Young Faculty Win NIH Grants, ‘Represent the Future of UNC’

Posted on Oct. 11, 2016

Eight young faculty researchers at Carolina have been awarded National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development awards for projects starting in 2016. They represent the most winners in a single year for the University.

“These awards represent the future of UNC,” said Terry Magnuson, vice chancellor for research. “The projects themselves reflect the scholarly diversity and excellence of our institution.” And the eight award winners, he said, are “a testament to Carolina’s national leadership in research.”

The grants, known as CAREER awards from the NSF, have a combined value of more than $5.9 million.

The 2016 awardees include:

• Four assistant professors of chemistry: Eric Brustad, James Cahoon, Leslie Hicks and Alexander Miller;
• Nicholas Law, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy;
• Justin Sawon, an associate professor of mathematics;
• Robert Capra, an assistant professor of information and library science; and
• Kihyun “Kelly” Ryoo, an assistant professor of learning sciences in the School of Education.

The CAREER awards support the early career development activities of teacher-scholars who are most likely to become the academic leaders. Recipients are selected based on creative career development plans that effectively integrate research and education in the context of the missions of their institutions.

UNC’s Office of Research Development has made expansion of NSF research funding and projects a goal for the University and has helped support young faculty in their pursuit of awards such as CAREER grants. The office recently created an on-campus learning community to connect prospective awardees with expertise of senior NSF-funded faculty, proposal support and peer mentoring.

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