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
TIMELINE
- March 4, 2024: Solicitation release
- April 5, 2024: Proposals due by 5 pm
- June 3, 2024: Awards Announced (updated)
- July 1, 2024: Earliest funding start
FY 2024 Undergraduate Research Program Awardees:
DIVERSIFY-NANO: Driving Inclusivity and Versatility in Education and Research through Synergistic Fusion of Innovative Nanotechnology, AI-Enhanced Research Design, and Communication for Undergraduate
PlsI: Dr. Jeffery Alston and Dr. Dennis LaJeunesse
Primary URPA Focus Area: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience
Institution: North Carolina A&T State University
Collaborating Project Institution: UNC Greensboro
A First Year Seminar to Help Students SOAR
PIs: Dr. Carol Babyak, Dr. Vicky Klima, Dr. Katrina Palmer, and Dr. Michael Reddish
Primary URPA Focus Area: Inclusive Excellence
Institution: Appalachian State University
Fault Tolerant Zero Forcing
PIs: Dr. Mark Hunnell and Dr. John Hutchens
Primary URPA Focus Areas: Inclusive Excellence
Institution: Winston-Salem State University
Establishment of an Undergraduate Microscopy Learning Laboratory
PI: Dr. Steve Rogers
Primary URPA Focus Area: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience
Institution: UNC Chapel Hill
Enhancing the Science Core Curriculum at UNC Asheville by Incorporating Skynet Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences in Astronomy
PIs: Dr. David Wake, Dr. Christene Lynch, and Dr. Britt Lundgren
Primary URPA Focus Area: Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences
Institution: UNC Asheville
Collaborating Institutions: Skynet Robotic Telescope, Network Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Dashboards
Previous Undergraduate Research Program Awardees:
| Year | Lead Institution | Project Title | Lead PI | Collaborating Institutions | Number of Undergrad Students Involved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |