The Mathematics Graduate Student Association (MGSA) hosted the inaugural Graduate Research in Math (GRiM) symposium at UNC Charlotte on Feb. 8, fully planned and executed by and for graduate students.

The Klein College of Science graduate students presented on a variety of mathematical fields, ranging from pure to applied mathematics, and covering topics including graph theory, Ergodic theory, and statistics. Attendees included graduate and undergraduate students and faculty from UNC Charlotte, the University of South Carolina, and Clemson University.

The symposium’s plenary lecture, “On Turing’s formula and the estimation of the missing mass,” was presented by Michael Grabchak, Ph.D., professor of statistics. Grabchak explored how Turing’s formula can give rise to methods for detecting whether two works were written by the same author. Results from this method were shown through examples ranging from Shakespeare to celebrity social media posts.

Sarah Helfert Murphy, graduate assistant in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, helped to reinstate MGSA as an active campus organization in 2021. “There is no one-size-fits-all formula for getting a Ph.D. in mathematics, so we thought this event would be a nice way to showcase the different forms getting a degree in this field can take,” Murphy said. “I consider it a great success, and we hope to offer this event again next year, and to expand our horizons to invite participants from even more universities.”

Since reactivating MGSA, the organization has offered more events each year for graduate students interested in math. MGSA’s current goal is to offer events that both cultivate a sense of community among graduate students and provide opportunities to grow academically.

“In graduate school, it can be very easy to isolate yourself due to the demanding workload. We seek to mitigate this by encouraging students to talk about math and bond over our shared experience,” Murphy explained. “Our organization also serves to advocate for graduate student interests in the mathematics department.”

Susan R. Trammell, Ph.D., professor of physics and optical science, has earned a Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU)-National Academy of Inventors (NAI) International Patent Award.

The PMU-NAI International Patent Award recognizes international inventors who create plausibly positive societal impact with an innovation that has received a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office within the past 5 years.

Trammell accepted the award in December 2024 during a ceremony on PMU’s campus in Saudi Arabia. Her third place win included a $10,000 prize to assist in the commercialization of the patent to help bring the technology to market.

Trammell’s research in optics in the Klein College of Science has developed innovations in the fields of biomedical imaging, mid-IR/thermal imaging in medicine, surgical navigation and image-guided surgical interventions.

In 2023, Trammell was recognized as co-author with the Biopreservation and Biobanking Best Paper award from ISBER, the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories, for the best paper.

Read more about Trammell’s award from the UNC Charlotte Division of Research.

UNC Charlotte announced the formation of the Charlotte AI Institute with the Center for TAIMing AI and the Center for Innovation, Translational Research and Applications of Nanostructured Systems, CITRANS, leading the way.

These two Centers are leveraging the quickly developing field of artificial intelligence to create cutting-edge discovery, interdisciplinary collaboration and workforce development. The Centers are driving innovation along with advanced research from the Klein College of Science in biological sciences, physics and optics, chemistry, and mathematics and statistics.

Faculty in Klein College also make important research contributions to CIPHER, the Center for Computational Intelligence to Predict Health & Environmental Risks.

Read more about the Charlotte AI Institute.

Klein College of Science Centers leveraging AI

Center for TAIMing AI

Center for Innovation, Translational Research and Applications of Nanostructured Systems

Kirill Afonin, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, and M. Brittany Johnson, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, were featured in Newswise for their research on  nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs), which are highly effective in drug or vaccine delivery.

The Klein College of Science researchers, along with Drs. Dobrovolskaia’s (NCI) and Zakharov’s (NCATS) teams, have developed new applications for Artificial Intelligence Cells. AI-Cell uses artificial intelligence to quickly select the appropriately shaped nanoparticles that can deliver targeted treatments personalized to an individual’s DNA.

“If designed correctly, your body will recognize these artificially made NANPs as its own components, which can initiate and guide various biochemical processes and help fix the problem from within,” Afonin said. “The big idea is to develop a biomolecular language to explain to our bodies and immune system how to reveal and deal with certain diseases – and make this technology user-friendly, widely available, personalized, and affordable.”

The NANPs can fold in specific, predictable ways, and quickly selecting the correct shape to generate the intended immune response helps target the therapy to the precise location.

“The immune system is a very complex process,” Johnson said. “A lot of times we think the immune response is always productive. In reality, it’s a little bit more like a see-saw and you want things to be in balance.” 

“You need peaks at certain times… and you want that immune response to have certain qualities. And then you want that to resolve so that you can go through a healing process,” Johnson said. “You have to be cautious because you could stimulate an unwanted immune response.”

Read the full article in Newswise.

Jordan C. Poler, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, was featured as the cover story on WBTV’s “On Your Side Tonight” to discuss his innovations on filtering forever chemicals from water supplies with a purification method he designed.

Poler spoke with reporter Natisha Lance to explain how his innovation, funded last year as one of eight grants statewide from NCInnovation, uses sustainable and low-cost materials to remove contaminants and chemicals such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, from water.

The filters can be regenerated nearly indefinitely, which allows for the chemicals to be removed without concentrating them elsewhere by disposing of the filter.

“What you’ve done is you’ve concentrated all the impurities onto that filter and then you put it into the landfill and all those impurities leach back out,” Poler said. Poler’s innovation allows the filter contents to be regenerated and used again. “We can keep on going for hundreds of cycles without any loss in performance so it’s a sustainable solution to a really difficult environmental problem.”

Poler has engaged in this research for eight years and is hoping to be able to bring the sustainable water filter to the market within a year.

“We don’t have to create an environmental problem while we’re trying to solve an environmental problem,” said Poler. “It’s really rewarding working on something that could have a direct impact on people.”

Watch the full segment on WBTV.

Elizabeth Skelly, a Ph.D. student in the Chemistry and Nanoscale Science program, has received a 5-month internship at GSK through the prestigious GSK Early Career Program. Skelly will start her position on January 13 and will be assisting in drug target discovery and candidate evaluation using cutting-edge CRISPR Cas 9 genome editing techniques.

Skelly is also the recipient of the Leadership Development Award from the American Chemical Society Younger Chemists Committee. The award covers the registration fee, transportation, lodging, and meals associated with attending the 2025 ACS Leadership Development Institute in Houston. Skelly will interact with National ACS representatives and with ACS Local Section leaders from across the country while attending leadership development workshops.

Jordan C. Poler, Ph.D., professor of chemistry, discussed his innovations to remove harmful and forever chemicals from drinking water with the Costal Review. Poler’s research is funded in part by a grant from NC Innovation.

The purification system developed by the Poler Research Group cleans per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, and other toxins such as pesticides, heavy metals and pharmaceuticals from drinking water at the point of use, such as the refrigerator filter for tap water or in well water systems. The filtration utilizes ion exchange with sustainable, regenerable materials, which can remove chemicals even at very low concentrations.

“It’s very hard to remove things at extremely low concentrations,” Poler said. “That’s why PFAS is such a challenge because it bioaccumulates. You can be drinking this water for years and then these problems creep in. So, ion exchange is, I think, the way to go,” Poler said.

Read the full article at the Coastal Review.

The article was also republished in NC Health News.

Ishwar D. Aggarwal, Ph.D., research professor in the Klein College of Science, was elected to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) 2024 Class of Fellows. He will be inducted during the 14th annual NAI meeting in June 2025 among an elite group of researchers across a variety of government and non-profit research institutions.

Aggarwal has been issued 104 U.S. patents with more applications in process. He previously lead the Optical Materials and Devices branch at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), where he pioneered the development, applications and commercialization of infrared transmitting optical materials, chem-bio sensors and high strength transparent materials, and moved patents from emerging technologies to the industrial sector in medical, defense, and aerospace applications.

Aggarwal joined UNC Charlotte in 2011 and his research lab in the Department of Physics and Optical Science works in fiber optics, optical wave guides, fiber devices, and transparent and laser gain ceramics.

His contributions to the optical sciences field have been recognized by many awards and distinctions, including a fellow of The Optical Society of America (OSA), now known as Optica, the Navy’s Alan Berman Publication Award, the Thomas A. Edison Patent Award, and the Optical Society of America’s David Richardson Medal. He was recently inducted into UNC Charlotte’s inaugural Million Dollar Research Circle for his significant research funding achievements.

The NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors, and Aggarwal is the first UNC Charlotte professor to receive this esteemed recognition. He joins NAI fellow Robert Keynton, Ph.D., dean of the William States Lee College of Engineering, who was elected in 2017, prior to his time at UNC Charlotte.

Read more about Aggarwal’s fellowship from the UNC Charlotte Division of Research.

Jaden Ramsey’s time at UNC Charlotte has been so enjoyable, that even though she is graduating on December 13, she doesn’t really want to leave. 

“I love being part of a community and you’re a part of something bigger than yourself when you’re at school,” said Ramsey, who is earning a bachelor’s of science degree in mathematics with a concentration in actuarial science, from the Klein College of Science. 

When Ramsey graduated from high school she wasn’t completely certain what she was interested in pursuing, so she took classes online at Western Piedmont Community College at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was definitely hard because I love being around people,” said Ramsey. “I took a walking class so I got to go to school once a week and I could be outside and walk around school.”

In her sophomore year Ramsey was able to attend more classes in person. Enjoying fitness, she took several more gym classes and she found her academic passion in mathematics. “I fell in love. I love math, I just love calculus,” said Ramsey.

Choosing Charlotte

Ramsey applied to several North Carolina schools as a transfer student but wanted to find the right place to spend the next two years, where she could maximize her experience.

“My mom went to Charlotte, and she loved it, but I was unsure because it was a big decision. I applied to three schools and prayed a lot about it and felt like this was where God was leading me. I’m really happy I chose Charlotte,” said Ramsey. “My first semester I knew no one and it was really hard, but I got involved and now I don’t want to leave.” 

Getting Involved

Ramsey lived on campus, played intramural sports and became a member of two different Christian ministry groups. She joined clubs and found community everywhere she could, making great friends and having experiences she will never forget. Ramsey served as secretary, treasurer, and then president of Campus Bible Fellowship, making a connection that led to her first international travel experience with a mission trip to Italy this past summer. She was also a member of student ministry group M28 for two years.

She took classes at UREC and played several intramural sports including flag football, soccer and volleyball. Ramsey was the captain of her 6 v. 6, co-ed, intramural fall 2024 soccer team called “The Jesus Jocks,” and really enjoyed playing with her “awesome team” as they advanced into the semi-finals in league play.

A Leadership Lesson in Actuarial Science

Relating to her degree, Ramsey was a member of the Actuarial Science club for one and a half years, and was elected in May to serve as president through the end of her last semester and graduation. 

This September, the club helped plan Actuarial Science Day, hosting employers, alumni, and high schoolers and their families. The event turned into a leadership lesson when Hurricane Helene caused localized flooding and damage on the day of their largest annual event, which changed campus conditions and moved classes online. Ramsey swung into action when the large catering order meant it wasn’t as simple as rescheduling the event. 

“That day I was in contact with the faculty and the business services coordinator, trying to figure everything out. They make the food a day ahead of time, and I didn’t want a hundred boxed meals to go to waste, so I paid the fine, which thankfully I was reimbursed for later. We wondered ‘what are we going to do with all these boxed meals?’ I grabbed my friend Joseph because I didn’t want the lunches thrown away when we could donate them,” said Ramsey. 

Conditions across the city meant many agencies who would normally accept food donations were closed for the day. “Our first choice was the Jamil Niner food pantry, but it was closed, and half of the places we called weren’t answering,” said Ramsey. “I called friends for ideas and we ended up dropping some off at the fire station and the rest at the police station.” 

Ramsey was “a lot less stressed” when the event was held on its rescheduled day. “I reordered food and sent a lot of emails to coordinate the funding issues to replace everything for our new day. It all worked out great,” said Ramsey. 

Grateful for Support

As Ramsey is currently applying for jobs and looking for her next path, she is grateful for the supportive faculty and staff who have helped her along the way. 

That support has also been financial as Ramsey has been the recipient of several scholarships, including the Shaban Mathematics Scholarship and D.W. Simpson Actuarial Scholarship, and the R C Schroeder, Robert Anderson, and Thomas S. Marshall scholarships. 

“The faculty and staff here are unmatched. Shout out Dr. Wafaa Shaban, she’s amazing– the faculty have been so impactful and such a positive influence on my career. They do care about you and want what’s best for you. I have had a lot of passionate professors,” said Ramsey. 

And even though it’s time to leave Charlotte, Ramsey has “made the most amazing memories,” that she will take with her. “There’s so many opportunities to grow and find out what you’re actually interested in, to make new friends, and it’s just been incredible.”

On December 13, Ashley Choi will graduate from the Klein College of Science with a bachelor’s of science, majoring in biology and minoring in biotechnology. She hopes to take the culture of collaboration she found on Charlotte’s campus with her as she diversifies her lab experience as a research technician before continuing her education.

“I love Charlotte for its community, I feel like everyone has a space here,” Choi said. “The people are so welcoming, you can find community anywhere.”

Choi grew up in Cary, North Carolina, in a close-knit and entrepreneurial family including her grandparents, parents, and brother. While Choi was active in many extracurriculars, including music, sports and art, she thrived as a member of Athens Drive High School’s color guard team.

“I just love the collaborativeness and feeling as one,” Choi reflects. “I like being able to root for other people’s success and feel like other people are also rooting for my success.” 

While applying to colleges, Choi hoped to find a similar community built upon mutual support. “I wanted to meet other people and find new connections, it was a plus that the research here is also amazing,” she said.

In the lead up to freshman year, Choi participated in the University Transition Opportunities Program (UTOP), UNC Charlotte’s rigorous six-week summer program where she enjoyed completing an extra seven credits and acclimating to campus life. Choi met her best friend at UTOP, and it’s a connection that she’ll always be grateful for.

Joining the Truman Lab

Choi’s interest and talent in the sciences began in middle school, and after taking a molecular biology course in which she excelled, she solidified her path as a biology major.

In 2022, Choi joined Andrew Truman, Ph.D.’s lab, which was recently awarded a new R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Choi worked alongside the lab’s undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral researchers on understanding the Chaperone Code, the myriad of post-translational modifications that impact the function of the Hsp70 molecular chaperone. 

“Research wasn’t something I was very interested in until I joined the lab,” she said. “I feel very lucky that Dr. Truman and his lab are very collaborative and supportive.” 

Her current project is focused on Cdc37, a co-chaperone to Hsp70. Cdc37 is specific to the cell cycle and is important to protein folding, cell division, cell death, invasions such as viral infections, blood vessel formation, and protein stabilization, which are relevant to understanding and combating cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Her previous research in the lab has also explored v-Src, an important driver of cancer, and the Client Code, a collection of proteins that interact with Hsp70.

From Choi’s experience, what makes UNC Charlotte stand out as a top-tier research institution is the opportunity for undergraduates to feel empowered to lead their own research projects. “When I go to these national conferences, many people assume I’m a graduate student because of how much understanding and first-hand experience I have working on these projects,” she said.

Choi has enjoyed passing on the knowledge she has gained to new researchers, and is thankful for her own mentor, Ph.D. student Megan Mitchem, for leading by example. “My mentor Megan helps me with both my scientific struggles and personal struggles,” Choi said.

In addition to her research in the Truman lab, Choi works as a Communications Consultant within the Department of Biological Sciences. She assists both the cell biology and microbiology labs by reviewing assignments and helping students improve their scientific communication skills.

Campus Involvement

As an active member of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), Choi received a 2024 SACNAS Travel Scholarship to attend her second NDiSTEM conference this year.

Seventeen UNC Charlotte students were present in Phoenix, Arizona as the chapter received the 2024 Outstanding Chapter Award for Long-Term Sustainability. 

Choi has received multiple awards and funding while at UNC Charlotte, including the Office of Undergraduate Research’s Travel Award in 2024, SACNAS 2023 C.O.L.O.R. funding, and the Office of Undergraduate Research Conference’s Best Poster Award in the Science, Technology, & Engineering category in 2023.

Looking ahead

As Choi begins the interview process for lab positions after graduation, she is looking forward to continuing to seek out new challenges to diversify her skill set. “Going to different places and learning new skills is very important, I think it makes you a better researcher and a better scientist,” she said.

During her challenging personal experiences during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, she found herself as a passionate health advocate for the first time. After developing additional lab skills, she plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. dual program and continue on to work as a physician scientist.