UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School

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Meet three graduate students whose curiosity, commitment and creativity benefit The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and its impact beyond campus.

As a child in South Korea, Gooyoon Chung was fascinated by the human brain, regarding it as one of the biggest mysteries in science. As a Ph.D. student of applied physical sciences, Chung develops devices that can interface with human brain organoids — pea-sized spheres of living neurons that closely mimic the responses and functions of a real human brain.

“I hope my research can serve as the key that enables neuroscientists to better understand the human brain function in disease and help cure suffering from brain diseases," Chung said.

Jaime Lindh is passionate about understanding the causes of inequitable government policies and finding policy solutions to increase governmental effectiveness. As a political science Ph.D. student, Lindh studies the relationships between local governments and business communities in his native country of Chile.

“I’m interested in understanding how business leaders engage with local governments and the negative or positive consequences of their involvement in terms of development and policymaking," Lindh said.

Musicology Ph.D. student Briana Nave studies music’s use and interactions with modern scientific medicine in the early 20th century and the style and craft of popular music criticism of the 1960s and 1970s. Her dissertation explores how scientists studying musicians treated the body’s ability to make music as a sign of some greater truth about how the mind and body work.

“What I find in my research is that the idea of musical ability became very embodied; scientists thought only those with special genes, nerves or brains could make great music,” said Nave. “Among the problems with this thought is that it comes with a sense that people are born to do a certain thing — that your hardware determines your destiny."

Learn more about these students, their research and the private funding that has supported them: https://go.unc.edu/j6GLg
Department of Political Science at UNC-Chapel Hill UNC Department of Music

Have teaching experience and want to help support the next generation of TAs at Carolina?

Apply to be a New TA Orientation Student Ambassador! Work with fellow graduate students and Graduate School staff to help plan and lead the university-wide orientation program this August.

💰 $150 stipend
📅 Applications due Friday, June 5 at 5:00 p.m.

To help you prepare to apply, here are short-answer questions from the application: https://ow.ly/iNs450Z5AYM

👉 Apply here: https://ow.ly/ePNO50Z5AYN

Heads up, Tar Heels 👀

Davis Library and the Undergraduate Library will have summer closures and service changes while renovation and improvement work takes place. Be sure to plan ahead for studying, printing, borrowing materials and your favorite campus study spots this summer.

Find closure dates, alternate locations and service updates here:

library.unc.edu

🏆 The Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring recognizes graduate faculty who provide outstanding support and guidance to their doctoral students.

Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Dr. Frank R. Baumgartner, Richard J. Richardson Distinguished Professor of Political Science!

A nationally recognized scholar of the policy process and criminal justice issues, Dr. Baumgartner was praised by students for mentoring that “goes far beyond advising on research projects” and for helping doctoral students cultivate their own scholarly identities, develop strong research records, and create real-world impact through their work.

Learn more about Dr. Baumgartner: https://fbaum.unc.edu/

🌏 International graduate students and postdocs: this one’s for you!

Join us next Tuesday for a special seminar with Dr. Sonali Majumdar, based on her newly released book, Thriving as an International Scientist. The session will explore practical strategies, confidence-building tools and creative approaches to help international scholars turn challenges into opportunities and build fulfilling careers both within and beyond the U.S.

📍 Medical Biomolecular Research Building, Room G202
🗓 Tuesday, May 19
⏰ 10:00 a.m.– 11:00 a.m.
☕ Reception with coffee and snacks to follow from 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Sponsored by BioSTAR and co-sponsored by Office of Postdoctoral Affairs and The Graduate School.

👉 Register: https://ow.ly/6FCA50YZM9T

🎓 This past Saturday, over 300 doctoral graduates crossed the stage at the Dean E. Smith Center, earning their hoods and making history. It was a day filled with joy, pride and plenty of Carolina spirit.

Check out these moments from your 2026 doctoral hooding ceremony 🩵

🚐 Earlier this month, 18 graduate students took learning beyond the classroom and into the community during our recent Graduate Student Community Tour.

From innovation hubs to historic community spaces and local nonprofits, students explored the people, places and partnerships shaping real impact across Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Along the way, they connected across disciplines, engaged with community leaders, and discovered new ways to turn their research and passions into action.

See more of the tour in our photo essay here: https://ow.ly/KkeQ50YP1X7

Town of Chapel Hill OCNCGov Habitat for Humanity, Orange County, NC HOPE NC Transplanting Traditions Community Farm TABLE PORCH Chapel Hill Carrboro NCImpact Initiative

Teaching your own course or refreshing one you’ve taught before?

Join the Course Development Institute for Graduate Teaching Assistants and learn how to design a strong syllabus, create engaging lessons, and build meaningful learning outcomes using backward course design.

🗓️ Thursday, May 7
🕘 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
📍Graduate Student Center

Coffee and lunch included ☕

Register: https://ow.ly/vkIO50YNWpO