Research

Research at UNC-Chapel Hill, a billion-dollar venture, has quadrupled over the past 15 years, firmly establishing Carolina as one of America’s top-ranked research universities.

Student works with chemicals.

Collaborative approach, world-renowned research

Cures and treatments for disease. New technologies. New industries for North Carolina and the world.  At Carolina, we tackle tough challenges with multidisciplinary teams of top scientists and students whose diverse perspectives deliver creative, unprecedented solutions. As one of America’s top research universities, we conduct roughly $1 billion in research annually. We provide dedicated service to our sponsors and unprecedented opportunities for graduate students, postdocs and undergraduates.

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Facts & Figures

  • 11thlargest U.S. research university (research volume & annual expenditures)
  • 5thin the U.S. for federal research among public and private universities
  • $1.10 billionin annual research activity
  • 62%of all UNC system research performed by UNC-Chapel Hill
  • For every $1of state funding, research centers & institutes attract $8 from external sources

Serving North Carolina,
Changing the World

Carolina is a world-class research university where great ideas and creativity flow, innovations are put to the test, and discoveries are made.

  • One Giant Leap

    From training the country's earliest astronauts to uncovering new knowledge about the universe, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has played pivotal roles in space exploration and discovery.

  • Life-saving drones

    After a heart attack, every second counts. Carolina researchers and NC State experts have taken to the air to find a new way to get medical care to the victims faster.

  • Restoring rural China

    While the United States and China take up roughly the same amount of land mass, China’s population is over four times that of the U.S. — and more people means more change in vegetation growth. How do these factors connect to climate change?

Around Campus

  • News

    • Events

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        University Research Week is an annual celebration of Carolina’s research excellence and an effort to increase participation by students, of all levels, in research activity. Through lectures, workshops, lab tours, and more, the campus community will become more familiar with our world-class research and the strategic initiatives that make Carolina one of the top research institutions in the world.

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        Carolina Club, George Watts Hill Alumni Center550 Stadium DriveChapel HillNC27514 |

        Attend these TEDX-style presentations from the four winners of the annual Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Prizes for Artistic and Scholarly Achievement, given to researchers conducting innovative work in their fields.

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        Memorial Hall |

        UNC alumna and NASA Astronaut Zena Cardman returns to Carolina to share her journey from conducting research as an undergraduate to training for future space missions.