Research empowers undergraduates
At Carolina, students work with faculty mentors to make groundbreaking discoveries.
Carolina is a research powerhouse. We make discoveries every day that transform and save lives. The University’s mission to educate comes alive through research experiences for our undergraduate students.
Undergraduate research experiences are a pivotal element of Carolina’s research mission and enterprise, affording our students valuable opportunities to address intricate questions and navigate unforeseen challenges. Students learn to analyze data, formulate solutions, and adapt to changing circumstances, honing valuable skills applicable to any future career.
From writing research papers to presenting findings, students learn to communicate effectively in various formats and to diverse audiences. This enhances communication skills, crucial for success in all fields. Students also gain proficiency in specific software, data analysis tools, or laboratory techniques. These technical skills can significantly enhance their chances of employment and open doors to specialized career paths.
Below are a few illustrative examples of the amazing work that our undergraduate students take part in with their faculty mentors:
Junior Sara Ahmed worked with the Carolina Population Center’s Dynamics of Extreme Events, People and Places project during her summer internship in 2023. With a major in biostatistics, she helped the team assess the short- and long-term impacts of storms in North Carolina by improving the study’s youth questionnaire, writing new questions that were more relevant for teenage study participants.
Senior Lilly Papell is a senior majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry and creative writing within the College of Arts and Sciences. She studies how genome organization within microscopic animals called tardigrades plays a role in how they survive DNA-damaging environments that would kill most lifeforms. She conducts research with the Goldstein Lab and recently began a research forensic science internship at RTI International.
The College’s applied physical sciences department offers a minor that trains students to use an engineering mindset to address societal problems. In one of professor Ronit Freeman’s classes, students form teams representing different majors and work together to advance a new technology to a proof-of-concept phase, including pitching it “Shark Tank”-style. In the Freeman Lab, first-year student Emma Hansen created a functional, pollution-free lightbulb using luciferase, the enzyme that allows fireflies to glow.
Aditya Shetye received this Bachelor of Science in nutrition in May 2023. He stayed at Carolina for the nutrition department’s dual degree program and will receive his Master of Science degree in May of 2024. He leveraged his undergraduate research into a formal master’s thesis and will publish his results in a peer-reviewed journal. His research applies precision nutrition techniques to uncover associations between diet and cardiometabolic disease. Along the way, he has developed highly marketable, high-level technical skills in statistical programming and analysis.
These incredible experiences and opportunities would not be possible without research funding procured by our distinguished faculty, which provides a significant investment in undergraduate education, our students, and the lasting impact on Carolina’s legacy. This funding includes contributions from federal, private and other sources. Experience working on funded research projects provides undergraduate students with invaluable skills, hands-on training and a competitive edge for their academic and future professional pursuits. There is no better preparation for the post-grad years and entry into the workforce than working hands-on with a team to achieve a significant goal. That these teams are led by world experts in cancer, infectious disease, engineering, humanities, and more offers an experience that is uniquely Carolina.
