Millennial: Spring / Summer 2013

Official Magazine of the Charlotte Research Institute

timeless genes chronological age vs. biological age

vol. 3 no. 2 Spring/Summer 2013

“Research is fundamental to the mission of UNC Charlotte. New knowledge and creative works change the world and shape the future of the University.”

This edition of Millennial shows many ways that research touches the university and communities beyond. Equally, our partners connect with and impact research and educational activities at UNC Charlotte. This two-way link shapes a distinct student experience at UNC Charlotte and draws the best faculty to our campus. Traveling this virtuous circle, our talented faculty, staff and students continue to have significant impact on our surrounding community and the world at large.

Bioinformatics, energy, advanced manufacturing, biomechanics, and informatics are all featured in this issue. New research projects, significant results, and this year’s accomplishments of the Charlotte Venture Challenge, the Science and Technology Expo, and Senior Design projects all show hard data to support our premise that research is fundamental to the Mission of UNC Charlotte.

With this edition, we also show another way that all parts of UNC Charlotte are connected. 49er Football is here and right in the middle of the CRI campus. Read all about it with a special feature on Judy Rose!

We expect to see you on campus soon. Bring your best ideas and spend time with our faculty and students. Thanks again for all of your support and interest. We look forward to stronger partnerships.

PORTAL

Opening January 2014

Partnership, Outreach, and Research to Accelerate Learning

The four story, 96,000sf building is making its presence known in the northern district of the UNC Charlotte campus! Whether seen from North Tryon Street (Route 29), the new UNC Charlotte 49ers football stadium, or the nearby campus shuttle stop, PORTAL has clearly taken its place at the main gateway to the Charlotte Research Institute.

Future PORTAL business and research partners will enjoy their CRI business address and its prominent University City location on the UNC Charlotte campus.

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events

features

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Fitting Into Your Genes Supporting America’s Manufacturing Infrastructure In the Words of Judy Rose Charlotte Venture Challenge takes the Flag Teaming Up to Move

we make research happen

Bridging the Gap

contents

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One Small Step for Electricity

Other Topics

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Patent Corner Forecasting Wind’s Future

It’s Science UNCC Science and Technology Expo

Graduate Research Symposium

Official Magazine of the Charlotte Research Institute

Students Bring Apps to Market

Grants and Contracts 12 A New Research AURA 22 Senior Design 32 Upcoming Events 33

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Official Magazine of the Charlotte Research Institute

Editorial Staff

Editorial Director Chip Yensan LYensan@uncc.edu

Editorial Assistant Karen J. Ford KJFord@uncc.edu

Tasting Big Data

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vol. 3 no. 2 Summer 2013

timeless genes chronological age vs. biological age

About the Cover

What if someone told you that you could live longer with a better quality of life?

Creative/Design SPARK Publications info@SPARKpublications.com

Editorial Assistant Julie M. Fulton JFulton4@uncc.edu

Editorial Assistant Robyne R. Vickers RVicker4@uncc.edu

Photography Cress Photography www.cressphotography.com

Copyright 2013 Charlotte Research Institute at UNC Charlotte is the PORTAL for business-university partnerships. UNC Charlotte’s research capabilities represent a vital economic development tool for business attraction and is a geographically distinct part of UNC Charlotte located on the University’s Millennial Campus.

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These days, everyone is looking for ways to stay healthy and live longer. Let’s face facts. With costs of medical insurance and medication soaring, who can afford to be sick?

So, what if someone told you there is a sure fire way to visit your physician less, and to live longer with a better quality of life? Would you take their advice?

Shockingly, some experts project today’s children will be the first generation in many centuries to age faster and die younger than their parents. This sad assertion is largely attributed to the modern epidemic of closely-linked chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes, collectively known as the “metabolic syndrome.”

The Centers for Disease Control estimate 70% of the U.S. adult population is currently classified as either overweight or obese.

The obesity rate in children has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Worse still, this epidemic is most highly concentrated here in the southeastern United States.

It’s widely believed chronic diseases were very rare until the industrial and technological revolutions of the past century.

Since the human genome as a whole has remained essentially

unchanged since the end of the Paleolithic Era (Stone Age) 10,000 years ago, this modern epidemic is not thought to be caused by an overall change in the genetic code of the human species.

Rather, blame falls on a change in environmental and lifestyle factors acting upon our preexisting genetic program.

Two of these lifestyle factors that changed in the past century are physical activity and dietary habits. So, how did our Paleolithic hunter-gatherer ancestors pre-program our genes with respect to physical activity and dietary habits?

According to archeological records, as well as examples of modern-day hunter-gatherer societies, successful hunting and gathering for our ancestors required a great amount of physical activity. Far more physical activity than what it takes to collect items from grocery stores. Hunting and gathering requires individuals or tribes to walk hundreds of

Shockingly, some experts project today’s children will be the first generation in many centuries to age faster and die younger than their parents.

This sad assertion is largely attributed to the modern epidemic of closely-linked chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes, collectively known as the “metabolic syndrome.” miles in search of richer hunting grounds, often while being subjected to long periods of food shortage as they search. Even the less-nomadic modern huntergatherer societies expend an average of twelve-hundred more calories daily than the average U.S. citizen.

It was literally survival of the fittest genes for our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors. Tribes 2013

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Chronological Age Biological Age POPULATION AVERAGE

HEALTH

How a person treats his or her body starting in their childhood and throughout their entire life can highly affect their risk and progression of chronic disease and consequently their rate of aging.

PHYSICALLY ACTIVE (biologically younger)

SEDENTARY (biologically older)

CHRONOLOGICAL AGE (years) with genes that responded well to physical activity (e.g., supporting the metabolism of physical activity and adapting the heart and muscles for repeated future activity) were able to sustain the search for food until they were successful. Additionally, genes that efficiently stored any extra food calories in fat tissue (known as “thrifty storage�) allowed individuals to literally feed off their fat to fuel physical activity and survive food shortages.

Possessing exercise-responsive and thrifty storage genes ensured survival and propagation of those genes to the next generation.

Tribes with inferior genes were not able to sustain the search for food, resulting in the theoretical extinction of those genes.

Genes programmed during the Paleolithic Era were passed to our ancestors in the ten-thousand year Agrarian Era and remain in the human genome today. The high daily physical exertion of the agrarian lifestyle still promotes healthy expression of these genes and optimal metabolism

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of any excess fats and sugars to ward off chronic disease.

However, by contrast, our preprogrammed genes now face a problem in the modern industrial and technological times, where physical activity has been engineered out of daily life and food is generally very abundant.

Studies show physical inactivity causes an unhealthy expression of our genes, especially those programmed to burn fat and sugar calories. Add in the effect of our thrifty storage gene, and the result is accumulation, instead of burning, of excess calories. This puts us at risk not only for obesity, but also for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes because the extra fat (including cholesterol lipoproteins) and sugar accumulate in the bloodstream.

The metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases in modern generations can be traced to our genes being exposed to improper physical activity and dietary environment for their programming. In turn, chronic

disease leads to accelerated aging.

By definition, chronic diseases are considered “age-related” because their causes and prevalence progress with age.

However, contrary to common misperceptions, “age-related” does not indicate disease is restricted to old age. In fact, biological mechanisms underlying most chronic diseases begin early in life, even in childhood, and progressively worsen throughout life until the condition becomes a clinical problem for which a person must seek medical help.

How a person treats his or her body starting in their childhood and throughout their entire life can highly affect their risk and progression of chronic disease and consequently their rate of aging. Preventing or delaying a multitude of age-related chronic diseases can be achieved through physical activity; it can actually delay our rate of aging.

Your biological (or body) age is a better indicator of health and quality of life than the number of years you have lived. And

your biological age can be tested by programs such as the Health Risk Assessment Program in the UNC Charlotte Department of Kinesiology. For example, if you have lived 50 years, such an assessment program can indicate whether you truly have the body of a 50-year old. If you’ve made many poor lifestyle choices, you may have the body age of a 60-year old. Or, if you’re lucky and have made good lifestyle choices, you may have the body age of a 40year old. Which would you prefer?

Since there are so many different disorders that can be prevented or delayed by physical activity, we are not just talking about benefitting people who are obese.

People who are lean can get a great benefit from physical activity as well. Increasing physical activity is much less expensive to you and society in terms of healthcare costs and insurance premiums, not to mention the benefit to your quality of life as you age.

Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby and a British Statesman, may have

Your biological (or body) age is a better indicator of health and quality of life than the number of years you have lived. said it best 140 years ago when he said: “Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.”

Dr. Scott Gordon is a professor and the Chair of the Department of Kinesiolgy. To Learn more, contact him at 704-687-0855 or by email at scott.gordon@uncc.edu.

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CM2I Planning

In 2012, President Barack Obama announced the formation and establishment of a pilot institute called the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI). By the end of this fiscal year, three additional institutes will be created. These four institutes are just the beginning of the NNMI initiative which will include up to fifteen facilities all working together to provide regional hubs for advancing manufacturing, workforce development, the coordination of governmental manufacturing investments, and other support for national manufacturing projects.

Workshop

The development of a network of this scale requires considerable planning and on March 4, 2013, a one-half day workshop was held on the campus of UNC Charlotte to discuss a proposed NNMI Institute focused on manufacturing of complex, precision, large-scale systems. The workshop was attended by approximately seventy-five people from fifteen states, and representing fiftyone large and small companies, universities, community colleges, and state and local governmental and economic development organizations. Following an introduction which provided background information on NNMI and initial ideas for the proposed institute, participants divided into breakout sessions focused on the following discussion areas: Technology focus Organization, governance, and value proposition millennial

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Business model and sustainability plan Institute capabilities Workforce development Each breakout session was given a strawman proposal to consider and a list of discussion questions to address. Following the breakout sessions, moderators from each session reported the highlights of their conclusions to the entire group in a summarizing discussion.

Overall, reactions of the participants were very positive.

There was a general consensus that an institute focused on largescale precision manufacturing was unique, addressed industry sectors of critical importance to the US, and would support a large and diverse group of manufacturers facing similar technical challenges, but not necessarily in direct competition in the same market sector, which should help in

attracting the large number of partners needed for success.

Next steps will be to assemble a core team of individuals from partner organizations who will volunteer their time and energy to further develop the institute concept and structure, assist in recruiting additional partners, and create the Institute Proposal.

This is only the beginning of President Obama’s “blueprint for an economy that’s built to last — an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.”

It’ll be through hard work and collaborative efforts of many involved in this initiative that there will be strengthening of the innovation performance, competitiveness, and jobcreating power of United States manufacturing.

John Ziegert is a professor of the Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science Department.

To learn more about the Carolinas Manufacturing Innovation Institute, contact him at 704-687-8203 or jziegert@uncc.edu.

n Patent Corner

Patent

and how it can help your research Patent documents can be used to find potential collaborators for research projects, and to find grants and licensing contacts for university developed technology. More importantly, published patent documents are a great source of new ideas encouraging innovation to advance technology development in the United States.

Over 8 million patents have been issued in the United States since 1790 and hundreds of thousands of new patent applications are filed each year. The world’s largest private and public research organizations are filing patents daily on cutting edge scientific research and technology developments. However, most of this research will never be published in journals or presented at conferences and is only made available to the public in the free Patent Office databases.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) maintains two free patent databases; the PatFT database which includes full-text searchable patents dating back to 1976, and the AppFT database which includes searchable pending patent applications.

Keyword Searching

Both the PatFT and AppFT databases provide simple keyword searching tools allowing users to search the full text of patents and patent applications in a variety of categories including title, abstract, full text description, inventor name, or assignee name. The assignee is the company or organization that owns the patent which is useful if one wants to know what areas a specific company or university are working in. In addition to the quick search tool, the USPTO also

provides an advanced keyword searching tool to allow for customized searches using command line search syntax.

Category/Class Searching

A very useful tool for researchers interested in a specific topic is the USPTO’s patent classification system. The Patent Office assigns multiple classes and subclasses to each patent and patent application filed. For example, a new antibody to treat cancer may be assigned to patent class 424 (drug) and subclass 1.49 (antibody).

Researchers focusing on therapeutic antibodies may want to keep an eye on this class and subclass for new developments in the field.

About the author: Brad Fach is the Senior Associate Executive Director of the Office of Technology Transfer at UNC Charlotte. He is a registered patent agent with the United States Patent and Trademark office and has been filing patents for over 11 years. Mr. Fach has filed over 50 patent applications in multiple technology areas ranging from biotechnology to consumer products and software. He specializes in intellectual property development, management, and commercialization, industrial relations, industry-based sponsored research, strategic partnerships, economic development, and University spinouts.

For more information on ways to make patent research easier and more effective, contact Brad Fach at: bfach@uncc.edu or 704-687-8018 and ask about a full tutorial on patent researching.

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Charlotte As spring arrived so did the 12th Annual Charlotte Venture Challenge innovation competition. The competition kicked off in January with recruitment of startups and numerous workshops to help prepare startups for the rigorous competition.

When all was said and done, 95 early stage high growth companies entered the competition from throughout the southeast.

May 1, 2013, after four months of competition, 19 finalists were poised to compete for over $75,000 in prize money. Following a rigorous competition that morning, only eight were left. A capacity crowd of over 300 people attended the 2013 Charlotte Venture Challenge Grand Finalé that evening at

The High Octane Theater at the NASCAR Hall of Fame filled nearly to capacity with participants and spectators alike.

$25,000 Grand Prize Winner Bio-Adhesive Alliance a North Carolina A&T spin-out with Paul Wetenhall and Devin Collins of Ventureprise and UNC Charlotte Vice Chancellor, Bob Wilhelm.

the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The event featured fastpaced presentations by the remaining early-stage companies concluding with the $25,000 grand prize being awarded to Bio-Adhesive Alliance, Inc. Featuring remarks by University and City of Charlotte leaders, the commitment of collaboration between academia and industry was clear. Philip L. Dubois, chancellor of UNC Charlotte spoke regarding the University’s engagement in economic development. Dr. Robert G. Wilhelm, vice chancellor of the Research and Economic Development at UNC Charlotte opened the event with a briefing about how the new PORTAL building will enable the University to collaborate in powerful new ways with business partners ranging from start-ups to major corporations. Patrick T. Mumford, director of millennial

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Neighborhood and Business Services at the City of Charlotte offered remarks on the City’s commitment to entrepreneurship and their support of a new national initiative, Lemonade Day. Nineteen finalists presented their businesses to over 30 Angel Investors during the morning competition at the Ben Craig Center. In that event, six category winners plus two wild cards were chosen to go on to pitch at the evening public event. The eight selected finalists made their final five-minute pitches and responded to rapid-fire questions from a judging panel that awarded the $25,000 grand prize.

With a judging panel comprised of experienced investors and entrepreneurs the startups were

assessed by multiple perspectives. Panelists included Paul Grim, Sunbridge Capital, John Cambier, Idea Fund Partners, Don Rainey, Grotech Ventures, Michelle Menard, founder of Choice Translating, Inc., and Rock Hankin, chairman of the Board at Semtech Corp. (NASDAQ).

Bio-Adhesive Alliance, a startup company spunout from NC A&T State University, developed an innovative technology to produce liquid asphalt from swine manure for which it was selected as the $25,000 grand prize winner. According to the company, “This technology provides a sustainable and cost-effective solution to swine manure treatment while reducing pavement construction and maintenance cost.” The Bio-Adhesive Alliance team completed the National Science Foundation’s

Challenge

e Venture commercialization program known as I-Corps.

The Category winners eligible for $10,000 awards included: 1) New Energy and High Tech-Bio-Adhesive Alliance (Greensboro, NC); 2) IT and Informatics --Robocent (Norfolk, VA); 3) Consumer Products and Services--Greenbug (Beaufort, SC); and, 4) Life Science and Biotech--WeRx.org, (Charlotte,

With text polls open, audience members voted for the People’s Choice Award at the Charlotte Venture Challenge Grand Finalé

Colorful instructions help young entrepreneurs participating in Lemonade Day.

NC). The undergraduate student category winner was NoireNaturals from UNC Charlotte. The graduate student category winner was ProVazo from University of Virginia. The J. Chris Murphy award was given to the top UNC Charlotte student team, NoireNaturals.

This year’s competition included a new award for the startup that would most benefit from a corporate strategic partnership. The judging panel for this award included executives from Wells Fargo, Flextronics, Belk, Bank of America, SPX, Ingersoll Rand, Husqvarna, Midrex, Lowes, Microsoft, Electrolux and TIAA-CREF. Sustainable Ethanol Technologies (Charlotte, NC) was selected as the winner.

Over 200 startups have entered the competition, formerly known as Five Ventures,

since it was re-named the Charlotte Venture Challenge in 2012. This year’s competition included entrants from 24 North Carolina counties, District of Columbia, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia. The competition features extensive volunteer engagement by over 50 reviewers and mentors.

Devin Collins is the Assistant Director of Business and Entrepreneurial Development at Ventureprise. To learn more about Charlotte Venture Challenge, contact him at 704-250-5753 or by email at Devin.Collins@uncc.edu.

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Sponsored

Awards Sponsored awards for the University continued to rise during the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2013. Total awards as of March 31, 2013 were $26,673,503, a 33% increase over the same date last year. Thirteen colleges and/or departments have received sponsored awards to date, and twelve of those thirteen units are showing an increase in the amount of their awards. Full details of each department’s sponsored award activity can be found on the Office of Research Services and Outreach website under “Department Reports.”

For More information regarding Sponsored Awards, contact Ellen Zavala by phone at 704-687-1881 or by email at EEZavala@uncc.edu

(research.uncc.edu/research-services-outreach/department-reports)

$30,000,000

$25,000,000

$20,000,000 $15,000,000 $10,000,000

$5,000,000

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Wind’s Future

Forecasting photograph by Manda Adams

Drag is a term with which most NASCAR fans are familiar.

It’s the phenomenon created as an object cuts through air or wind. Complications due to drag occur not to the object cutting through the air, but to the object downwind. Objects behind or following are said to be in the primary object’s wind shadow and it’s this effect that forces migrating birds to fly in V patterns, the reason sail boats must run in staggered lines, and why race cars travel in such close proximity to each other.

It’s also why windmills must be spaced so far apart.

Much more goes into finding an appropriate place to construct a wind farm than simply locating a windy spot. Consideration has to be given to surrounding communities and bird migration routes. Another and more recent obstacle being considered is how drag and wind shadows work with wind turbines and the environment.

In a study funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research of Canada, UNC Charlotte’s Amanda Adams and Harvard University’s David Keith point out that scientists may have originally overestimated the potential for energy output from large scale wind farms due to underestimating the effects of wind shadow. They may

have also not counted on the impact wind turbines have on meteorological fronts.

Adams, the lead writer of a paper submitted to Environmental Research Letters, explained that, “As soon as you start to harvest the resource, you’re changing the resource,” regarding how turbines affect the force of wind. “You reach a point that if you add any more turbines, you get no more energy.”

The paper points out that problems could potentially arise with large-scale wind farms, not only the function of harvesting power but also in the affects the turbines have on the environment.

They note that the farms are most effective when the turbines are positioned in such a way that no windmill is in another’s wind shadow – placement and spacing is crucial, which is well known by those in the industry. The somewhat new and controversial findings are that large-scale wind farms could alter wind patterns in a way that could influence local meteorology.

Keith notes that if their calculations are correct, wind generated power could neither replace the use of fossil fuels completely nor consistently. It could be used in conjunction, but not alone. Adams, a geoscientist who studies mesoscale atmospheric modeling, and Keith, an applied physicist who

studies atmospheric and climate modeling along with public policy, hope that the results of the study inform rather than discourage proponents of wind generated power as there is still a vast amount of potential with wind.

These findings are stirring up the renewable energy researchers worldwide. David LaGesse of National Geographic News recently published an article on Adams’s and Keith’s research and spoke to the growth of wind power and its potential worldwide. LaGesse noted that while only about 2.5% of the world’s electricity is produced by wind turbines, the figures are rising quickly. Many countries, continued on page 15 2013

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One Small Step

Electric What do evolution, the moon landing, and solar powered electricity have in common?

The answer is the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) SunShot Initiative.

Following in the footsteps of John F. Kennedy’s Moon Shot program, SunShot is an initiative implemented this year, not to reach the sun as Moon Shot aimed to land on the moon, but to reach a goal of expanding the availability of solar electric power.

The theory of evolution explains that genes mutate and those mutations which work best for organisms in the environment are the ones that get passed down to future generations. Those that fail to meet the need do not get passed on. In a way the same theory applies to technology and industry, though we as people and consumers are the ones which decide what best invention can stand the test of time. We invent technologies and upgrades and often the current generation bears little resemblance to original versions. Change is dictated to suit the needs of the day. millennial

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Fuel technology has evolved as well. From wood and coal burning steam engines, to vehicles operating on fossil fuels and electricity, we have come far in the last several hundred years. However, we still have a long way to go.

Projections forecast that fossil fuels are depleting at an alarming rate, spurring calls for inexhaustible fuel sources like solar and wind power.

The DOE is working hard to answer those calls with the SunShot Initiative. Launched in January 2013, the initiative tasks seven data-driven projects to discover opportunities to reduce the costs and accelerating solar energy deployment in the U.S. “Through powerful analytical tools developed by our nation’s top universities and national labs, we can gain unparalleled insight into solar deployment that will help lower the cost of solar power and create new businesses and jobs,”

said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “Projects like these will help accelerate technological and financing innovations – making it easier for American families and businesses to access clean, affordable energy.”

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is one of the several universities involved through the Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies (SEEDS). The DOE will invest $9 million in projects over three years for universities such as Yale University, University of Texas – Austin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, just to name a few, while partnering with industry leaders like SmartPower, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and SRI International.

Deborah Strumsky, an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences at UNC Charlotte, is the principal investigator for a project titled, Forecasting and Influencing Technological Progress in Solar Energy. This project teams UNC Charlotte up with Arizona State

ity University and the University of Oxford as they work to make better forecasts for future cost reductions in new energy technology. To do

this they will analyze hundreds of years of patent and production data and historical costs and put that information into a network called a “technology ecosystem.”

With the cost of energy rising, and the prospects that the use of fossil fuels will not be an option in the future, it’s easy to see the value of this research. Similar to the goals of the Moon Shot mission, SunShot aims to reach the DOE’s goals of finding solutions by

the end of this decade. The benefit of providing affordable energy, reducing pollution, and providing jobs for the American people is something we can all shoot for.

billions of turbines worldwide.”

LaGesse notes that Jacobson, with his partner Archer, project that half of the world’s energy could be met in 2030 with around four million 5-megawatt turbines, however most turbines in use today are only half that size at around 2.5-megawatt.

He also points out that the prospects of putting wind turbines all over the world are slim due to political issues.

While some argue that it is possible to place as many turbines as needed to meet the ever growing demands for electricity, none argue that the

impact on the environment has yet to be determined. Keith urges policy makers to consider the potential that the wind is not as limitless as once thought and that the manipulation of this natural resource could bring unexpected changes for the future if it is not treated with care.

“No doubt, the models will be refined as research continues,” said Adams. “Less is understood about the Earth’s winds and their energy potential than, say, the potential of solar power, where sunrises and sunsets are known and satellites can measure clouds.”

Contact Dr. Deborah Strumsky, assistant professor of the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences to learn more about SunShot and the Forecasting and Influencing Technological Progress in Solar Energy project at 704-687-5934 or dstrumsk@uncc.edu.

continued from page 13

including the United States, aim to reach Denmark’s current wind powered capacity which stands at 20%.

LaGuess points out that others counter Adams’s and Keith’s position. “Yes, there is a point at which enough turbines around the Earth would “saturate” the wind potential, and little or no more energy could be extracted,” said Mark Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University. “But for wind energy to become oversaturated to the point that it undermines its own effectiveness, we’re talking

Dr. Amanda Adams is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences.

To learn more, contact her at manda.adams@uncc.edu.

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March 19th UNC Charlotte ADVANCE Faculty Affairs and Diversity Office hosted a successful one-day conference at the Center City Campus in uptown Charlotte. “Bridging the Gap Between Academic and Entrepreneurial Capital: Strategies for Success for Women and UnderRepresented Minorities” was cosponsored by Charlotte Research Institute, The College of Health and Human Services, and the Belk College of Business. The goal was to educate female and minority faculty members, students, and interested community members about how they can translate their intellectual capital into entrepreneurial capital in innovative ways by thinking outside the box.

“When thinking about academic entrepreneurship, people typically think about commercialization of lab technology, for example, patenting a technique or drug,” said Dr. Andrea Dulin, Project Director of the ADVANCE Office and a conference organizer.

“However, the skill sets associated with working at an academic institution can be translated into a number of different entrepreneurial endeavors, for example, starting a grant writing or leadership consulting firm.”

Following a welcome address

by Dr. Joan Lorden, Mr. Ken Harrington, managing director of The Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Washington University presented the plenary talk on the topic of how entrepreneurial cultures spur entrepreneurial action. Sessions followed covering assessment of millennial

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strengths by Dr. Joan Tucker from COACh, discerning the business potential in your intellectual property by Mr. Paul Wetenhall, president of Ventureprise, and financial options and support for funding your business by Mr. George McAllister, Regional Director of UNC Charlotte’s Small Business and Technology Development Center rounded out the session.

A theme was repeated throughout the conference regarding the importance of partnerships to the formation of a successful business. Attendees learned that relationship building is a critical component of the entrepreneurial process. During an hour and a half lunch/networking session participants had an opportunity to connect with other conference attendees and also with representatives from a number of

local organizations that focus on entrepreneurship. Representatives from Charlotte Research Institute, Ventureprise, NC Biotechnology Center, Business Innovation Growth, Charlotte Chamber, and Charlotte Neighborhood and Small Business Services were available to network and answer questions from conference participants.

“Relationship building was also facilitated by capping the number of conference attendees,” said Dr. Dulin. “Limiting the number of participants to no more than fifty created an atmosphere that promoted interaction and discussion among participants.”

The conference ended with an open forum session moderated

by Dr. Dianne Welsh, the Hayes Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at UNC Greensboro where a panel of three individuals who have been successful in bridging the gap between academia and

ap entrepreneurship discussed lessons learned on their journey to successfully market their ideas.

Panelists included:

Dr. Christine Grant, Professor and Associate Dean of Engineering at NC State, and the founder of Creative Growth Solutions for You!, a consulting company that offers professional and personal development programs focused on confidence building strategies to set and achieve academic and career goals.

Dr. Deborah Bosley, Associate Professor of English at UNC Charlotte, and international expert in the use of plain language, who has twenty years experience as a plain language consultant working primarily for financial institutions and legal entities seeking to improve written communication that readers can easily understand.

Dr. Pinku Mukherjee, Irwin Belk Endowed Professor for Cancer

Research at the University of North Carolina, and Co-Founder, CEO & Chief Scientific Officer at Charlotte CanDiag, Inc. a company that holds a worldwide exclusive license to a patented tumor antibody that has been used to develop a blood test for the early detection of breast cancer.

“Feedback about the conference has been overwhelmingly positive,” stated Dr. Dulin. “There was a lot of positive energy in the room, which I hope will translate into spurring our attendees to take the plunge and bridge the gap between academia and entrepreneurship.”

In addition to the co-sponsors, the ADVANCE team recognized Ventureprise, The CharlotteMecklenburg Women’s Summit, The Graduate School at UNC Charlotte, Terry Cox at Business Innovation

and Growth (BIG), Charlotte Neighborhoods and Business Services, NC Biotechnology Center, and The Charlotte Chamber for their invaluable help with organizing and distributing information to numerous outlets within the community.

Further information about the conference including links to the presentations, entrepreneurial resources and upcoming events can be found on the UNC Charlotte website at: http://advance.uncc.edu/

Dr. Andrea Dulin is the Project Manager for the UNC Charlotte ADVANCE Faculty Affairs Office. Contact her at andrea.dulin@uncc.edu.

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Judy

Rose With a career spanning three decades, Judy Rose has become a powerful fixture at UNC Charlotte. She is a nationally recognized leader in her field and a force of stability and inspiration in the Charlotte region. With this edition of Millennial Magazine focusing on Sports, Science and Technology we wanted to learn how UNC Charlotte’s Athletic Director built a strong athletics program while remaining focused on emphasizing the importance of academic achievement.

The following is some insight Judy Rose shared with the Millennial Magazine staff on how she meets her goals for athletic achievement while providing her players with the necessary tools to leave UNC Charlotte and follow their chosen path. millennial

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Millennial: In an interview conducted in 1993 (http:// newsouthvoices.uncc.edu/ interview/muro0154) you spoke about your decision to remain at UNC Charlotte rather than going to Chapel Hill and how, though you miss coaching, choosing to stay in an administrative capacity was the right decision. Twenty years has passed since this interview and given all of your achievements and accolades do you feel this decision to remain at UNC Charlotte was a keystone moment in your career?

was only the 3rd female named to be a Division I Athletic Director.

He was a wonderful mentor.

Millennial: It’s fairly commonplace to see coaching staff and those in senior athletic administrative positions being rather transient. It’s rare to see the select few, such as yourself, stay in one place for their entire career. Could you tell us what keeps you at UNC Charlotte and what you feel the stability of your presence and dedication to this

but my heart was at Charlotte. I always felt like the timing was not right to move… I had much more to accomplish at Charlotte.

I do believe that stability in leadership has helped us develop strong business relationships that have benefited both the athletic program and the University.

UNC Charlotte was and still is the right place for me. I have had great leaders in all of the Chancellors with whom I have worked. I was fortunate to be able to stay at the same school and be able to advance. I learned from all and each gave me the freedom to guide and direct and build a strong athletic program.

Judy: UNC Charlotte was and still is the right place for me. I have had great leaders in all of the Chancellors with whom I have worked. I was fortunate to be able to stay at the same school and be able to advance. I learned from all and each gave me the freedom to guide and direct and build a strong athletic program.

Millennial: Who has been the biggest influence for you throughout your career?

Judy: I’m not sure there is one person, but more a group of individuals who have been extremely impactful. If I had to name one, I would say Jim Woodward because he made a gutsy decision to hire me since I

University has lent to the success of the program?

Judy: It is indeed rare for people in intercollegiate athletics to be able to stay in one location. I was so fortunate to get the job in 1975 to be the first women’s basketball coach at UNC Charlotte. I was so excited. I was also responsible for coaching the women’s tennis team, teaching one class a semester and overseeing lifeguards in the Intramural Department.

I would like to think that I received promotions because I was a hard worker and that my supervisor saw promise in my abilities.

Over the years, I have had schools and executive search firms that expressed interest in me,

Millennial: You have credited the success of the athletics program at UNC Charlotte to the University for attracting good students and to the students for doing their best to achieve.

Would you also credit your leadership and that of the UNC Charlotte administration for insisting student athletes achieve academically and grow not only as athletes but as functional 2013

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members of society as being a large part of the attractiveness to the UNC Charlotte athletics programs?

Judy: Absolutely; it takes a village to raise a child. Success should be credited to many – admissions, tutorial programs, advisors, professors, and certainly our coaches and administrative staff. We work hard to make our student athletes well rounded.

We want them to be successful on and off the courts and fields, in the classroom and to give back through community services.

Millennial: Can you provide some examples of success stories about any of the Athletics Program Alumni?

Judy: There are many success stories…to name a few: Karen Shugart – works for Secret Service in Washington, D.C. (Class of ‘83 W. Basketball) Karen Popp – a partner at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, LLP, one of the largest law firms in Washington, D.C. and she will be chair of the Trustees at UNC Charlotte (Class of ’80 W. Basketball) Craig Brown, Finance (Class of ’85 M. Soccer) Sharonda Johnson Leblanc – received her Doctorate in Nano Science from UNC Charlotte and is currently employed at the University (Class of ‘07 W. Track & Field)

J ohn Maine – Major League Pitcher for the Florida Marlins (Class of ‘01 Baseball) Cory Nagy – Professional Golfer (Class of ’10 M. Golf) Terrie Smith – Customer Manager for Victoria Secrets (W. Basketball) Matt McWilliams – Secret Service (Class ’95 Baseball) Jamie Russo – Regional Manager for Enterprise Rental Car (M. Basketball) We have doctors, lawyers, professional athletes, medical administrators, radio color commentators, teachers...many, many success stories.

Millennial: What do you feel is the most valuable contribution science has made to athletics?

Judy: I would say Kinesiology – helps us to understand how the body performs best. Nutrition would be a close second.

Millennial: Traditionally football fields are placed on the edges of University properties, so the placement of the football stadium and fields at the center of campus is unique. Could you talk about what contributed to the decision to place the football facilities where they’re now located?

Judy: I was always an advocate of building the football stadium at its current site for several reasons: The campus needed something to connect the CRI campus to the

The campus master plan consultants agreed with the current site.

Millennial: Last summer you were surprised with the honor of having the Football Center officially named after you. How has this achievement impacted your life so far?

We have doctors, lawyers, professional athletes, medical administrators, radio color commentators, teachers… many, many success stories.

F ieldin Culbeth – currently a Major League Umpire (Baseball) Jon Busch – current MLS Goal Keeper (M. Soccer) millennial

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existing campus.

I wanted to continue having all of our athletic facilities in one quadrant of campus.

Judy: Well, I am truly humbled.

I could never have imagined in a million years that I would be honored in such a visible way. I wish

Phil Dubois, Judy Rose, Former Governor Bev Purdue, Brad Lambert and Gene Johnson.

Well, I hope I have been a positive role model. It is important to me that we show girls and young women that through hard work, you can be whatever you want to be.

The sky is the limit. I believe we have a responsibility to mentor and guide young women. that all the members of my staff that have worked so hard could receive the same type of recognition.

They are equally deserving.

Millennial: Last year you were inducted into the Women’s History Hall of Fame at the Levine Museum of the New South. Could you speak a little about your views of being a role model for women?

Judy: Well, I hope I have been

a positive role model. It is important to me that we show girls and young women that through hard work, you can be whatever you want to be. The sky is the limit. I believe we have a responsibility to mentor and guide young women.

Millennial: What would you consider as your greatest achievement to date?

Judy: Being able to lead a staff that will on August 31, 2013 put a football team on the field to compete. Starting a football program from scratch with no facilities, has indeed been the biggest challenge I have encountered. I think the addition of football will forever change the image of UNC Charlotte.

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A

New Research

AURA

The Research Administration Project (RAP) was established in 2009 with sponsorship from UNC Charlotte’s Office of Research and Economic Development. The project’s goal was to streamline the research administration processes, improve customer service, and advance the communication and reporting capabilities of the University. Sharing the same objectives as RAP, the Advancing University Research Administration (AURA) program is the next phase of the program. The newly branded name indicates ongoing improvement opportunities.

As research techniques and innovations evolve so will research administration. The AURA program builds upon the grant administration changes that were first implemented by the original RAP project, such as, reorganizing the Grants and Contracts Administration team and improving supporting infrastructure for hiring and personnel processes.

“The AURA program is a suite of multi-year projects to improve research administration processes, systems and communication with research faculty members.” said Bernadette Williams, IT Program Manager for AURA. Bernadette’s goal is to ensure the program aligns with UNC Charlotte’s target to reach a minimum of fifty-million dollars in research funding by the millennial

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year 2020 by enabling faculty to concentrate on research and securing research grants. The AURA program will also help meet the strategic goals of the Office of Research and Economic Development, which includes improving customer service, increasing collaboration with other universities, and continuing to build the culture of research within the colleges at UNC Charlotte.

“I’m passionate about improving communication and business processes, so channeling that passion into the AURA program is exciting!” said Williams. A major initiative of the AURA program will be implemented this year. The Financial Conflict of Interest disclosure process will be automated. A new system will track Conflict of Interest disclosures, External Activities of Pay and Conflict of Interest training, eliminating the paper driven process.

The new system will streamline the procedures and improve tracking and reporting capabilities. Future AURA projects include automating travel and expense management and improving reporting capabilities.

AURA projects are developed and managed through a partnership of stakeholders campus wide.

Research administrators, faculty members, and Information Technology staff participate in committees to hone project ideas

and solution delivery options. This collaborative effort strengthens the partnership and commitment of the campus to improve research at UNC Charlotte. To support communication needs, a project site was recently created in Moodle to publish project documentation, announcements, and forum topics.

A link to the site can be found on the Research and Economic Development homepage, research. uncc.edu. The site is open to the campus community by using their NinerNet login.

Bernadette Williams has over fifteen years of experience in the IT industry and holds a BA in Management Information Systems and a MBA. After an eleven-year career at a leading Insurance and Financial Management Company in Milwaukee, WI, she decided it was time for a change of scenery and is now the IT Program Manager at UNC Charlotte Research and Economic Development.

For more information about AURA contact Bernadette at 704-687-1865 or email her at bernadette.williams@uncc.edu.

in

Student Successes

App Software If you have a smart phone, chances are that you’re familiar with apps – what they are and how to use them. For those not in the know, an app is a software application used in smart phones and tablets as a tool to assist the user. This software can be as simple as providing to-do lists to as complex as AutoCAD and everything in between. They even have apps that will help you create other apps. A variety of operating systems utilize this technology including Windows, Mac, and Android and the prices range from free generic utilities to around $50 for highly specificlimited market software.

The original appeal of computers was that they made our lives easier by doing complex functions far easier than we could by other methods. Apps are extensions of this functionality and can be used anywhere in the world.

Cashing in on this new and quickly expanding market is UNC Charlotte’s Jeremy Olson. He, along with his brother, Josh, and

father, Todd create award-winning apps through their company, Tapity. Grades, and subsequently, Grades 2 are apps designed to aid students in understanding what they would need to earn on upcoming course work and tests in order to get their desired grades. Grades 2 won an Apple Design Award in 2011.

Last year the Austria based developer Sonico Mobile approached Tapity to expand on their cloud-based program iTranslate to create an app that could be used off-line (necessary for locations with limited internet access) and that could translate single words as well as phrases.

Together they created the app Languages, a software which supports translation services to/ Jeremy Olson

from English and eight languages including French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, German, and Swedish as well as FrenchSpanish, German-French, GermanItalian, and German-Spanish.

Languages as well as other Tapity apps are available for purchase and download through the Apple iStore.

Another UNC Charlotte student with his sights on app software development is Rich Nyguen. His app, Shapedia, was created to give people an easy way to track their health and fitness goals.

“We built Shapedia -- a mobile app that helps people maintain a healthy exercise routine and informs people about nutrition facts to achieve their fitness goals.

In essence, we aim to create a movement to shape the lifestyle of Shapedia’s members, starting with their fitness. We believe in the opportunity to access health and fitness knowledge at no cost and aim to shape leaner individuals, healthier families, and ultimately a stronger America.”

Released in April, 2013, Shapedia is available for Beta download at Shapedia.com.

For more information regarding Tapity, email Jeremy Olson at jeremy@Tapity.com.

To reach Rich Nyguen regarding Shapedia, email him at rich.uncc@gmail.com.

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Presenters Pleased by Public Response

to

Science Technology

It was ten o’clock on a beautiful, clear Sunday morning in April and as the banners waved and snapped in the crisp spring breeze, more than 200 volunteers nervously fired up aluminum smelters, poured liquid nitrogen, laid out the platinum electrodes, filled balloons with explosive gases, turned on the static generators millennial

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Outreach

and put the oobleck, the fossils, the carnivorous plants and the colorful crystals on display.

“We built it,” they all thought, “but will they come?” Crowds came -- older people, younger people, whole families.

They saw, they touched, they manipulated, they experimented, they watched…

and they oooed, they awwwed, while they played and learned about science first hand. As the crowds grew deep around the tables, the volunteers became theatrical. They grew eloquent. It was exciting. It was gratifying. It was… fun.

Not to be too Sally Field about this, but for volunteers the gratification of seeing that the public was hungry for the event and really liked their products was probably the best reward possible.

It was UNC Charlotte’s second annual Science and Technology Expo, a four-hour free public event featuring 50 science and technology activities and interactive presentations designed by the university’s science, technology and education faculty, as well as by

a number of science-oriented community partners. The Expo was the capstone of more than two weeks of university participation in the North Carolina Science Festival, with events that also included five free public science lectures and a star party.

Everyone staffing the event was a volunteer, and some had literally put hundreds of hours into planning activities. They did it because they love their work – science, both basic and applied, information technology or engineering research – and they wanted to share some of that love with the community. They want the community to get a feel for the wonderful adventures their work takes them on, and they want children to be excited too, and to consider careers in research.

In the end, all their effort seems to have paid off. As was the case the previous year, participants at activity after activity were surprised by people (especially, but not exclusively, parents) who pushed through the crowd to come up to them because they wanted 2013

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to “personally thank someone” for putting together such an interesting set of activities.

On Facebook, comments were similar: “Whatta wonderful event!

Thank you, UNCC Science and Tech Expo” gushed one of several hundred event “likes.” Not to be too Sally Field about this, but for volunteers the gratification of seeing that the public was hungry for the event and really liked their products was probably the best reward possible.

The University’s NC Science Festival activities also received a lot of positive exposure in the local media. Two television

Everyone staffing the event was a volunteer, and some had literally put hundreds of hours into planning activities. stations showed up to cover the Expo, and there were five articles in the Charlotte Observer covering various activities.

WFAE 90.7 FM, Charlotte’s NPR news radio station, had a tent at the Expo and featured UNC Charlotte festival activities in two separate presentations of “Charlotte Talks.” The station was also a media partner, and donated a substantial number of promotional spots to help advertise various events.

Finally, it must be said that the Expo, the lectures and the other public events could not have happened without financial support as well. The main sponsors were UNC Charlotte’s Research and Economic Development and the Charlotte Research millennial

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Institute. Other University units that also provided substantial funding were the College of Computing and Informatics, the College of Liberal Arts

and Sciences, the College of Education and the Graduate School, the staff of each of which also played an active role in planning the activities.

Jim Hathaway is the Research Communications Specialist in Research and Economic Development. To learn more about the Science and Technology Expo, contact him at 704-687-5743 or jbhathaw@uncc.edu.

For information on the NC Science Festival, visit their website at ncsciencefestival.org

and sort information to make it a little easier to find. Before the Technological Revolution, libraries, encyclopedias, and card catalogs were the best options.

Since then, in the last twenty-five years or so, the amounts and rates at which information is being produced and shared have exploded.

The idea behind Big Data is to make this astronomic amount of information accessible.

Big Data isn’t a new term, it’s been used to express vast amounts of information since scientists and mathematicians began using super computers to make super calculations. It’s not a term that was readily recognizable by the general populations until recently.

“The term Big Data, which spans computer science and statistics/ econometrics, probably originated in the lunch-table conversations at Silicon Graphics in the mid1990s…” (http://www.ssc.upenn. edu/~fdiebold/papers/paper112/ Diebold_Big_Data.pdf) To the average person, the first thought that comes to mind is that “big data” is just another tool for telemarketers and spambots to use to obtain their information for advertisements and solicitations.

Certainly, this is not an appealing possibility, and thankfully marketing firms are but one in a plethora of sectors that are looking into the potential of Big Data. The study of vast data sets available on the internet – harvested from technical

Tasting

Big Data Imagine looking up at the sky on a clear summer night and trying to get a precise count of all of the stars you can see. Then imagine attempting to categorize them by size, color, and distance. Even if you had a computer program and the right equipment to help with this it would still seem like an impossible feat.

That’s what Big Data strives to accomplish – the seemingly impossible.

For thousands of years, since the idea of sharing written thoughts and observations began, people have sought out ways to categorize

journals to social media and beyond – is useful for the analyzing, planning, and maintenance of countless applications in countless sectors.

One UNC Charlotte professor, Dr. Derek Wang, is finalizing the development of big data analysis software he created while completing his doctorate in visual analytics. Dr. Wang is the chief executive of Taste Analytics, software that can use any web-connected device to turn information into graphic and visual displays, making it easy for the end-user to read. His target markets include education, government, and banking sectors.

Taste Analytics is being well received even in the testing stages.

Ken Elkins of the Charlotte Biz Journal wrote, “John Fallon, vice president of region and account services for The College Board, says he can see uses at the agency for tracking scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and its other exams,” in the article “How UNC Charlotte prof wants to build a global business from big data.”

Big Data is big business and researchers like Dr. Wang who possess the knowledge and skills to create programs capable of harvesting and translating overwhelming amounts of data for ease of use, stand to provide products that can bolster efficiency and accuracy where needed most. They are products that can potentially help those in charge find information to help prioritize to locate; decaying infrastructures before they actually fail, accurately coordinate students with the best resources, and streamline transaction processes in the banking industry, just to name a few of the possible applications.

To learn more about Dr. Wang, research assistant professor of Computer Science, contact him by email at xwang25@uncc.edu or visit his website: uncc.edu/~xwang25/main/Xiaoyu_Wang.html 2013

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Biomecha at

Motion UNC Charlotte

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With a passion for how we move, Dr. Naiquan (Nigel) Zheng is the UNC Charlotte Biomechanics and Mobility Research Focus Area team leader in the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science. The research he conducts with the help of his team focuses on human movements from every day motion to athletic activities. The team, comprised of six graduate students, works with physicians and clinical scientists to address problems in the areas of joint motion following surgical treatments with grafts or implants. They investigate cost and evidence-based systems for mobility and assessments of treatments, as well as injury mechanisms and optimal treatments, and balance and mobility issues in elders and patients with Parkinson ’s disease. Their results provide highly valuable information to orthopedic surgeons, as well as major orthopedic implant, and sports medicine companies.

and

nics

during rehabilitative exercises.

In one study Zheng and his team worked with James E. Fleischli, M.D. at OrthoCarolina. The team, along with Dr. Fleischli, compared joint movement following two different surgical techniques to reconstruct the ACL. Dr. Zheng , in his continuing quest to research how we move, developed a computational model of the human knee, which enabled researchers to study internal joint forces during daily activities and rehabilitative exercises. The findings from this model have been published in several top peer-reviewed journals and are used to develop new rehabilitation protocols.

The team collaborated with Shanghai Jiaotong University in China to study knee-joint motion during walking following total knee arthroplasty with fixedbearing and mobile-bearing implants. Findings from this study will assist implant manufacturers to design better implants and enable more natural knee joint motion which will improve longevity of implants.

In yet another study the team worked with William L. Griffin, M.D. at OrthoCarolina to develop a new tool that will help to predict risks for patients with metal-onmetal hip implants. Results from this project provides evidences for surgeons to make the right decisions on whether or not to

Analysis Recently, Dr. Zheng’s team completed a five-year research project which focused on throwing arm injuries and their early detection. The team recruited and followed twelve collegiate baseball teams for this study, which was sponsored by Major League Baseball. Using a state-of-the-art motion capture system and their custom-made computer-aided physical exam, they recorded and analyzed pitching motion frame by frame in hopes that the findings will help develop early injury detection guidelines for MLB and collegiate coaches to assist those in charge of athletics to better understand pitching mechanics, throwing arm flexibility and their roles in throwing arm injuries.

The human knee often suffers from sports-related injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, and degenerative disease like osteoarthritis. Dr. Zheng and his research team recently conducted a series of projects to study the human knee joint movement following surgery and

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Dr. Zheng processing data in motion.

high-quality lives. Working with Dr. Richard Peindl at the center, the team aims to develop an innovative wearable sensing system to detect abnormal body

actively mentoring not only his team of graduate students, but also undergraduates as well.

Some of the students under his supervision have successfully

Continuing with dedicated focus on mobility and movement Dr. Zheng studies possibilities to fortify bones and heal tendons with hopes of a future where modern medicine is able to alleviate the risk of bone breakage due to osteoporosis.

Strength testing rat bone in the lab.

remove an implant after it was recalled by the manufacturers.

Sponsored by the Carolinas Trauma Network Research Center of Excellence, Dr. Zheng and his team are currently conducting a study on the mobility of individuals with different risk levels for falling. These days Americans are more active and living longer, but falling and its associated complications are some of the major obstacles they face in order to live long millennial

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movements in hopes to provide a new tool to fight against falling.

Continuing with dedicated focus on mobility and movement Dr. Zheng studies possibilities to fortify bones and heal tendons with hopes of a future where modern medicine is able to alleviate the risk of bone breakage due to osteoporosis.

He is currently working with several groups on a VA Merit Grant to study the effects of hormones and stem cells in rat bones and tendons all the while

won first place for the Senior Design Exposition in two of the last four years. One could say that he supports the student of today so they can be the researchers of tomorrow.

Dr. Nigel Zheng is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science. To learn more about him and his team, contact him at 704687-7301 or nzheng@uncc.edu.

Graduate Research Symposium

Spring 2013

raduate

Research Symposium

On Saturday March 23, approximately 175 members of the UNC Charlotte community assembled in the Atkins Library for the 13th annual Graduate Research Symposium. This important annual event showcases current graduate research at UNC Charlotte, and is coordinated by the Graduate School and the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG). The Charlotte Research Institute once again provided sponsorship for this wonderful knowledge exchange. Approximately 79 graduate students participated in this year’s event with major paper and poster presentations offered throughout the day. The Graduate Research Symposium culminates with an event reception, recognition and awards ceremony, and closing keynote remarks. Keynote speaker Dr. Diana Rowan, Professor of Social Work in the College of Health and Human Services, shared personal experiences and thoughts on the significance of mentoring at the graduate degree level.

Symposium award recipients are recognized on the GPSG web site http://gpsg.uncc.edu/grs/ .

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of

William States Lee College

Engineering Senior Design

About forty senior engineering majors proudly showcased their projects at Halton Arena in the Barnhardt Student Activity Center on May 2, as part of the spring semester Senior Design Exposition. The annual event provides seniors the opportunity to publically present the real-life projects on which they have been working for the past year. This year more than 360 students participated in Senior Design. As noted on the Lee College of Engineering web site, “the senior design program brings together students and industrial partners in a collaborative research environment.

Student teams work on a broad spectrum of projects supported by sponsors ranging from individual entrepreneurs to multimillion dollar international companies.” CRI Interim Associate Director Chip Yensan – who served as a Senior Design Expo judge commented, “The Senior Design program is an innovative hands-on capstone experience for UNC Charlotte engineering majors, which is enriched by the multidisciplinary nature of many of these projects as well as the industry insight and mentorship the students gain as they develop solutions to real problems. The Design Expo is a wonderful way for our students to present themselves and the great work they have accomplished.

They should all be proud of their efforts.” millennial

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For more information about the 2013 Lee College of Engineering Senior Design Expo and team winners, go to http://engr.uncc.edu/news/seniordesign-spring-expo-2013 .

University Convocation

August 20th 9:30am – 11:00am McKnight Hall

2013 Football Kick Off Game August 31, 2013 Home Game against Campbell

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Section Name

Charlotte

14th

Annual UNC Charlotte

Cyber Security Symposium

Wednesday, October 9 http://www.cvent.com/events/2013-fallunc-charlotte-cyber-security-symposium/ event-summary-1f826296e60b491ca8c5 9046c90f0ee5.aspx

2013-2014 Gene REG Seminar Series

Life Sciences 2012 Conference

11th Annual Conference

Section Name

Where Innovation Begins

1

Charlotte

Life Sciences Conference October 24th Barnhart Student Activities Center

Dates to be announced; October 2013 through May 2014 The David H. Murdock Research Institute (DHMRI) received funding from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center to again sponsor the Genomics Sciences Regional Exchange Group (Gene REG). The Gene REG group was created to support ongoing collaborative genomics research at the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC) and stimulate new collaborations in the Greater Charlotte region. The group will hold monthly seminars to nurture collaborative opportunities among participants, build alliances for future research, and strengthen relationships between researchers in genomics and bioinformatics.

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBC) is a private non-profit economic development organization whose mission is to support the biotechnology community in North Carolina.

The NCBC has developed the Regiol Exchange Group program to support and enhance communication and collaboration among North Carolina biotechnology-related research, education, business, and economic development communities.

Further information: Susan Standish David H. Murdock Research Institute 704.250.2635 millennial

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Dr. Robert G. Wilhelm

Robyne R. Vickers

Vice Chancellor Research & Economic Development CRI Executive Director (704) 687-8428 rgwilhel@uncc.edu

Technical Assistant Charlotte Research Institute Research & Economic Development (704) 687-5690 rvicker4@uncc.edu

Chip Yensan

CRI MILLENNIAL CAMPUS P. Gail Keene

Associate Director of Infrastructure Charlotte Research Institute Research & Economic Development (704) 687-8283 lyensan@uncc.edu

James Hathaway

Research Communications Research & Economic Development (704) 687-5743 jbhathaw@uncc.edu

Karen Ford

Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor Research & Economic Development (704) 687-8428 kjford@uncc.edu

Julie M. Fulton

Office Manager & Administrative Assistant Charlotte Research Institute Research & Economic Development (704) 687-5690 jfulton4@uncc.edu

Business Officer & Manager CRI Millennial Campus Business Office Research & Economic Development (704) 687-8286 pgkeene@uncc.edu

Lolita Gonzales

Marilyn Carpenter

Director Ventureprise Charlotte Research Institute (704) 602-2170 marilyn.carpenter@ventureprise.org

Carolyn Smith

Administrative Assistant Ventureprise Charlotte Research Institute (704) 548-9113 carolyn.smith@ventureprise.org

CRI AT NCRC Devin Collins

Accounting Technician Assistant Manager CRI Millennial Campus Business Office Research & Economic Development (704) 687-5697 lgonza19@uncc.edu

Assistant Director, Entrepreneurship and Business Development Charlotte Research Institute Research & Economic Development (704) 250-5753 devin.collins@uncc.edu

Pearl Brown

Clare Cook Faggart

Business Office Specialist CRI Millennial Campus Office Research & Economic Development (704) 687-7733 plbrown@uncc.edu

VENTUREPRISE Paul D. Wetenhall

Program Manager Life Sciences Conference Charlotte Research Institute Research & Economic Development (704) 250-5760 clarefaggart@uncc.edu

Executive Director / President Ventureprise Charlotte Research Institute (704) 548-9133 pwetenhall@ventureprise.org

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Charlotte Football Schedule 2013 Schedule: Aug. 31, 2013 – Campbell (H) Sept. 7, 2013 – Chowan (H) Sept. 14, 2013 – North Carolina Central (H) Sept. 21, 2013 – at James Madison (A) Sept. 28, 2013 – at Presbyterian (A) Oct. 5, 2013 – Gardner-Webb (H) Oct. 12, 2013 – UNC Pembroke (H) Oct. 26, 2013 – at Charleston Southern (A) Nov. 2, 2013 – at Coastal Carolina (A) Nov. 9, 2013 – Wesley College (H) Nov. 23, 2013 – at Morehead State (A)

Visit us on the web

ers

2014 Schedule: Sept. 20, 2014 - at Campbell (A) Sept. 27, 2014 - Charleston Southern (H) Oct. 4, 2014 - at Gardner-Webb (A) Nov. 8, 2014 - Coastal Carolina (H) Nov. 22, 2014 - Morehead State (H) Contact: Tom Whitestone P/ 704.687.6310 • C/ 980/253-4951