerisity
Empowering Gen Z Innovators: A Multi-Institutional Digital Learning Initiative for AI-Driven Smart Systems Research and Outreach
PI: Dr. Phat Kim Huynh
Primary Focus Area: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience
Institution: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Collaborating Institution: University of North Carolina Charlotte, University of North Carolina Greensboro
A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) pathway for applied data-driven evidence generation and synthesis in environmental health sciences and engineering
PI: Dr. Ryan Cronk
Primary Focus Area: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
NC Healthy & Thriving Kids Research Collaboratory: A Pilot Program for Training Undergraduate Researchers
PI: Dr. Hanah Priest Catalano
Primary Focus Area: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience
Institution: University of North Carolina Wilmington
Collaborating Institution: East Carolina University
Dashboard
Previous Undergraduate Research Program Awardees:
| Year | Lead Institution | Project Title | Lead PI | Collaborating Institutions | Number of Undergrad Students Involved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 |  | Advancing the Global-ready Research and Equitable Education in Teaching (GREET) Center | Dr. Erik Jon Byker | Fayetteville State University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Western Carolina University, Winston-Salem State University | |
| FY 2025 | | Chemistry, Conservation, and CURE: Pigments and Dyes of Antiquity | Dr. Jade Fostvedt | ||
| FY 2025 |  | The Basics: A Guide to Undergraduate Student Health and Wellness Research Success | Dr. Kacey Hopson | Appalachian State University, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, North Carolina Central University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Western Carolina University | |
| FY 2025 |  | Expanding the Undergraduate Research Capacity of Interdisciplinary Chemistry Project Lab with Sustainable Energy Materials | Dr. Pin Lyu | North Carolina State University | |
| FY 2025 |  | Developing Research-Based Projects to Address NC State’s Carbon Neutrality Initiatives in the First Year of Engineering | Dr. Julio Terán | ||
| FY 2025 |  | Game Changers: Inclusive Excellence & Undergraduate Research via Sport | Dr. Stacy Warner | Fayetteville State University, Winston Salem State University | |
| FY 2024 | | DIVERSIFY-NANO: Driving Inclusivity and Versatility in Education and Research through Synergistic Fusion of Innovative Nanotechnology, AI-Enhanced Research Design, and Communication for Undergraduate | Dr. Jeffery Alston and Dr. Dennis LaJeunesse | UNC Greensboro | |
| FY 2024 |  | A First Year Seminar to Help Students SOAR | Dr. Carol Babyak, Dr. Vicky Klima, Dr. Katrina Palmer, and Dr. Michael Reddish | ||
| FY 2024 |  | Fault Tolerant Zero Forcing | Dr. Mark Hunnell and Dr. John Hutchens | ||
| FY 2024 | | Establishment of an Undergraduate Microscopy Learning Laboratory | Dr. Steve Rogers | ||
| FY 2024 | | Enhancing the Science Core Curriculum at UNC Asheville by Incorporating Skynet Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences in Astronomy | Dr. David Wake, Dr. Christene Lynch, and Dr. Britt Lundgren | Skynet Robotic Telescope, Network Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill | |
| FY 2023 |  | Developing a Community-Engaged Undergraduate Research Track in Public Health Education | Michelle Martin Romero | 64 | |
| FY 2023 | | Fostering Critical Thinking in Human Motion Analysis | Jennifer J. Brown | Western Carolina University | |
| FY 2023 | | Establishing the Global-ready Research and Equitable Education in Teaching (GREET) Center | Erik Jon Byker | Winston-Salem State University, Western Carolina University | 201 |
| FY 2022 | | Partnering CUREs and Community Engagement to Provide Undergraduate Students Research Experiences in Citizen Science | Anderson Bean | North Carolina State University; East Greensboro Now; North Carolina Disaster, Survival, and Resiliency School; Southern Vision Alliance | 4 |
| FY 2022 | | ASCEND - Appalachian State CURE for Enzyme Discoveries | Michael Reddish | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 52 |
| FY 2022 | | Integrating Data Science into the Homeland Security (HMLS) Course (IDSHSC) | Shyamal Das | 43 | |
| FY 2022 | | Applied Public Policy Research on Race and Economic Opportunity: Connecting Senior Capstone CUREs at NC Central University, UNC Asheville, and UNC Chapel Hill to Inform Reparations Initiatives in Durham and Asheville | Kathleen Lawlor | North Carolina Central University | 37 |
| FY 2022 | | Project UR-BADGED (Undergraduate Research - Badging and Developing Global Educators) | Adriana Medina | 98 | |
| FY 2022 |  | Computational Chemistry for Undergraduate Research Students (CCURS)” | Robert Gotwals | North Carolina Central University | 13 |
| FY 2021 | | “Preparing Teachers as Researchers: Equitable Quantitative Analysis through a Culturally Responsive Lens” | Erik Byker | North Carolina A&T State University | 82 |
| FY 2021 | | Project REACH: Research Engagement Addressing Community Health | Cynthia Williams Brown | North Carolina A&T | 13 |
| FY 2021 | | Continued Development and Expansion of Afterglow Access: An Innovative Digital Learning Tool for Use in Introductory Astronomy CUREs and CURIEs by On-Campus, Online, and Blind and Visually Impaired Students | Dan Reichart | Appalachian State University, NC State University, Winston-Salem State University, NC School of Science and Mathematics, Geneva Lake Astrophysics and STEAM | 3000/yr |
| FY 2021 | | CURE-DEAL: A Tri-institutional Collaboration for Equity-Focused Digital Engagement of Adult Learners | Geleana Austin | Fayetteville State University | |
| FY 2020 | | Inclusive Excellence through Digital Learning: An Undergraduate Research Experience to Pilot Cross- Institutional Collaboration between a Historically Black University and a Predominantly White Institution | Jennifer Richmond-Bryant | 6 | |
| FY 2020 | | CURE-M: A Novel Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Institute with Culturally Responsive Mentor Training | Mulumebet Worku | Elizabeth City State University | 1 |
| FY 2019 | | Empowering students to combat poverty through community action: Undergraduate research on The Poverty Simulation | Dr. Callie Schultz | 200/yr | |
| FY 2019 | | Novel Mentoring Assessment for Undergraduate Research Opportunities | Stephanie M. George | East Carolina University | 30 for pilot data, projected 150 for large scale data collection |
| FY 2019 | | Recognizing the Value and Educational Impact of Research Experiences: Identify and Market the Transformative Skill Development in High Impact Learning Opportunities | Sarah Shoemaker | East Carolina University, Appalachian State University, UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Charlotte | 145 |
| FY 2018 | | Using e-portfolios for Mentoring and Assessment of Underserved Undergraduate Researchers | Deanna Dannels | 15 directly involved in mentoring initiative; 40-50 more indirectly involved by being in mentoring relationships with faculty who were trained. | |
| FY 2018 | | Using a Citizen Science Project to Incorporate Research into Non-science Majors Courses at Multiple North Carolina Universities | Heather Vance-Chalcraft | East Carolina University, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University | 900 |
| FY 2018 | | UNC System-Wide Undergraduate Research Development Summit | Preston Lee Phillips Jr | East Carolina University, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T, UNC Pembroke | 900+ |
| FY 2017 | | Scholars Planning Institute | Deanna Dannels | Winston Salem State University | 10 faculty created materials, each teach a full load of 50-70 students/year; future Scholars Program that will use materials will include 20 students/year |
| FY 2017 | | Enhancing Instructor Support and Reaching More Students in a Mentorship-Based Summer Research Program | Chris Thomas | NC State University, UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, Lenovo, RTI International, and Engineering World Health. | 68 |
| FY 2017 | | Collaboration, Diversity, and Inclusion in a Tri-Institutional CURE / IURE Service Learning Research Project | Kelsie M. Bernot | Guilford College | 80 students who previously participated in our CURE/IURE; cannot anticipate number who will be impacted by future assessments developed as a result of this study |
| FY 2017 | | University of North Carolina System-Wide CURE Development and Summit | Preston Lee Phillips | North Carolina A&T, NC State University, UNC Asheville, UNC Pembroke | minimum of 400 students/year |