East Carolina University celebrated research and its impact as the Office of Research, Economic Development and Engagement held its annual Research and Creative Achievement Week (RCAW) April 6-10. RCAW demonstrates how research and creative activities equip students with critical-thinking skills and workforce preparedness.
More than 400 students and postdoctoral scholars presented their work, engaging with the community on impactful discoveries emerging from ECU’s labs, classrooms, studios and fieldwork.
“At ECU, our research and creative activity are about more than discovery for discovery’s sake,” said Sharon Paynter, senior vice provost for research and innovation. “They are about impact — in our disciplines, across eastern North Carolina, and far beyond. They reflect curiosity paired with responsibility, creativity paired with purpose, and a deep commitment to doing this work the ECU way: collaboratively, ethically, and with care for one another.
“Research and Creative Achievement Week gives us an opportunity to celebrate the students and faculty mentors who drive that work forward, and it gives them a chance to share their work and practice presenting it to a wider audience.”
Student Showcase
The week began with research presentations on Monday as 242 undergraduate students shared their findings.
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow in all areas of life, including education. Carleigh Harris, a junior elementary education major and Honors College student from Robersonville, wants to use the technology in an ethical and effective manner in elementary school classrooms.
Harris collaborated with Dr. Kristen Gregory, associate professor of elementary education in the College of Education. Harris said that she shared her experience using AI for literacy instructional planning during a literacy skills class. That experience piqued her interest and planted the seeds for her own research to support pre-service teachers, who are college students in educator preparation programs working toward teaching certification.
Ryan Cole discusses his research during an undergraduate research symposium at the Main Campus Student Center. (ECU Photo by Rhett Butler)
“My research was focused on designing, developing and conducting a professional development workshop for pre-service teachers on how to ethically implement AI in their instructional planning and on its potential use for students during lessons,” she said. “The purpose of this project was to educate and advocate for AI literacy, use and ethics in education.”
During the research process, Harris reviewed literature on teacher professional development, AI in education, and AI tools in education. She then selected topics for her professional development workshop: AI foundations and ethical considerations; AI prompting; AI for instructional planning; AI for student engagement; and AI for differentiation and accessibility. Harris incorporated ChatGPT in the development of course materials and activities for each topic and introduced them at her workshop.
Harris believes that her research will give educators the knowledge and skills to use AI ethically and effectively, which will benefit students.
“In eastern North Carolina, this research has the potential to positively impact K-12 students’ learning by promoting more accessible, differentiated and engaging learning experiences,” she said. “As many schools in eastern North Carolina serve diverse and underserved populations, preparing teachers to thoughtfully integrate AI can help address resource gaps, personalize instruction and support a wider range of learning needs.”
Harris plans to continue her research after graduation.
While some people may find snow to be a nuisance, Ryan Cole, a senior applied atmospheric science major from Fayetteville, isn’t one of them.
“The weather is something that I’ve also been fascinated by, especially snow,” he said.
“Snowfall is every kid’s dream so you can get out of school. I had the opportunity to study why snow works the way it does and when to expect it during the winter.”
Working with Dr. Rosana Ferreira, professor of atmospheric sciences, and Scott Wade master teaching instructor in the Department of Earth, Environment and Planning, Cole used historical data from snowfalls in North Carolina from 2006-20. They investigated how the origin location of storms that brought snow would affect whether eastern North Carolina or western North Carolina would receive snowfall. The goal was to identify a link between storm track and snowfall distribution.
“We found a link between origin location and snowfall distribution, which is really cool,” he said. “You can get an idea if a storm is coming from a specific location such as over the Gulf or the middle of the country, whether western North Carolina or eastern North Carolina can expect to see snow. I hope to make it easier to forecast where snowfall is going to occur and eventually how much is going to occur.”
Cole will continue his research at ECU as he pursues a Master of Science in geology.
“We’ve already discovered that there is a link between origin location and snowfall distribution. In the fall, we’re going to switch the focus to determining why that link is there,” he said. “Our goal is to deepen the understanding and continue to improve forecasting.”
A Center for Research
Graduate student Brittany Mansfield won the seventh annual Capturing the Art of Science image competition with her submission, “Biocement in Bloom.” (Contributed photo)
After the undergraduates shared their work, Tuesday showcased the work of graduate and postdoctoral students, and Wednesday featured ECU’s centers and institutes as well as a celebration of the university’s designation as an Research 1 (R1) institution.
Krizay Elenitoba-Johnson, chief operations officer for Nipro Americas, which is building a medical device manufacturing facility in Greenville, delivered the keynote address on Wednesday afternoon. It was not an accident, nor charity, that the global corporation chose Greenville, he said.
“It was a calculation, the kind of rigorous evidence-based analysis that any serious company applies when it’s making a long-term capital commitment,” he said. “This institution and what it represents really was a match made in heaven for us.”
The university’s commitment to research — through its centers and institutes, through its faculty researchers, and through the students it produces — stood out, he added.
“It tells companies like Nipro that this institution generates knowledge at scale, and it attracts serious researchers,” Elenitoba-Johnson said.
Thursday’s docket included an image competition called “Capturing the Art of Science,” a symposium for international students, music and dance performances, education research, a rapid-fire research pitch competition, and career readiness workshop.
The winners of the week’s competitions were honored in a ceremony Friday and included:
Undergraduate Posters
- Kelsey Dudash – Art and Design
- Isabella Harrelson – Biomedical Sciences
- Ryan Costner – Business
- Trisha Rangaraju – Community Engagement
- Carleigh Harris – Education
- Molly Lasure – Engineering
- Graziella De Souza Nunes – Human Health
- Gema Andrade – Humanities
- Annaleise Darrohn – Interdisciplinary Innovation
- Ryan Cole – Natural Sciences
- Sarah Chambers and Nidia Acevedo – Nursing
- Jay Blackwelder – Social Sciences
- Quinn Cerina – Technology and Computer Sciences
Undergraduate Podium Presentation Awards
- Dylan Miller – Biomedical Sciences
- Gabriela Gervasio and Chloe Cannon – Community Engagement
- Kyle Kirwin – Engineering
- Abby Trzepacz – Humanities
- Caramia Landis – Social Sciences
Outstanding Undergraduate Mentors
- Kathrin Rothemich – Research
- Rebecca Bernard – Creative Activity
Graduate and Postdoctoral Podium Presentation Awards
- Ava Starnes – Art and Design
- Narges Sedaghat – Art and Design
- Connor Cribb – Biomedical Sciences
- Brittany Daniels – Education
- Jade Nguyen – Engineering
- Bishop Guempel – Human Health
- Esha Thakkar – Human Health
- Nevaeh Harris – Humanities
- Garrett Maggio – Natural Sciences
- Jessica Long – Social Sciences
- Cynthia Kaye – Technology and Computer Sciences
Graduate and Postdoctoral Poster Awards
- Kathryn Lorbacher – Biomedical Sciences
- Jennifer Johnson – Education
- Leah Rumble – Engineering
- Selina Banks – Human Health
- Elizabeth Paradise – Humanities
- Alexia Atkinson – Interdisciplinary Innovation
- Joanna Mathew – Interdisciplinary Innovation
- Terry Papavasilis – Natural Sciences
- Katie DeRouen – Social Sciences
- James Williams – Technology and Computer Sciences
Graduate Faculty Mentor Awards
- Hal Holloman – Doctoral Category
- Any Jnah – Master’s Category
Doctoral Dissertation Award
- Justin Sharpe – Social Sciences, Business, and Education
Master’s Thesis Award
- Raphael DuSablon – Math, Physical Sciences, and Engineering
- Alexander Morrow – Humanities and Fine Arts
Capturing the Art of Science
Capture 180
- Taylor Craft – Overall
- Taylor Craft – People’s Choice
Community Partner Award
- Pitt County Health Department
Racing Ahead
- Kendall Pixley – Undergraduate Winner
- Laura Palmo – Graduate Winner
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