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Graduate Student Research Benefits North Carolina

Each year, The Graduate School honors graduate students in programs throughout our University for their powerful discoveries that contribute to a better future for people and communities in North Carolina. We're pleased to present 15 Impact Awards and five Horizon Awards for 2019.

The longstanding Impact Award, made possible through the generous support of the Graduate Education Advancement Board, recognizes discoveries with a direct impact on our state in the present time.

The Horizon Award, first presented in 2017, recognizes discoveries with future potential to benefit North Carolina (and beyond).

Hover over the images to read what the honorees’ advisers have to say about their impressive work.

View the 2019 Horizon and Impact Award winners and their projects

Providing Critical Information to Better Understand GenX, Make Drinking Water Safer

Bevin Blake

Toxicology and Environmental Medicine

Impact Award

Bevin Blake

Helping Rural Residents Find and Purchase Healthier Food

Leah Chapman

Nutrition

Impact Award

Leah Chapman

Intestinal Bacteria’s Possible Power in Fighting Effects of Arsenic Exposure

Liang Chi

Environmental Sciences and Engineering

Impact Award

Liang Chi

GRAF3’s Potential in Creating Better Treatment for Hypertension

Rachel Dee

Pathology

Impact Award

Rachel Dee

Better Modeling the Demand for Water Could Help Conservation Efforts

Ahmed Rachid El-Khattabi

City and Regional Planning

Impact Award

Ahmed Rachid El-Khattabi

Reclaiming the University of the People: Racial Justice Movements at UNC-Chapel Hill

Charlotte Fryar

American Studies

Impact Award

Charlotte Fryar

Documenting Hysterectomy Rates Toward More Equitable Treatment for Women

Danielle Gartner

Epidemiology

Impact Award

Danielle Gartner

Expanding Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Alex Gertner

Health Policy and Management

Horizon Award

Alex Gertner

Enhanced Communications to Reduce Burden of Chronic Disease

Lindsey Horrell

Nursing

Horizon Award

Lindsey Horrell

Tracking Elusive Nutrient Sources for Algal Growth in the Neuse River Estuary

Alexandria Hounshell

Marine Sciences

Impact Award

Alexandria Hounshell

Coworking’s Rapid Rise and its Implications for Workers, Policies

Travis Howell

Business Administration

Impact Award

Travis Howell

Identifying Key Subgroups, Challenges to Help Young People with Type 1 Diabetes

Anna Kahkoska

Nutrition

Impact Award

Anna Kahkoska

Enhancing Athletic Trainers’ Role in Decisions Affecting Student-Athlete Health

Melissa Kay

Human Movement Science

Horizon Award

Melissa Kay

Historically Black Colleges and the Struggle for Equality

Elizabeth Lundeen

History

Impact Award

Elizabeth Lundeen

Inequities of Special Education Funding, and Effects on Districts, in North Carolina

Chris Needham

Education

Impact Award

Chris Needham

Investigating Networks, Data to Reduce HIV Infections

Dana Pasquale

Epidemiology

Impact Award

Dana Pasquale

Does Proactive Risk Management Planning Improve Drinking Water Quality, Safety?

Karen Setty

Environmental Sciences and Engineering

Horizon Award

Karen Setty

Determining the Role of Innovation in Increasing HPV Vaccination Rates

Paul Shafer

Health Policy and Management

Impact Award

Paul Shafer

Improving Red Snapper Management, Seafood Labeling in North Carolina

Erin Spencer

Environment, Ecology and Energy Program

Impact Award

Erin Spencer

Targeting Cellular ‘Switch’ May Inhibit Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Jason Wong

Microbiology and Immunology

Horizon Award

Jason Wong

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