Research

UNC Charlotte’s UrbanEden, built for the 2013 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, placed third in the people’s choice voting for the annual Matsumoto Prize for Modernist residential design in North Carolina.
The Matsumoto Prize is named in honor of George Matsumoto, a founding faculty member at the N.C. State University School of Design (now College of Design) who is well known for many exemplary mid-century Modernist houses he designed across North Carolina.

Research is an integral part of the University’s mission, and Lauren Beastall endeavors to assist Lee College of Engineering faculty members in pursuit of funding for basic and applied research projects.
“I view my role as one that helps facilitate the research of the faculty members, as well as to assist staff in the post-award administration of the grants,” said Beastall, director of contracts and grants for the Lee College. “Our goal is to ease the administrative burden for our faculty as they complete the grants process and to make it as easy as possible.”

The Center for STEM Education has received third-year funding of $881,904 from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to continue to offer professional development for K-2 teachers in six school districts with the goal of improving students’ understanding of math concepts.

Through their research in developing advanced machining analytical models, Tony Schmitz and his students are bringing science to the art of high-speed manufacturing.
“We’re making manufacturing more efficient by applying a physics-based understanding of the processes involved,” said Schmitz, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and associate of the Center for Precision Metrology. “This is smart machining for use in intelligent manufacturing.”

The World Cup has an economic effect on participating countries, according to an analysis of 50 years of nations’ economic data that examined their World Cup success during the same time period.

The Office of Research and Economic Development will hold an open house from 2 to 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, on the third floor of the Cameron Applied Research Center.

The UNC Charlotte Multicultural Play Therapy Center and Office of Educational Outreach in the College of Education will hold its eighth annual conference Monday, June 23, through Thursday, June 26.
According to Phyllis Post, director of the Multicultural Play Therapy Center, this event is an opportunity for professional and school counselors, social workers, psychologists and students to learn about play therapy and earn up to 24 continuing education credits.

Scott Heggen, a doctoral student in computing and information systems in the College of Computing and Informatics, will defend “Lowering the Barrier to Development and Adoption of Participatory Sensing Applications” at 12:30 p.m., Monday, June 16, in Woodward Hall, Room 338. Jamie Payton is the dissertation advisor.

The National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have re-designated UNC Charlotte as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Research.  In 2008, the University was one of the first in the country to receive this designation.
“This is an incredible honor, as this recognition reflects upon the outstanding research accomplishments of our faculty and staff,” said Bill Chu, a professor in the College of Computing and Informatics’ Department of Software and Information Systems. 

Oscar de la Torre, an assistant professor in the Department of Africana Studies, has received a 2015 fellowship from the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition at Yale University.