Already a testicular cancer survivor, Albright ’19 was attending a remote work meeting from his parents’ home in Raleigh when he experienced blurred vision, nausea and pain on the left side of his face.

Albright had a stroke caused by the bursting of an arteriovenous malformation, an abnormal tangle of blood vessels that causes problems with the connections between arteries and veins. Doctors said the rare occurrence has a 13% survival rate.

When Albright woke up after the first of two emergency surgeries, he heard a nurse talking to him in what sounded like a different language. FaceTime video calls with his family, unable to be with him because of COVID-19 restrictions, were equally difficult to understand.

“That’s where I started learning what aphasia is,” said Albright, a former Tar Heel football player who earned a business administration degree at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Aphasia is a communication disability, most commonly caused by strokes, that affects the ability to speak, understand, read and write. “All your intelligence is in your head; you just can’t communicate,” Albright said.

Doctors told him he was fortunate to be alive and at times were skeptical about his prospects of returning to his consulting job in New York City.

But the brain is malleable, and Albright was ready to bet on himself. He went through intensive rehabilitation, a “boot camp of relearning everything.” After a year, he returned to his job while still recovering, a process marked by ups and downs and frustration but also perseverance and progress.

“I didn’t realize that it was going to be a five-year journey of just working as hard as I possibly can,” Albright said. He still has the condition, but he’s now in his second year of Duke University’s Master of Business Administration program.

Albright has been so successful at regaining his language skills that he’s created an artificial intelligence tool to aid others with aphasia.

Launched earlier this year and recently added to Apple’s App Store, AphasiaGPT is a personal speech therapy assistant that helps people rebuild communication skills through AI-powered conversations, exercises and real-world scenario practice.

During the toughest times of his recovery, Albright tried to “catch” moments of hope whenever he could. He wants AphasiaGPT to provide not only practical help but also inspiration to those in the thick of a recovery.

“Just telling them what helped my journey, it gives me so much motivation,” Albright said. “I’m like, ‘Wow, I can actually change people’s lives.’”

AI for good

AI use wasn’t mainstream during the first years of Albright’s aphasia recovery.

But by early 2023, he began using AI for tasks like simplifying text, figuring out how to best phrase his thoughts and looking up word definitions.

“I started digging in, really understanding AI and seeing what could help me,” he said.

Later, as a Duke MBA student, Albright found himself asking, “What is my passion? What do I want to do in my life?”

He realized he wanted to share the technology that was helping him with his day-to-day life with other people with aphasia.

But using AI and building it are two different things. Albright and his intern, Kashish Maheshwari, got to work.

Albright’s lived experiences influenced the tool’s layout and features:

• Word Finder: Uses a webcam to help users identify things around them and also includes a dynamic dictionary.
• Recorder: Creates summaries and to-do lists from recorded audio.
• Personalized News: Summarizes current events.
• Vocabulary Builder: Organizes a master list of words with their definitions and can generate images of terms and flashcards.
• Coach: Allows users to describe what they see in an AI-generated image either by speaking or typing and receive feedback.
• Simulation: Lets users practice conversations in specific scenarios like a party.

“Tools I wish I had five years ago,” Albright said.

Over 300 people are currently using AphasiaGPT, and Albright recently spoke about it at a large speech language pathologist conference.

These health professionals are “angels,” Albright said, and he’s glad to have received positive feedback from many on his AI innovation. He’s also returned to Carolina to speak to graduate students learning to become speech language pathologists.

“The SLPs are so excited,” he said, “and it seems like their entire world is changing just because of it.”

Dreaming big

Looking ahead, Albright is bullish on the possibility of incorporating wearable technology like Meta AI Glasses into AphasiaGPT to create a more comprehensive and interactive learning environment.

He also recently submitted an application to YCombinator, a startup accelerator and venture capital firm in San Francisco.

But Albright is proud of AphasiaGPT in its current form. The app helps others with aphasia and also aids Albright with his own recovery.

“I’ve always said I’m in a dark tunnel,” he said, “but now I’m starting to see a light.”

In this system-wide leadership role, Carter will accelerate the translation of medical research breakthroughs into clinical applications to improve patient care not only across UNC Health’s network of hospitals and clinics, but throughout North Carolina and beyond. In partnership with key stakeholders, he will develop commercialization strategies for the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health system, forge partnerships between researchers, clinicians and industry leaders, advise inventors and entrepreneurs, and expand access to impactful cutting-edge solutions.

Carter’s transition to UNC Health builds on his proven track record of transforming research discoveries into real-world health and economic impact, enabling him to focus on medical and healthcare commercialization and entrepreneurship – areas of critical importance to North Carolina’s research economy and patient care.

Since joining Carolina in 2023, Carter has directed Innovate Carolina and provided the strategic vision to advance and build a stronger, more cohesive innovation pipeline at the University. During his tenure, UNC-Chapel Hill-affiliated startups and commercialization activities generated nearly $8 billion in economic impact across North Carolina.

He also led pan-University collaboration through strategic partnerships with the Carolina Angel Network, Innovation Hubs, the Eshelman Institute for Innovation, the Institute for Convergent Science and the NC Collaboratory, translating foundational research and classroom knowledge into real-world impact through commercialization, startups, and partnerships.

Under Carter’s leadership, Carolina climbed 32 spots in the National Academy of Inventors Top 100 Worldwide Universities rankings – the largest single-year jump in the University’s history. He also established UNC-Chapel Hill’s chapter of the National Academy of Inventors to support and celebrate the achievements of inventors within the University community.

Carter also guided the creation of the UNC Innovation Impact Framework, a bold 10-year strategic approach designed to drive economic growth and improve lives across North Carolina and beyond. Developed in collaboration with partners across the University, this framework strengthens Carolina’s position as a national leader in innovation and innovation-based economic development, laying out a unified vision to build, support, elevate, engage and nurture innovation that serves the public good.

Jackie Quay, interim executive director of Innovate Carolina and the director of licensing and innovation support in the UNC Office of Technology Commercialization, will provide interim leadership for the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development following Carter’s departure.

The report, Supercharging Energy Storage Innovations in North Carolina, analyzes North Carolina’s energy storage needs and capacity for innovation through research and development in academia and industry. It makes recommendations for practitioners and policymakers that could supercharge advances in energy storage science and technology.

Funded through the Next Generation Energy program and supported by the North Carolina General Assembly, the report was developed by UNC-Chapel Hill researchers in the UNC College of Arts and Sciences’ chemistry and economic departments.

“Energy storage is the bridge between our current grid and the energy future we envision for North Carolina,” says Gregory P. Copenhaver, director of the UNC Institute for Convergent Science and Chancellor’s Eminent Professor of Convergent Science at Carolina. “Advancing energy storage science and new technologies is a win-win. It’s about building a system that works smarter, cleaner and more reliably for everyone.”

The report shows that energy storage technologies — including both short- and long-duration storage — are essential for managing power generated by intermittent sources like wind and solar, ensuring energy can be used when demand is highest.

“This work, and previous research funded by the Collaboratory, clearly shows energy storage being an essential tool for both today’s and tomorrow’s grid,” says Jeffrey Warren, executive director of the North Carolina Collaboratory. “This report is intended as a strategic road map for policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to work together to continue building out the requisite energy infrastructure North Carolina to retain its cross-sector economic dominance.”

To provide opportunities for fueling innovation, gaining energy independence and training the modern energy workforce to meet a growing job market in North Carolina, the report offers five key recommendations to accelerate North Carolina’s transition:

1. 1. Make better energy data available for North Carolina.
   2. Enhance investments in long-duration storage.
   3. Establish mechanisms for basic science researchers to communicate with applied scientists.
   4. Invest in shared user facilities for energy storage research.
   5. Invest in metal-ion battery workforce development and innovations, including industry-academic partnerships.

In 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly invested $15 million in the Next Generation Energy program, administered by the North Carolina Collaboratory. The goal is to support university-led research that advances energy technologies and economic development across the state. “Supercharging Energy Storage Innovations in North Carolina” is one of the first major deliverables funded through this program. It provides sound data, modeling and recommendations that utility leaders, lawmakers and energy companies can use when making future decisions.

The report team was led by these UNC-Chapel Hil researchers:

Lead research authors:

• Alexander J.M. Miller, Sustainability Energy Research Consortium director and professor, chemistry department, UNC College of Arts and Sciences
• Jonathan W. Williams, Center for Regulatory and Industrial Studies director and professor, economics department, UNC College of Arts and Sciences
• Andrew Yates, professor, economics department and environment, ecology and energy program, UNC College of Arts and Sciences

Contributing research authors

• Perry Holtzclaw, SERC research assistant
• Daniel A. Kurtz, SERC research project manager
• Alex Marsh, graduate research associate, economics department, UNC College of Arts and Sciences
• Drew Van Kuiken, graduate research associate, economics department, UNC College of Arts and Sciences
• Matthew D. Verber, engineer, chemistry department, UNC College of Arts and Sciences

Project director

• Gregory P. Copenhaver, ICS director

Project managers

• Hailey E. Brighton, ICS associate director of grants and programs
• Sam Seyedin, ICS associate director

Read more research stories from UNC-Chapel Hill

Sawyer is a leading creativity and learning researcher and the Morgan Distinguished Professor in Educational Innovations at the UNC School of Education. He saw tabletop games as an ideal way to cultivate what he calls “the maker mindset” — a hands-on, design-driven approach to learning. The assignment immersed students in campus makerspaces, where they could experiment with tools like 3D printers and laser cutters as part of their creative process.

“They would be learning about design principles, maker competencies and creativity skills, while at the same time learning how to use these makerspaces,” Sawyer explained.

Each game had to include a theme, story structure and catchy name and be designed for two to four people to play in under 20 minutes. Students had to 3D print custom pieces, create 2D components using laser and vinyl cutters and design printed boards or cards.

Anna Engelke (M.A. ’17) is the education program manager at BeAM, after being part of the inaugural MEITE cohort. (UNC-Chapel Hill)

“Professor Sawyer was able to give us restrictions but still allow creativity,” said Luke Wilkinson, a student in the class, who found that “some restrictions and navigational boundaries help you find creativity and that perfect reflection of who you are.”

From hand-sculpted clay figurines to sleek laser-cut boards, each game reflected its creator’s personality through a unique blend of storytelling, strategy and visual design.

Inspired by shuffleboard and Skee-Ball, Andrew Bartlett, a business administration and exercise and sport science double major, designed Push and Score. Meagan Leung, a computer science and information science double major, created Recipe Rush, in which players race to collect ingredient cards and complete recipes.

From MEITE student to BeAM mentor

A member of the inaugural cohort of the Master of Arts in educational innovation, technology and entrepreneurship program helped shape the learning environment for creating these games. Anna Engelke ’17 (MA) is the education program manager at BeAM, working closely with faculty from more than 30 academic departments to integrate design and making into their courses.

Engelke credits the interdisciplinary nature of the MEITE program with preparing her to lead cross-campus collaborations like this one.

“The [MEITE] program helped me develop a sense for how different disciplines can work together to be able to create things,” Engelke said. “That’s definitely something I’ve carried through into my current role.”

For this class, Sawyer and Engelke designed a syllabus combining technology workshops on tools like Adobe Illustrator and 3D modeling with foundational education principles. Future assignments will explore robotics and educational research-driven design.

Anna Engelke (M.A. ’17) is the education program manager at BeAM, after being part of the inaugural MEITE cohort. (UNC-Chapel Hill)

Cultivating the maker mindset

Senior Sarah Gonzalez admitted she hadn’t realized campus makerspaces were even available before the course.

“We’ve spent the whole semester so far making these games and learning how to use the BeAM makerspaces,” said Gonzalez. “Seeing it all come together has been really cool.”

The project gave students a hands-on way to turn abstract ideas into tangible experiences. Sawyer hopes the skills they’ve gained — creative problem-solving, iterative design and the ability to work within constraints — will extend far beyond the classroom. Whether they go on to teach in K–12 settings, present ideas in corporate boardrooms or collaborate across disciplines, the experience of making something with their hands will shape how they approach learning in any field.

“I told the students, ‘I’m not teaching you how to be game designers. What I’m teaching you is the ability to think like a maker,’” Sawyer said.

Read more about the maker movement class. 

The report, produced by Innovate Carolina and released Oct. 20, highlights major achievements in technology commercialization, startup formation, talent development and entrepreneurship support. Four core commercialization metrics — invention disclosures, provisional patent applications, issued U.S. patents and IP-based startup launches — each increased by more than 20% compared to fiscal year 2024. The release coincides with University Research Week, an annual campus-wide event underscoring Carolina’s growing strength in translating research into real-world impact.

“As the volume of foundational research and number of valuable ideas at the University grow, we’ve built a strategy for translating more of the inventive thinking and discoveries that emerge from our labs and classrooms into products, services and companies that make a tangible impact for the people and economy of North Carolina,” said Dedric A. Carter, vice chancellor for innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development and chief innovation officer at UNC-Chapel Hill.

“The University’s innovation pipeline is driven by faculty who conduct research and develop new inventions, enterprising students who pursue bold solutions, staff who offer support, entrepreneurs who found new ventures, alumni and partners who invest and donors whose generosity fuels our momentum.”

The report detailed several key stats showing impact.

• $7.96 billion in economic impact from UNC-Chapel Hill-affiliated startups, including:
  • $4.17B in direct impact
  • $2.14B in indirect impact
  • $1.65B in induced impact
• 21% increase in invention disclosures (158 annual total)
• 29% increase in new provisional patent applications (94 annual total)
• 30% increase in issued U.S. patents (60 annual total)
• 33% increase in IP-based startups launched (12 total, tying all-time record)
• Carolina’s 32-spot rise on the National Academy of Inventors Top 100 Worldwide University List — the largest single-year jump in its history
• 682 active UNC-Chapel Hill-affiliated startups, including 537 (79%) based in North Carolina
• More than 131,000 global jobs tied to UNC-Chapel Hill startups, including over 14,000 in North Carolina

Several Carolina-affiliated startups noted milestones in the past fiscal year.

• Liquidia received FDA approval and shipped its first commercial product, YUTREPIA.
• G1 Therapeutics was acquired by Pharmacosmos in a $405 million deal.
• SonoVascular initiated its first-in-human clinical trial.
• Carpe, co-founded by UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke alumni, was acquired by Topspin Consumer Partners.

These outcomes reflect the work of Innovate Carolina and the University’s broader innovation ecosystem, including the Office of Technology Commercialization, entrepreneurship programs, innovation gap funding and collaborative spaces like the Innovate Carolina Junction coworking hub.

Read the full report.

Fast forward to 2025, and AI is now everywhere – and evolving daily. Yet many philosophical and ethical questions remain.

Since joining the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media as an assistant professor in 2023, Geier has made AI a central part of his work, calling it “the most important thing happening in the world.” He’s had countless conversations with industry leaders, CEOs and philosophers to better understand how AI is being used and the implications of that use. In his own classroom, Geier asks students to use AI for homework and provide their own “human-bot reflections.”

Some of those conversations have been exhilarating, others frightening. But the more Geier dug into AI, the more he realized a larger, public conversation needed to take place. That’s how Converge-Con – Hussman’s first AI convention – was born.

The unique, interactive convention is open to the public and will take place Oct. 22-24 at various campus locations (a full schedule can be viewed on the Converge-Con website). In designing the event, Geier said he wanted to create a gathering similar in atmosphere to South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.

“It’s not just an academic conference. It’s a tech cultural event. It’s art; it’s music,” Geier said. “The idea is: Let’s talk about this and start creating a buzz as UNC being where the conversation is happening.

“AI has potential to do amazing things, and we’re going to showcase some of those. But there’s also some problems, and we’ll talk about those. This is where the conversation is happening, and especially as a school of communication, it’s important for us to take on that role.”

‘The good, bad and the ugly’

As planning for Converge-Con took place, the convention blossomed from a Hussman event into a campus-wide collaboration.

Converge-Con was created in partnership with the UNC School of Law, the UNC College of Arts and Science’s Parr Center for Ethics, the Center for Faculty Excellence and with Innovate Carolina Junction, which will host several of the convention’s events and speakers.

Converge-Con features a wide array of speakers to cover every angle of AI, or as Geier calls it, “the good, bad and the ugly.”

Speakers include corporate heavyweights like Peter Sherman, the head of innovation, integration and growth at Omnicom – the world’s largest marketing services company – and Rob Bernstein, the chief innovation officer at the global public relations firm Ketchum. Other guests come from media giants like CNN, McClatchy and The Wall Street Journal as well as current Carolina faculty.

Events will go beyond panel discussions and will include interactive components, like an AI music session with Carolina professors Mark Katz and Pablo Vega, as well as an immersive, AI-driven art experience by renowned media and lighting designer Tao Wang.

On Oct. 24, the School of Law will hold a first-ever mock criminal trial with an all-AI jury in its on-campus courtroom. Human law students will serve as prosecutor, defense attorney and witnesses, but the case will be decided in real time by three AI programs.

All the while, there will be plenty of room for feedback, questions and comments from audience members.

“The culmination of Converge-Con, in terms of the talking head part, is a huge town hall, and it’s called ‘Risk/Reward,’” Geier said. “It’s going to be an expert representing each of the potentially catastrophic risks of AI: the environment, the stress on the power grid, bias, deep fakes, job loss. Is this a threat to us as a species?

“I’m going to be the moderator, and there will be a room of 450 students. I’ll hand them a mic, and ask them, ‘What’s on your mind? How do you feel about this?’ I want lights, camera, action on UNC having a very important conversation about all of this.”

Vickerman was a biochemistry doctoral student at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the time, trained as a scientist, not an entrepreneur. To learn how to commercialize her research, she needed the Eshelman Innovation Translational Academy.

The academy provides entrepreneurial education and support for innovators and early-career faculty. Most startups fail — up to 90%. The academy’s incubator setting and support improves those odds.

Rising to 30 Under 30

As her postdoc appointment came to an end, Vickerman faced a career crossroads: form a company or accept a secure job in industry?  The Translational Academy gave Vickerman another option, promoting her to a faculty position and surrounding her with expertise and support.

One of her advisers was the co-founder of a Research Triangle biotechnology company that was the first to receive FDA approval for a bioengineered blood vessel.

“Having mentors like that has made all the difference,” Vickerman says. “Eshelman Innovation provided the crucial funding and support to allow me to grow professionally while advancing an early-stage technology.”

The project has raised more than $4 million in grant funding to date. For her promising research into light-activated therapeutics, Forbes named Vickerman one of North America’s 30 most accomplished scientists under the age of 30 in 2025.

“What differentiates the Translational Academy is its dual focus on talent and technology,” says Roy Zwahlen, Eshelman Innovation’s acting executive director and chief strategy officer. “It enables talented scientists to grow into entrepreneurial leaders while advancing specific healthcare technologies toward commercial success.”

Building a Carolina Core

Another Academy alumnus is a cancer survivor turned Carolina cancer researcher.

When Andrew Satterlee was battling brain cancer, his doctors disagreed on what treatments he should receive. As a researcher, Satterlee developed an innovative way to use tumor samples to help match treatment to patient.

Like Vickerman, Satterlee was eager to launch a company but lacked entrepreneurial expertise. Through a grant and a gift from the Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure philanthropy, the academy provided Satterlee funding, a faculty position and a team of advisers.

His program collects brain tumor tissues from patients getting surgery at UNC hospitals and treats the still-living tumors with a broad range of therapies in his lab.

“Eshelman innovation helps you find your way to the resources you need,” says Max Wallace, former CEO of Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. “Some of that’s money, but some of that is advising.”

The advisory team helped Satterlee create the Screening Live Cancer Explants Program and Core, one of UNC-Chapel Hill’s shared research facilities. The core has had immediate success supporting Carolina researchers, including helping Nobel laureate Aziz Sancar develop a new brain cancer drug, and has attracted commercial clients who use it for drug discovery.

“Eshelman Innovation provided me a unique home to build an audacious and unconventional program at the interface of academia and industry,” says Satterlee, Eshelman Innovation assistant professor and the core’s director. “They provided the infrastructure and expertise to help me incubate and shape that vision into the program that exists today.”

The latest academy fellow, assistant professor Anwar Hossain, is a medicinal chemist working to develop a promising drug for chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease now spiking globally.

And Eshelman Innovation is there with him, supporting both talent and technology.

Brandwein says giving back feels natural because UNC was pivotal in helping him find his calling. After several years working in finance, he arrived at Kenan-Flagler to explore what might come next. By graduation, the bagel shop idea that had long been on his mind had become a real company. His Carolina experience –– from faculty mentors who opened doors, classmates who workshopped ideas and local business owners who offered advice –– shaped his career and informs how he shows up now.

Brandwein arrived at Kenan-Flagler with a background in real estate, expecting to continue down that path. He recalls sitting down with Jim Spaeth, a Kenan-Flagler faculty member with expertise in real estate finance, and saying he was thinking of going in a different direction.

“In an instant, he grabbed a yellow legal pad and said, ‘Cool, what are you interested in?’ And it’s been like that ever since,” Brandwein said. “That’s the reason why I started and stayed in Chapel Hill. It’s because of the people. People here will go out of their way for you.”

After all the support he received from the University community, Brandwein feels an obligation to pay it forward.

“We’re involved in as many ways as we can be,” he said. It can be as small as donating bagels to a club event, or as big as making hundreds of Carolina blue bagels to hand out on the first day of classes, as Brandwein and his team did this fall at the Old Well alongside Chancellor Lee Roberts.

Bagels and coffee supplied by Alex Brandwein’s Chapel Hill bagel shop help give Carolina graduate students a space to unwind and connect at Grad Café. (Kelly McDaniel/The Graduate School)

Brandwein’s support also takes the shape of sharing hard-won lessons. He has been a guest speaker for classes in Kenan-Flagler and several other UNC schools. This fall, he will give a guest lecture for MAPS students on starting a business, covering topics like defining a problem, understanding a market, differentiating a product and making a successful pitch. It’s the practical, step-by-step version of his own path, distilled for students who are weighing ideas of their own.

Brandwein is proud that his team can contribute by sharing his expertise and enthusiasm, fueling a morning study session, or offering a pick-me-up during a stressful time. “If we can show up in a small way to add that special something to a moment, that’s what we want to do,” he said.

He’s quick to point out that offering support to graduate students doesn’t require a storefront or a slide deck. It starts with raising your hand. “Reach out to The Graduate School office,” he said. “They’re always ready to collaborate and listen to ideas. One conversation and you’re going to walk away with next steps.”

Sometimes that means a classroom visit or a mentorship match. Sometimes it’s as simple as a dozen bagels and a little encouragement during a busy week.

There are many ways to give back to Carolina. For Brandwein, it’s a mix of time, experience and carbs. “What started as a meeting with The Graduate School turned into a partnership,” he said. “Bring an idea, and people here help you build it.”

This year’s other two laureates are Philip J. Kranzusch from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who won the prize in the life sciences category, and Elaina J. Sutley from the University of Kansas, who won the prize in the physical sciences and engineering category.

The laureates were selected from a pool of 310 nominees representing 161 academic and research institutions across 42 states. The award is “designed to empower them with the freedom to continue to explore bold ideas, driving scientific innovation forward,” said Len Blavatnik, head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation.

“We are tremendously proud of professor Leibfarth for this well-deserved recognition of his groundbreaking work in the chemical sciences,” said Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “Being named a Blavatnik laureate is an extraordinary achievement and a historic first for Carolina, reflecting the far-reaching impact of his research and innovation.”

Leibfarth, the Royce Murray Distinguished Term Professor of Chemistry and the inaugural Institute for Convergent Science faculty fellow, was awarded the prize “for pioneering approaches to upcycle plastic waste and remove toxic ‘forever chemicals’ from water by developing reactions and catalysts that selectively control the structure and function of polymers.”

“Frank is an incredible asset to the College of Arts and Sciences and the Carolina community,” said Jim White, the Craver Family Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “His intuitive scientific insights and passion for service are making an impact on the state of North Carolina and inspiring students, staff and fellow faculty alike. We’re delighted to see him receive this well-earned and remarkable honor.”

Leibfarth said he was especially proud to receive the award for his work at a state university. “Being able to do groundbreaking research that serves the students and citizens of the state is immensely fulfilling and is a responsibility I take seriously,” he said.

In addition to improving the world’s plastic waste problem, Leibfarth also creates polymers to filter harmful household chemicals called PFAS out of water. (Photo by John Gove)

Absorbing PFAS and upcycling plastic

Leibfarth studies polymers, or long chains of repeating chemical structures that make up materials from plastic and rubber to fingernails and DNA. Faced with the problem of toxic chemicals in river water, he began designing a hydrogel, the type of material used in diapers, to absorb PFAS.

Leibfarth got help to scale up his solution from the North Carolina Collaboratory and its NC Pure research project. Leibfarth and collaborator Orlando Coronell conducted pilot tests in four municipal water treatment utilities and cofounded a start-up company to implement the technology more broadly.

Leibfarth’s expertise in polymer chemistry also helped him see how the bonds of the common plastics polyethylene and polypropylene can be modified to produce new, more valuable materials, thereby “upcycling” the plastic waste.

Leibfarth has collaborated with numerous industrial partners to translate this work from a laboratory environment to a commercial setting, while working to address key economic and environmental limitations.

Honors and achievements

Some of Leibfarth’s other accolades include a Sloan Research Fellowship in Chemistry, a Cottrell Scholar Award, the UNC Tanner Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, a Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a Presidential Early Career Award and being named a “Brilliant 10” early-career scientist by Popular Science magazine.

“Since starting at UNC in 2016, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most talented and ambitious scientists internationally who care deeply about making plastics more sustainable and removing forever chemicals from our environment,” Leibfarth said. “The Blavatnik award recognizes their hard work and dedication during their educational journey.”

Read more about Leibfarth and the Blavatnik awards.