N.C. A&T to Host 2026 ASCE Carolinas Student Symposium

Concrete Canoe Competition Among Featured Events at Lake Brandt
Office of Media Relationship

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 1, 2026) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will host the 2026 American Society of Civil Engineers Carolinas Student Symposium, Thursday, April 2, through Saturday, April 4, bringing together civil engineering students from across the region to compete in a series of technical and design challenges.

The ASCE Carolinas Student Symposium challenges undergraduate and graduate engineering students from colleges and universities across the Carolinas to apply classroom knowledge to real-world design problems. This year’s theme, “Engineering Marvels” will put a comic book superhero twist on the symposium.

North Carolina A&T, home to one of the nation’s leading historically Black college and university engineering programs, serves as host institution for the regional gathering, with most events taking place on campus.

The signature concrete canoe competition requires teams to design, build and race canoes constructed entirely of concrete — demonstrating principles of structural engineering, materials science and project management. The event at Lake Brandt will serve as one of the marquee attractions of the symposium.

WHAT: 2026 ASCE Carolinas Student Symposium “Engineering Marvels” Concrete Canoe Competition

WHEN: Friday, April 3, 2026, 9 a.m.

WHERE: Lake Brandt Marina, 5945 Lake Brandt Road, Greensboro, N.C. 27455

CONTACT: N.C. A&T College of Engineering Director of Communications Jordan Howse, 336-285-3681, jmhowse@ncat.edu

N.C. A&T Chemistry Student Named 2026 Goldwater Scholar

by Charity L. Cohen

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 2, 2026) – Muzan Ebrahem, a junior in the College of Science and Technology (CoST) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, has been named a 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholar, one of the most prestigious national awards for undergraduate students pursuing research careers in science, mathematics and engineering.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship, awarded by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, significant research experience and a clear commitment to doctoral study and research‑intensive careers in STEM fields. Named for U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the program was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. The scholarship provides up to $7,500 per academic year to support undergraduate tuition, mandatory fees, books, and room and board.

“Muzan represents the very best of what it means to be an Honors scholar,” said Margaret I. Kanipes, Ph.D., dean of N.C. A&T’s Honors College. “Her ability to pair intellectual depth with purposeful research and impact speaks to her drive and vision for the future. This recognition affirms not only her talent but also the kind of transformational student experience we aim to provide through the Honors College. We are incredibly proud of her and excited for what lies ahead.”

Ebrahem, an Honors College student studying chemistry, holds a 3.94 GPA and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in cancer biology, with a focus on identifying novel cancer vulnerabilities and advancing targeted and hybrid therapeutic approaches. Her academic and research resume reflects a high caliber of independence, intellectual maturity and interdisciplinary engagement for an undergraduate student.

“Being named a Goldwater Scholar is an incredible honor and affirms my commitment to pursuing a research career,” said Ebrahem. “I am deeply grateful for the mentorship, research opportunities and support I’ve received at North Carolina A&T. This recognition motivates me to continue asking challenging questions and contributing to research that can advance our understanding of cancer and improve therapeutic approaches.”

At A&T, Ebrahem conducts research in the Department of Chemistry under the mentorship of Rachel Bangle, Ph.D., assistant chemistry professor, where she investigates the synthesis and application of shape‑dependent silver nanoplates as antimicrobial agents. Her work integrates nanomaterials synthesis, spectroscopy, and microscopy to address challenges related to antimicrobial resistance.

“We are incredibly proud of this outstanding achievement. Receiving the Goldwater Scholarship is a testament to Muzan's exceptional talent, dedication to research, and commitment to scientific excellence,” said Abdellah Ahmidouch, Ph.D., CoST dean.  “This recognition also reflects the outstanding mentorship provided by her faculty advisor, Dr. Bangle. Together, they exemplify the excellence in research and scholarship we strive to cultivate in the College of Science and Technology.”

In addition to her on‑campus research, Ebrahem completed a highly competitive summer undergraduate internship program at the University of Pennsylvania, where she conducted cancer biology research under Donita Brady, Ph.D. Her project examined novel copper‑binding inhibitors aimed at overcoming resistance mechanisms in melanoma therapies. As a result of her research excellence, she was selected to present her findings at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium, an honor awarded to only a select group of participants nationwide.

“At North Carolina A&T, our Goldwater nominees represent the very best of undergraduate research excellence, and Muzan truly stands out at the national level,” said Gerard Dumancas, Ph.D., Goldwater Scholarship campus interim liaison and associate Honors College dean of Research and Program Innovation. “She combines exceptional academic strength with remarkable research independence and creativity. Her ability to design experiments, troubleshoot complex challenges, and think deeply about scientific problems places her well beyond her undergraduate peers.”

The Goldwater Scholarship Program at A&T is administered through the Honors College. Students interested in learning more about the Goldwater Scholarship or the application process are encouraged to email Dumancas at ggdumancas@ncat.edu for additional information.

 About North Carolina A&T State University

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the nation’s largest historically Black university, as well one of the top 25 “Most Innovative” universities in America (U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2024). North Carolina A&T is a land-grant, doctoral research university and a constituent member of the University of North Carolina System. An exponential university, A&T is recognized widely for its national leadership in graduating African American students in engineering, agriculture and other STEM fields. The university was established in 1891 as only the second land-grant college created under the second Morrill Act and is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.

N.C. A&T Researcher Receives USDA Grant to Conduct Cold-Stress Study of Looseleaf Lettuce

From Lydian Bernhardt

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 1, 2026) — A researcher at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has been awarded a two-year federal grant of $260,533 to use hyperspectral imaging and artificial intelligence to identify varieties of looseleaf lettuce that can withstand cold and freezing temperatures that damage or kill most crops.

Harmandeep Sharma, Ph.D., a research assistant professor in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and the principal investigator on this project, was awarded an Agriculture and Food Research Initiative grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Arnab Bhowmik, Ph.D., an associate professor of soil science and soil microbiology at N.C. A&T, is the project’s co-principal investigator.

Starting with 100 varieties of lettuce obtained from the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System, Sharma will grow looseleaf lettuce in her Sensors for Sustainable and Efficient Plant Production (SENSE) Lab on campus. Her goal is to identify 10 varieties most resistant to the cold.

“Lettuce is a very common crop that has been studied widely for how it handles heat and water stress, but there has been little research on its ability to survive in cold weather after germination,” said Sharma. “This study will be among the first to pinpoint cold temperature thresholds in selected looseleaf lettuce accessions. With an increase in adverse weather conditions that cause fluctuating temperatures, it’s important to understand how cold stress affects lettuce yields.”

During the project, Sharma will grow lettuce in a controlled-climate chamber and subject the young plants to progressively colder temperatures ranging from 4°C (39°F) to -6°C (21°F). Hyperspectral imaging will be used on the surviving plants to capture spectral signatures that can indicate stress and collect a range of morphological, physiological and biochemical data. This data will be used to develop deep-learning models to predict health, yields, survivability and potential of cold-resistant lettuce varieties.

Sharma said hyperspectral imaging is a more precise, efficient and non-destructive method of conducting high-throughput assessments of plant traits. In addition to identifying looseleaf lettuce cultivars that could be bred with other varieties to improve lettuce productivity in colder weather, this study could create a research protocol for studying other green leafy plants.

“North Carolina A&T has been focused on helping small-scale farmers adapt to changing climate conditions,” said Radiah Minor, Ph.D., interim CAES dean. “This project serves as a terrific example of how the scientific research done right here on our campus can provide farmers with more options and better advice that can help them run sustainable and profitable growing operations.”