2026 Niner Research Celebration Highlights Innovation, Collaboration and Impact Across UNC Charlotte

The annual Division of Research event recognized the faculty, staff and students whose scholarship, creativity and dedication continue to advance UNC Charlotte’s research enterprise.

On November 5, 2026, the UNC Charlotte Division of Research celebrated the people, partnerships, and projects driving our community and university. The annual gathering brought together university leadership, faculty, students and staff while recognizing the research partners involved in the remarkable innovation taking place across campus.

The celebration highlighted a year of significant creative and scientific scholarly accomplishments from individuals whose contributions strengthen UNC Charlotte’s standing as a leading R1 research institution.

A Celebration of Partnership and Possibility

John L. Daniels, Vice Chancellor for Research, opened the program by emphasizing the importance of partnership in advancing research, particularly amid an evolving funding landscape and increasing demands on the research community.

He highlighted the importance of collaboration at every level, “From off-campus colleagues and sponsors, to our own faculty, staff and students in all units across campus to, above all, the partnership with ourselves: the integrity we bring to our work and relationships. It is from that foundation that we grow research as a byproduct of serving our region, nation and beyond,” Daniels said.

Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber echoed that message, recognizing UNC Charlotte’s researchers and research support professionals as a source of pride for Niner Nation. She highlighted the opportunities the university’s R1 Classification creates for expanded industry collaboration, knowledge-sharing and recognition for faculty, researchers and students.

“As Charlotte’s research university, we take immense pride in driving our region forward and serving as a key engine for local economic and scientific growth,” Gaber said.

She also highlighted the university’s growing research impact, from modernizing the electric grid through the $160 million NSF Carolinas Grid Engine to advancing maternal-fetal health through an $8.4 million ARPA-H project and investigating cellular protein health through a $2.1 million NIH award. Gaber emphasized how UNC Charlotte research is translating discoveries into solutions with meaningful regional and societal impact.

Recognizing Excellence Across the Research Enterprise

Deborah (Deb) S.K. Thomas, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, led the recognition portion of the celebration, highlighting the breadth of work taking place across the university.

The program recognized accomplishments from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, spanning research funding, scholarly publications, creative works, technology transfer, student achievements and the many contributions of research support professionals.

Among the year’s notable accomplishments, UNC Charlotte reached an all-time high of $96.3 million in research expenditures in FY26, with a total research portfolio of $241.9 million.

The celebration also recognized the university’s creative scholarship, including 20 published books, 18 edited books, one music recording and eight theatrical works in 2025. Faculty from Architecture, Art and Art History, Dance, Music and Theatre were also represented through exhibits and presentations showcasing creative research and artistic endeavors.

Additional recognition acknowledged faculty and research leaders, including:

• Outstanding Scholarship, Creativity and Research: Sukumar Kamalasadan, recipient of the 2026 Charlotte Distinguished Research Award, and Danillo Augusto, recipient of the 2024-25 James H. Woodward Faculty Research Award.

• National Academy of Inventors: Six university honorees, including one Fellow and five senior members.

• Million-Dollar Circle: Faculty and staff leading significant externally funded research awards, including 55 awards exceeding $1 million and 42 co-principal investigators.

• Externally Funded Research: Recognition of NSF CAREER award recipients, large awards, new principal investigators, multiple award recipients, co-investigators and co-principal investigators, and research supplement recipients.

• Technology Transfer and Innovation: Recognition of 23 new patent recipients and faculty and staff who completed the NSF National and Regional I-Corps programs.

The program also recognized UNC System Centers and Institutes at Charlotte, Ignite Pilot Centers, Nexus participants, Gambrell Faculty Fellows, graduate and undergraduate student researchers, and individuals serving on university research committees and councils.

Together, these accomplishments reflect the depth of research, creativity and innovation happening across disciplines and demonstrate the many ways UNC Charlotte researchers are making a difference.

Celebrating the People Behind Niner Research

Beyond recognizing individual achievements, the celebration provided an opportunity to bring together the broader research community and acknowledged the people and teams who make the university’s research enterprise possible.

Thomas acknowledged the contributions of research administration professionals, college and department business officers, associate deans for research, faculty research fellows and members of committees supporting research development, oversight and protections.

“Their work helps ensure researchers have the resources, guidance and infrastructure needed to pursue new opportunities and advance discoveries,” Thomas noted.

Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees and everyone across Niner Nation who contributes to the success of UNC Charlotte research.

The Difference is Charlotte.

See photos from this year’s celebration.