General News

Carlos Gonzalez-Calderon, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, has been named a 2026 Gambrell Faculty Fellow. With support from The Gambrell Foundation and as part of the Charlotte Urban Institute’s Gambrell Faculty Fellowship, he will join nine other UNC Charlotte faculty as they leverage the scholarship to help develop a better quality of life for Charlotte.  

Elevating UNC Charlotte’s standing in advanced research, Professor of Mechanical Engineering Stuart Smith has been elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, a status nationally recognized as the highest professional distinction awarded to inventors. This honor places Smith among an esteemed group of pioneers recognized for creating outstanding inventions that make a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.

Up seven places, the William States Lee College of Engineering’s online master’s programs increased more than any other university in North Carolina, also the eighth highest increase among engineering programs in the nation.

When a winter storm approahces, engineering professionals think beyond their own homes, with considerations of utilities and the environment. Two of Charlotte’s Niner Engineers shared what is on their minds this weekend, ahead of the storm.

Babak Parkhideh develops technology that will improve North Carolina’s infrastructure efficiency, and can now test and apply his research in the real world with a new grant from NCInnovation. 

Nick Dietterich knows the difference between the easy road and the tough, and as a December 2025 graduate of the construction management program, he has clearly defined which of those he prefers to take.

Jorian Khan knew what he wanted to do when he was searching for graduate schools, but he didn’t know what to call his desired field of study.

He just knew he wanted to improve his coffee.

UNC Charlotte’s commitment to advancing workplace safety and professional readiness has reached a new, competitive milestone. The occupational safety track of the M.S. in Fire Protection and Safety Management is now officially approved by the national Board of Certified Safety Professionals as a Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) Qualified Academic Program.

In September, 20 UNC Charlotte students shook hands and began relationships with professionals from Bobcat Company, the world’s leading manufacturer of construction compact equipment. Each Niner received a $3,000 scholarship, becoming the first students to benefit from a new partnership between UNC Charlotte and Bobcat. 

The 49er Rocketry Team is crowdfunding for a comeback season as it prepares for the NASA Student Launch in the spring. The Niner Engineers look to prove themselves once again on the national stage, redeeming themselves from a lower-than-expected finish last year.