2026 University Research Symposium

Extending Our Research Reach

What We Covered

The 2026 University Research Symposium (URS) explored how NC State faculty can extend the reach of their research so its impact is felt across North Carolina and beyond.

The symposium drew participants from across NC State, including faculty, staff, postdocs, and students, to examine how research connects beyond the university into communities, policy, partnerships, and real-world applications.

Throughout the symposium, participants:

Examined how funding expectations are evolving across federal, foundation, and partnership-based contexts
Explored how research can be positioned to strengthen competitiveness and long-term impact
Learned how public engagement and citizen science expand the reach of research
Identified strategies to better communicate research to broader audiences
Connected with colleagues across disciplines and engaged with research from across the university

Programming was created by the Research Leadership Academy and hosted by the Office of Research and Innovation.

Keep scrolling to explore the resources shared during each 2026 URS program.

Program Resources

Opening Remarks | Extending Our Research Reach

The symposium opened with remarks from Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Krista Walton, framing the theme of extending the reach of research beyond traditional academic spaces and into broader communities and applications.

Funding Panel: What Funders Expect Now

This panel examined how funding expectations are evolving across federal, foundation, and partnership contexts, and what those shifts mean for how researchers position and communicate their work.

Moderator
- Bill Rand, McLauchlan Distinguished Professor of Marketing and Analytics, Goodnight Executive Director of the Institute for Advanced Analytics
Panelists
- Dawn Mason, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Office of Partnerships
- Nadine Wong, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Infrastructure, Office of Research and Innovation
- Chris Frey, Associate Dean for Research (College of Engineering) and former EPA Assistant Administrator for Research and Development
- Brett Makens, Senior Manager of Global Partnerships and Events, Novo Nordisk Foundation

Citizen Science

This session explored how public engagement and citizen science expand the reach and impact of research, highlighting opportunities for broader participation and collaboration.

Presenter
- Caren Cooper, Professor, Forestry and Environmental Resources, Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence in Leadership in Public Science University Faculty Scholar
Citizen Science Campus
Citizen Science Incubator
Citizen Science Presentation Slide Deck

Amplify Research Impact

This session highlighted strategies and resources available to help researchers communicate their work more effectively and increase its visibility and impact.

Presenter
- Matt Shipman, Assistant Director of Research Communications, University Communications and Marketing

Research Poster Slam

The Research Poster Slam showcased a wide range of research across NC State through 30-second pitches from presenters to introduce their work, followed by opportunities for deeper discussion and engagement.

30-second pitches | Slide deck
Presenters
- Amanda Bratcher, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Dongkuan (DK) Xu, College of Engineering
- Newton Dsouza, College of Design
- Fiona (Qian) Wang, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Abigail Williams, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Fernanda Santos, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Martin Seifrid, College of Engineering
- Vaclav Petras, College of Natural Resources
- Douglas Hopkins, College of Engineering
- Brenda Watson, University College
- Debjani Sihi, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Xiaoran Yang, College of Engineering
- Ram Janakiraman, Poole College of Management
- Zakiya Leggett, College of Natural Resources
- Laissa Cavallini, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Luke Joyce, College of Engineering
- Cristiana Boi, College of Engineering
- Madhumita Roy, College of Sciences
- David Tarpy, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Closing Remarks

The symposium concluded with reflections on the day’s discussions from Maria Mayorga, 2026 chair-elect of the Research Leadership Academy and URS planning committee chair.

She encouraged participants to continue building connections and extending the reach of research across NC State.