UNCW College of Science and Engineering

05/27/2026

Assistant Professor Brittany N. Zepernick is shining bright as a recipient of the prestigious Daylight Award in Research ☀️🔬.

As part of an international team, she’s helping lead groundbreaking discoveries on how light shapes microbial, photosynthetic life in the water column, unlocking insights that could impact our understanding of climate and ecosystems worldwide.

Brittany N. Zepernick, assistant professor in the UNCW Department of Biology and Marine Biology, has been named a recipient of The Daylight Award in Research.

05/19/2026

Beneath the surface, the Veterans Memorial Reef stands as a living legacy, honoring those who served while giving new life to our coastal ecosystems. 🇺🇸🌊

UNCW Coastal Engineering students are helping uncover how this unique site interacts with the ocean, using a 9,500-gallon wave flume to simulate conditions and study wave energy around the reef. Their research not only supports future preservation efforts but also advances our understanding of how artificial reefs can protect and sustain marine life.

Military veteran Thomas Marcinowski's final wishes to be interred beneath the waves prompted him to form a nonprofit that enables others who served to have their cremains interred in eco-positive reef modules, including nine whose ashes are to be placed on the seafloor Monday.

05/18/2026

A young black bear spotted in midtown Wilmington has neighbors talking, but there’s no need to panic. 🐻

Dr. Rachael Urbanek, professor of wildlife ecology and certified wildlife biologist in the UNCW Environmental Sciences Department, explains why sightings like this can happen and shares simple, smart tips on what to do if you encounter one. Stay alert, respect their space and help keep wildlife truly wild. 🌿

Over the last half-century, the black bear population has made a strong recovery, while the coastal plain has seen rapid development. That likely means an increase in human-bear interactions, even in denser, more urban areas like Wilmington. So, what do you do if you see a black bear? (Hint: don't p...

05/14/2026

A UNCW research team has been selected for NCInnovation funding to develop an at-home, fabric-based neural sleep monitoring platform, bringing brain-based sleep diagnostics directly to you. Led by Karl Ricanek Jr. and Alex McDaniel, the NeuroWeaveAI NeuroHealth Platform is tackling a major gap in sleep health access. 🧠💤

uncw.edu/news/research/2026/05/brain-health-monitoring-technology-selected-for-ncinnovation-funding

05/13/2026

CSE faculty are turning bold ideas into impact, with several awarded FY27 internal catalytic funding, supporting innovation, creative work, and cutting-edge research. These awards help spark new collaborations and push boundaries in exciting ways.

👏 Congratulations to all the recipients!

Research and Innovation announced the Fiscal Year 2027 Catalytic Funding awardees.

05/08/2026

CSE faculty researchers are making waves as 2026 Research Achievement Award recipients recognized for groundbreaking discoveries, real-world impact and inspiring student engagement along the way.

Congrats to our Rising Research Excellence Awardees, emerging leaders shaping the future of their fields:
✨ Hosam Alamleh (Computer Science)
✨ Matthew McLean (Biology & Marine Biology)
✨ Re*****on X. Poulin (Chemistry & Biochemistry)

uncw.edu/news/research/2026/05/2026-research-achievement-award-recipients

05/07/2026

Just a "gist" of what happens when Intelligent Systems Engineering meets big inspiration! From building their own personal healthcare companion (shoutout Baymax!) to high-stakes LED showdowns and autonomous environmental tech—the 102 class projects stole the show. 🛠️✨

05/06/2026

💙🏀🐬 Instant connection, lifelong home.

Alexandra Zelaya ’26 knew the moment she stepped on campus that UNCW was where she belonged. As a marine biology major and Seahawk basketball player, she found a community that welcomed her to be every version of herself—on the court, in the classroom and beyond.

Alexandra Zelaya ’26 said she knew as soon as she came to UNCW that the university was her new home. The marine biology major and basketball player felt welcomed by the Seahawk community to be every version of herself.

05/05/2026

Mika Collins is the first graduate of UNCW’s Software Engineering (SENG) program! 🎓💻

Mika majored in software engineering with minors in computer science and Spanish, served on the Software Engineering Advisory Board and supported fellow students as an undergraduate teaching assistant.

Launched in Fall 2024, the SENG program is designed to meet industry demand with real-world tools, teamwork and strong technical foundations, and Mika is leading the way.

The first UNCW graduate from the software engineering program, Mika Collins ’26 is also the program’s outstanding graduate.

05/01/2026

🎓 Meet Charlie Caputo ’26—a member of UNCW’s first graduating class in Intelligent Systems Engineering!

As part of this innovative program, Charlie studied an engineering field focused on designing smart technologies that can sense, analyze and respond to the world around them. The ISE program has equipped Charlie with the skills and experience needed for a bright future in engineering. 🤖

As part of UNCW’s first intelligent systems engineering graduating class, Charlie Caputo ’26 has worked on developing a robotic system to assist surgeons.