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Colliding Atoms: Collaboration to Advance Agendas

This site is designed to provide support resources for research & scholarly activities, and to assist faculty and staff in their research endeavors.

For questions or needs related to research & scholarly activity contact:
The Office of Research Administration
110 Cordelia Camp Building
828.227.7212

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WCU Research Awards

Each year Western Carolina University presents internal awards to recognize the outstanding work being done by our faculty. The university community is invited to attend the 2026 Faculty Scholarship Celebration to be held Thursday, March 26, in the University Center Grand Room.

2025 University Scholar Award

This award is designed to recognize research and creative activities. This award is given to a faculty member who has achieved a prominent position in their discipline through creative research. Dr. Brent Kinser, Professor of English Studies and Coordinator Editor of The Carlyle Letters Online, received the 2025 University Scholar Award.

2025 Hunter Scholar Award

This award supports faculty research integrating Hunter Library’s resources and services. The award winner chooses release time, a graduate assistant, and other support for their proposed research. This award is a joint effort by Hunter Library, the Graduate School and Research, and the Office of the Provost. Dr. Yiging Yang, Associate Professor in Anthropology and Sociology, received the 2025 Hunter Scholar Award.

2025 Million Dollar Circle Award

This award acknowledges the time and effort put forth by faculty and staff members to obtain funding for their research. Since its inception, the Office of Research Administration has awarded the Million Dollar Circle Award to 26 faculty or staff members. Dr. Debra Burke joined the Million Dollar Circle in 2025, Burke is the Executive Director for the North Carolina Agricultural Mediation Program and the Farm Agricultural Resources and Mediation of Virginia; she is also a professor in the College of Business.

2025 Million Dollar Circle Award

This award acknowledges the time and effort put forth by faculty and staff members to obtain funding for their research. Since its inception, the Office of Research Administration has awarded the Million Dollar Circle Award to 26 faculty or staff members. Dr. Sloan Despeaux joined the Million Dollar Circle in 2025. Despeaux is a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

2025 Million Dollar Circle Award

This award acknowledges the time and effort put forth by faculty and staff members to obtain funding for their research. Since its inception, the Office of Research Administration has awarded the Million Dollar Circle Award to 26 faculty or staff members. Dr. Brian Byrd joined the Million Dollar Circle in 2025, Byrd is a professor in the School of Health Sciences.

2025 Million Dollar Circle Award

This award acknowledges the time and effort put forth by faculty and staff members to obtain funding for their research. Since its inception, the Office of Research Administration has awarded the Million Dollar Circle Award to 26 faculty or staff members. Dr. Bora Karayaka joined the Million Dollar Circle in 2025, Karayaka is a professor in the School of Engineering + Technology.

2024-2025 Provost Scholarship Development Award Recipients

Provost’s Scholarship Development Awards offer funding for research and scholarly development to help faculty and staff become more competitive in the pursuit of external grants. In the 2024-2025 academic year, thirteen projects totaling $159,906 were awarded.

A Nationally Representative Study of Solo Masturbation and Associations with Well-Being

$5,000 ​

PI: Dr. David de Jong​

Advancing Wood-Based Additive Manufacturing with Thermoset Polymers

$15,000 ​

PI: Dr. Hamid EisaZadeh

Co-PI: Dr. Rangika S. Hikkaduwa Koralege and Dr. Mona Torabi

Controls on the Concentrations and Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metals and Microplastics in the Flood Deposits of Hurricane Helene, Pigeon River Basin, Western North Carolina

$14,971 ​

PI: Dr. Jerry Miller

Co-PI: Dr. Yang Yang​ and Dr. Al Fisher

Influencing Indigeneity: Impacts of Social Media in the Ecuadorian Amazon

$14,678 ​

PI: Dr. Georgia Ennis

Co-PI: Dr. Vincent Russell

Modeling Rainfall Runoff Responses Under Climate and Land Cover Scenarios in the Cullowhee Creek Basin to Support Flood Prediction and Preparedness

$9,998 ​

PI: Dr. Katie Schneider

Co-PI: Dr. Mark Lord

Psychometric Development and Evaluation of a Revised Version of the Functionality Appreciation Scale for Autistic Adults (FAS-A)

$10,000 ​

PI: Dr. Courtney Rogers

Co-PI: Dr. Jonathan Campbell

Solving Forensic Cold Cases Using Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG)

$14,340 ​

PI: Dr. Frankie West

Co-PI: Brittania Bintz and Dr. Maureen Hickman

Engaging Communities in Developing Climate Solutions for Flooding in Haywood County, NC

$15,000 ​

PI: Dr. Diane Styers

Co-PI: Dr. Sarah Jackson

Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Resilient and Sustainable Energy Systems Powered by Renewable Energy Resources

$10,000 ​

PI: Dr. Tarek Hassan Kandil

Co-PI: Dr. Adam Harris

An Innovation on Thermosiphon Technology

$9,994 ​

PI: Dr. Namhee Kim

Co-PIs: Dr. Scott Rowe and Dr. William Kwochka

Exploring Effects of Urban Development on Insect Communities, Available Insect Biomass, and Key Insect Mediated Services Within and Around Asheville, NC

$14,854 ​

PI: Dr. Sarah Parsons

Co-PIs: Dr. Brian Byrd and Dr. Jacob Heiling

Interdisciplinary Dementia Course and Respite (IDCR)

$11,135

PI: Dr. Caitlin Torrence

Co-PIs: Dr. Leigh Odom, Dr. Francine Sheppard, and Dr. Debbie Logan

Weaving a Rebozo: Evaluating Stakeholder Needs and Coordinating Community Resources for Rural Latine and Hispanic Families in WNC

$14,936​

PI: Dr. Claire Wofford

Co-PIs: Dr. Sarah Pedonti, Dr. Melissa Mecadon-Mann, Dr. Loidaly Rosario-Gonzalez, Dr. Erin Callahan, and Dr. Alleyne Broomell

NC Collaboratory Hurricane Helene Research Award Recipients

Please join us in celebrating WCU faculty who were awarded extramural funding from NC Collaboratory to assist state and federal agencies with Helene-related research or relief assistance.  The NC Collaboratory is a research funding agency that focuses on the environment, natural resources, public health, education, technology, and infrastructure in North Carolina.

    Post-Hurricane Helene MosquitoSurveillance in Western North Carolina

    $10,000 ​

    PI: Dr. Brian Byrd

    Conducting rapid, late-season mosquito surveillance to assess the impact of the hurricane on mosquito populations with a focus on disease vectors and invasive species.

    High Water Mark Data Collection

    $11,314 ​

    PI: Dr. Diane Styers

    Mapping high water marks throughout the entire Swannanoa corridor and the French Broad River and assessing assets impacted (roads, bridges, etc.) to assist the Buncombe County Emergency Operations Center for future disaster planning and preparedness.

    Controls on the Concentrations and Spatial distribution of Heavy Metals and Microplastics in the Flood Deposits of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina

    $10,000 ​

    PI: Dr. Yang Yang

    Analyzing flood deposits for heavy metals and microplastics in order to identify hot-spots in the Pigeon River Basin where the topography collects mores ediment. These hot spots will then be identified so that in future instances of flooding areas most vulnerable to contamination can receive the proper attention to guide site remediation.

    High Water Mark Mapping and Channel Surveying to Support Flood Modelling in the French Broad River Basin

    $9,045 ​

    PI: Dr. Katie Schneider

    Mapping high water marks in the French Broad River Basin to support flood modelling and the significance dams and land development have on flooding.

    Documenting Lessons Learned from Hurricane Helene in State and Local Law Enforcement

    $11,835 ​

    PI: Dr. Andy Hansen

    Interviewing local law enforcement officers responsible for planning and responding to Helene in order to document lessons learned by various agencies to improve disaster response for future weather events.

    Evaluating the Physical and Social Place- Based Dynamics of Areas Impacted by Hurricane Helene

    $11,054 ​

    PI: Dr. Sarah Jackson

    Working with the National Weather Service to assess all 259 disaster declared areas through surveys and interviews in order to identify the areas of greatest impact and social vulnerability. By using qualitative and quantitative data from an interdisciplinary approach of both disaster management and geographic and social sciences the project will develop actionable and practical guidance for local agencies to help communities prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disaster risks.

    Assisting the North Carolina Arboretum

    $13,881 ​

    PI: Dr. Ed Wright

    Conducting an initial assessment of the damage of the North Carolina Arboretum with experts from the National Forest Service and create a reforestation program that will help create buffer zones that will mitigate erosion and help soil stabilization and biodiversity.

    Assessment and Planning for Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts

    $11,935 ​

    PI: Dr. Mickey Henson

    Partnering with the NC Division of Soil and Water Conservation and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to assess sites across Western NC and the risks to life and property caused by flooding. Students in the Kimmel School of Construction Management will gain experience with industry professionals coordinating recovery efforts such as debris removal from waterways, culvert & bridge clearing, bank stabilization, drainage repair, erosion control, and restoration of levees & conservation structures.

    Helene Optimization and Planning Effort (HOPE)

    $14,459 ​

    PI: Dr. Chris Cox

    Students wearing head mounted cameras and taking measurements to create a 3-D profile of the damaged homes. These profiles will then be updated into a database as a work package. Nonprofits and agencies looking to assist in rebuilding people’s homes will then be able to access a list of construction project needs that will allow them to be more intentional and efficient.

    Hurricane Helene Mitigation Grant Award Recipients

    Please join us in celebrating WCU faculty who were awarded Hurricane Helene Mitigation Grant Awards in academic year 2024-25. These internal grants awarded proposals aimed to study the effects and impact of Hurricane Helene. Investigations and studies broadly included the following topic areas: Hydrology, Oral Histories, Emergency Management, Infrastructure/Rebuilding, and any other Helene-related research topics that investigate the effects of the disaster in our region.

      Hurricane Helene's Hidden Toll: Geographic Context and Post-Disaster Mental Health in Young Appalachian Families

      $10,000 ​

      PI: Dr. Sarah Jackson

      Co-PIs: Dr. Sarah Pedonti and Dr. Cathy Grist

      Documenting Lessons Learned from Hurricane Helene by State and Local Law Enforcement in Western North Carolina: A Proposed Expansion

      $9,972 ​

      PI: Dr. Andy Hansen

      Modeling microbial fate and transport to identify nonpoint sources of fecal pollution in the Swannanoa River following Hurricane Helene flooding

      $9,358

      PI: Dr. Kimberlee Hall

      All We Have Is Each Other: Mutual Aid in the Response to Hurricane Helene

      $9,045

      PI: Dr. Georgia Ennis

      Co-PI: Dr. Vincent Russell

      Voices of Resilience: Documenting the Human Impact of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina

      $10,000

      PI: Dr. Mindy Weathers

      Co-PIs: Dr. Matt Binford and Mark Poff

      Community Response and Resilience in the Aftermath of a Natural Disaster: A Case Study of Two Neighborhoods Post Hurricane Helene

      $9.852

      PI: Dr. Chase Harless

      Co-PI: Katy Allen

      Digitalizing WCU Campus Storm Drainage Network for Better Maintenance and Emergency Management

      $10,000

      PI: Dr. Sisi Han

      Beyond the Storm: A Tribute to Appalachian Teachers and Their Stories

      $9,646

      PI: Dr. Amelia Wheeler

      Incorporating Mammals into Long-Term Monitoring Sites in Western N.C.

      $8,762

      PI: Dr. Aimee Rockhill

      Engaging Communities in Developing Climate Solutions for Flooding in Buncombe County, NC

      $10,077

      PI: Dr. Diane Styers

      Co-PI: Sarah Jackson

      Contact the staff of ORA

      WCU Research Affiliates

      Hydrological Research Station
      Study of Developed Shorelines
      Forensic Osteology Research
      Highlands Biological Station
      Phil & Connie Haire Institute for Public Policy
      Center for Rapid Product Realization
      Center for the Study of Free Enterprise
      North Carolina Forest Stewards
      Mosquito & Vector-Borne Disease
      Hunter Library Digital Humanities
      Vecinos Farmworker Health Study

      research.wcu.edu