Research UNCovered


Research UNCovered is a biweekly series showcasing the many faces of research at Carolina, from undergraduate students to faculty, across all disciplines. Every other Wednesday, learn what inspired our researchers to pursue their field, how they’ve overcome obstacles, and a little about their lives beyond their labs and offices.

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RUNC: Samuel Akau

PhD student Samuel Akau engenders creative, participatory public policies.

Sahar Ahmad

Sahar Ahmad is a postdoctoral researcher in the Biomedical Research Imaging Center within the UNC School of Medicine. She uses neuroimaging to research brain development across the human lifespan.

Erik Zhang

Erik Zhang is a teaching assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. He studies why people give preference to the needs and interests of family members, friends, and themselves over strangers.

Farnosh Mazandarani

Farnosh Mazandarani is a PhD student in the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. She studies popular pornographic media content in the U.S. and how trends in popularity coincide with societal and cultural events, advances, and movements.

Elijah Gullett

Elijah Gullett is a senior majoring in public policy and minoring in urban studies and planning within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. He studies how housing regulations impact family budgets and decision-making.

Yao Li

Yao Li is an assistant professor in the Department of Statistics and Operations Research within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on developing efficient and robust machine learning models to solve real-world problems.

Raj Bunnag

Raj Bunnag is a master's student in the Department of Art & Art History in the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. He uses printmaking to shed light on historical and present-day racist violence and politics within the United States.