UNC Asheville Awards 7 Grants to Advance Research in Regional Recovery Supporting critical work in psychology, economics, and biology

UNC Asheville's Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity Program (URCAP) announced seven new scholar award grants in excess of $11,000, to support groundbreaking research and creative work across disciplines. The grants, awarded to three students and four faculty members, address critical issues ranging from Western North Carolina's recovery from Hurricane Helene to endangered species conservation.

"These grants exemplify UNC Asheville's commitment to hands-on learning and meaningful scholarship," said UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort. "Our students and faculty are tackling questions that matter-not just to academia, but to our community and the world beyond."

Faculty Research Addresses Regional Recovery and Global Conservation

Four faculty projects received grants, supporting critical work in psychology, economics, and biology:

Dr. Sara Lute (Psychology) will examine how faculty-student relationships affect retention, sense of belonging, and student loneliness, with particular focus on first-generation students. Her research aims to inform institutional strategies for building meaningful connections that support student success.

Dr. Muhammad Nawaz(Economics) is investigating how credit access affects small business recovery in Western North Carolina following Tropical Storm Helene. With small businesses comprising over 99 percent of North Carolina's enterprises and Asheville experiencing a 70 percent tourism drop and $584 million revenue loss, his research will provide crucial insights for economic rebuilding.

Dr. Ted Meigs (Biology) continues his molecular biology research isolating zDHHC coding sequences for overexpression in human cells, working with applications in understanding cellular processes.

Dr. Graham Reynolds (Biology) leads conservation genetics research for the critically endangered Virgin Islands Tree Boa, with fewer than 1,500 individuals remaining. His work with an international consortium of zoos and governments will inform captive breeding strategies and translocation efforts while training four undergraduate research students in conservation genetics.

Student Projects Explore Art, Memory, and Environmental Recovery

Three senior students received grants to pursue ambitious capstone projects:

Jeremiah Meyers (Greensboro, N.C.) will create "Between Walls and Windows: Navigating Memory, Exposure, and Sanctuary in Adolescent Space," an interdisciplinary performance combining large-scale paintings, projected media, and an original live sound score. Mentored by Assistant Professor Dr. Suzie Dittenber, Meyers explores how adolescent spaces shape memory and identity.

Sara Nusbaum (Canton, N.C.) addresses urgent environmental needs with her research on rivercane's potential to mitigate riverbank erosion and water pollution in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. Working with Dr. Ed Schwartzman, Nusbaum will use remote sensing and sediment sampling to determine how this native bamboo's strong root systems could protect communities from future natural disasters.

Emily Settles (Nashville, Tenn.) examines feminine resilience through her project "Sister Sin & Spare Rib: Safety, Softness, & the Resilience of Womanhood." Through large-scale oil paintings and acrylic prints, Settles challenges historical representations of women as passive subjects, instead celebrating joy, connection, and empowerment. She is also mentored by Dr. Dittenber.