Environmental researchers use drones to map marshes
Restoration has begun to preserve the sites that reduce flooding and prevent erosion along Currituck Sound.
Driving research, accelerating discovery Research at Carolina
Serving North Carolina,
Changing the World
Changing the World
Whether it be in North Carolina communities or ones overseas, Tar Heels are researching ways to make a difference and tackle our toughest challenges. We’re improving quality of care, coming up with solutions to disease and finding ways to protect our planet and the people who live on it.
One of the country's top-ranked research universities, Carolina performs $1.36 billion in annual research activity.
Keep scrolling to learn how research comes to life at Carolina.
- $1.21Bin research funding (2023–24)
- 11thtop-ranked U.S. university for federal research (HERD Survey, 2022)
- 62%of all UNC System research
- 11,313employees from 87 North Carolina counties employed by UNC Research
- 45research centers and institutes
- 21stmost cited university in the world (CSIC Webmetrics, 2023)
Back to Basics
Carolina recognized the remarkable research achievements of our students, faculty and staff with the annual University Research Week Oct. 21–25.
With a theme of “Back to Basics,” this year’s University Research Week celebrated the power of foundational research and its multidisciplinary impact.
University Research Week featured 50-plus events — including the Research and Discovery Fair — that informed and educated the Carolina community on how Tar Heel researchers and students are marking discoveries, providing context for leaders and policymakers and inspiring collaboration among communities.
Carolina has the best researchers in the world, and we need to ensure they have the support they need to continue excelling in their fields.
Penny Gordon-Larsen, vice chancellor for research
Meet Tar Heel researchers
Research for North Carolina
County-by-county impact
Carolina’s research efforts are felt all over North Carolina. The University conducts 900+ projects that directly address the health, education or well-being of North Carolinians.
Medical school uses innovative approach in Asheville
This collaboration with Mission Health and Mountain Area Health Education Center builds close-knit relationships over time.
Anti-trafficking program shows global promise
The UNC School of Social Work’s successful statewide Project NO REST could serve as a model for other parts of the world.
Drug-checking project cuts overdoses
Supported by the N.C. Collaboratory, epidemiologist Nabarun Dasgupta and his team analyze street drugs and alert communities about dangers.
Whole Together Robeson helps rural mothers and children
Part of Whole Community Connection, the project draws on resources at Carolina, UNC Pembroke and the local community.
On the cutting edge
Robotics work heralds ‘discovery factories’
Carolina scientists define lab automation, create AI that enables a robot to work beside humans.
Can science help clinicians rewire damaged brains?
Medical school researchers are hopeful that innovative tools will help them discover how patients recover from strokes.
Gillings lab uses AI to predict local air quality
Unlike current models, the DeepCTM bot shows the impact of proposed development at the neighborhood level.
Operational Excellence runs on research
The Action Research model helps the team drive change, most recently in faculty hiring.
Here’s how Carolina faculty use AI
They are making sure students are literate in artificial intelligence and embracing it in their own teaching and research.
CHASE Solar Hub pioneers liquid fuel conversion
At the center's Chapel Hill headquarters, more than 100 researchers work to turn sunlight into methanol.
Tar Heels first to check satellite data on small rivers
The first-year students’ measurements of a California river revealed new capabilities of NASA’s topography satellite.
Student researchers map heat on campus
Working with the Sustainable Triangle Field Site, they gather data to provide potential solutions to hotspots.
Tar Heel experts unlock science behind swimming
Faculty in exercise science, fluid dynamics and engineering pool efforts to produce a speedier Team USA for 2028.
Researchers help decode risk for psychiatric disorders
Jason Stein’s lab in the UNC School of Medicine created a model to identify genetic variants linked to mental illness.
