Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science moving to KCOS, Richardson named as Director
Christine Richardson, Ph.D., professor and chair of biological sciences, has been selected to serve as the next Director of the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science. Her term will run through June 30, 2028.
With this new role, CBES is shifting to the Klein College of Science with the support of researchers from across campus, including strong faculty collaborations from the William States Lee College of Engineering. Since the Woodward building opened in 2005, it has been home to research labs from bioengineering and biological sciences, which encourages collaboration.
Richardson will remain in her role as Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences and will lead CBES as a prominent hub for biomedical research in the Charlotte region and beyond, elevating the role of interdisciplinary biomedical research on campus.
“CBES is known for its translational research and there are so many opportunities in the field right now. The center will support the diversity of biomedical researchers we have, forge new partnerships, develop industry opportunities and drive innovation to advance science,” said Bernadette Donovan-Merkert, founding dean of the Klein College of Science. Additionally, the center will help attract top-tier faculty as they will have a “community of eager, interdisciplinary researchers just waiting for them,” said Donovan-Merkert.
Richardson earned her undergraduate degree in molecular biology from Princeton University and her Ph.D. in genetics and development from Columbia University Medical Sciences Center. Her postdoctoral fellowship at Sloan-Kettering Institute continued as a research associate in the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics. She also held an assistant professor role at Columbia University at the Institute for Cancer Genetics and Department of Pathology.
Richardson has previously held several leadership roles at Charlotte, including as director of the Research Experience Undergraduate (REU) program and the master’s and doctorate graduate programs in the Biological Sciences department. She currently serves as Honors College faculty and is the founder and director of two graduate certificate programs in the department. Richardson is a member of many national societies and has mentored students from high school to the doctoral level, including as PI in the Bridges to Baccalaureate program, with an NIH grant that offers intense advising to community college students to complete a biomedical sciences degree at UNC Charlotte. She is a co-PI on three additional active grants, has authored numerous papers, holds patents and presents regularly at conferences.
“I am thrilled and honored to take the reins to lead the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science. I look forward to working closely with university and community stakeholders in the years to come and continue to build on the Center’s excellence that my predecessors Robin Coger and Charles Lee started,” said Richardson.
“I am grateful to Dean Bernadette Donovan-Merkert, Division of Research Vice Chancellor John Daniels and Associate Vice Chancellor Deb Thomas, for their confidence in me to lead CBES. Since its inception, CBES has brought together a diverse group of scientists and engineers from across the university and regional biomedical partners at Atrium Health and Wake Forest. Charlotte has become an ever-increasing hub for the biosciences. With UNC Charlotte’s top-tier research status, the opening of the Pearl District and Wake Forest Medical School, Charlotte’s campus provides an ideal platform to bring together cutting-edge regional research partners and develop multi-institutional partnerships to develop innovative solutions to today’s biomedical challenges,” Richardson said.