research

Supersizing energy efficiency by unlocking the potential of superlattice
Xiang Chen, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, wins NSF CAREER award to explore the complexities of energy supportive materials. She is working to unravel these complex relationships and unlock the full potential of these ionic-conducting superlattices, pushing the boundaries of what’s currently possible in various technological fields.

Celebrating faculty excellence
June 6, 2025 William States Lee College of Engineering faculty have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to research, innovation, teaching and service. These achievements reflect the College’s ongoing commitment to engineering excellence and societal impact. College of Engineering Teaching, Research and Service Recognitions Winners are pictured with college administration Dean Robert Keynton and Associate […]

International corporation Oerlikon Additive Manufacturing contributes equipment to W.S. Lee College of Engineering
This academic year, one of the world’s leaders in metal additive manufacturing, Oerlikon AM donated an industry-grade metal additive manufacturing machine to William States Lee College of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science, demonstrating its continued commitment to research and discovery.

Faculty researchers honored for funding, research successes
Faculty researchers from W.S. Lee College of Engineering were joined by fellow faculty from across UNC Charlotte as they were honored for leading research projects with $1 million or more in active, external funding in 2024.

Jordan Landis is testing the waters. Literally.
Jordan Landis focuses the microscope to get a better view of particulates that are magnified 100x beneath the lens. She is not surprised to find multiple pieces of debris in the 1ml water sample. While these non-biodegradable microplastics are tiny, Landis understands they can hold much larger impacts: the invisible-to-the-naked-eye sized plastics may negatively impact public health.

Charlotte Research is on the Rise
UNC Charlotte’s William States Lee College of Engineering welcomes new faculty to help support growing research activity and academic enrollment (Fall 2024 was Charlotte’s largest enrollment ever for first-year engineering students).
These new faculty bring expertise in the expanding fields of advanced manufacturing, connected vehicles, computer architecture, applied optics, materials science, quantum mechanical modeling, construction engineering, environmental engineering focusing on natural hazards and more.

Niner Engineer Wins at Biomedical Sciences Symposium
More than 30 research posters competed for prizes at the 2024 Biomedical Sciences Symposium, which took place on Sept. 9 at the Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City.

First multi-disciplinary collaboration in BATT CAVE
Dr. Christopher Bejger, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, teamed with Dr. Lin Ma, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, to successfully achieve the first multi-disciplinary research collaboration by the Battery Complexity, Autonomous Vehicle and Electrification Research Center (BATT CAVE).

Niner Engineer Adeleke wins ZEISS Scholarship
Mechanical engineering graduate student Adeniyi Adeleke wins ZEISS academic scholarship.

NCInnovation awards pilot grant to Kamalasadan
Sukumar Kamalasadan, Duke Energy Distinguished Professor of Electric Power Engineering, has been selected to receive a grant by NCInnovation. He is one of only eight UNC System faculty to receive this award.