Research & Discovery week
Research Discovery week
HOST
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH
ABOUT RESEARCH & DISCOVERY WEEK
The University of New Mexico's 2025 Research & Discovery Week features 50+ events that showcase the excellence and diversity of UNM's research enterprise, fosters the principles of ethical, engaged, collaborative, and fulfilling scholarship, all while promoting resources and opportunities available to all Lobo researchers. Most importantly, these events serve as a pivotal platform to showcase the exceptional contributions of our faculty, sta , and students towards enriching the intellectual capital of our institution and enable our collective ability to positively impact our communities, state, nation, and the world.
research.unm.edu/researchanddiscovery
R&D WEEK
PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIR
MELISSA EMERY THOMPSON, PH.D.
PLANNING COMMITTEE
DANIEL BRENDEN
JANE DELAUBENFELS
MARISSA LUCERO
RAEANN MCKERNAN
KARA MCKINNEY
LARISSA MYASKOVSKY
HANNAH TORRES
GREG TREJO
HANNAH YOHALEM
COVER ART
ARTIST: KAITLIN BRYSON
EXHIBIT TITLE: WE PERFORM GRIEVING AS MUTINY AGAINST ESTABLISHED PATTERNS , 2024.
SIX PHOTOGRAPHS OF QUILTS EMBEDDED IN NOPALES
BIOPLASTIC, ROPE LIGHTS
UNM ART MUSEUM
PHOTO: STEFAN JENNINGS BATISTA
11.13 6:30 PM
11.14 4 PM
FROM DATA TO MIND: HOW TECHNOLOGY IS RESHAPING OUR MINDS AND PERFORMANCE
Poppy Crum, Ph.D.
Crum is a neuroscientist, technologist, investor, and futurist known for her work at the intersection of human experience, sensory systems, and technology innovation. With a doctorate in Neuroscience and Computational Psychology from UC Berkeley, Crum is managing director of Giant Step Capital, adjunct professor at Stanford University, the former chief scientist at Dolby Laboratories, and CTO of Trimble. Crum is an expert in developing and understanding AI and advanced technology systems and their opportunity and impact on human experience and performance. She holds more than 37 patents in augmented sensory systems, personalized technologies, and immersive sensory experiences.
Reception before the lecture: 5 PM - SUB Ballroom A
DNA MISMATCH REPAIR IN HUMAN CELLS: MECHANISMS AND SOME FUNCTIONS
Paul Modrich, Ph.D., Nobel Laureate
Modrich is this year's recipient of the 2025 Riley Schae er Endowed Lectureship. He grew up in Raton, New Mexico and is currently James B. Duke Professor Emeritus at Duke University. Modrich is the recipient of several awards including the Pfizer Award in Enzyme Chemistry, the General Motors Mott Prize in Cancer Research, the American Cancer Society Medal of Honor, and the 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which he shared with Tomas Lindahl and Aziz Sancar. The primary focus of Modrich’s research program has been the mechanisms and functions of strand-directed DNA mismatch repair. This pathway corrects base-pairing errors in the DNA helix and is well known for stabilizing the genome via rectification of errors that occur during chromosome replication.
Reception before the lecture at 3 PM.
CURIOSITY
Rodey Theatre Center for the Arts
2 PM Domenici Auditorium RM
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY-ENGAGED RESEARCH USING THE PIVOT PROJECT
This special session of the Research & Innovation webinar series will introduce the Promoting Innovative and Vital Opportunities for Transformation (PIVOT) project, a community-engaged research partnership that includes the First Judicial District Attorney's O ce, Moving Arts Española, Santa Fe County Uplift Youth, and other community partners. PIVOT is a prosecutor-led community-based diversion and deflection program for youth and young adults.
2 PM Ballroom B SUB Level 2 ANNUAL RESEARCH LECTURE: THE SECRET REVEALED: HOW TO SAVE YOUR LIFE
Dr. David Schade
Dr. Schade, chief of Endocrinology and distinguished professor within UNM’s School of Medicine, will present on his achievements in the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. 11.5
The UNM Annual Research Lecture has been presented at UNM since 1954 and is one of the highest honors the University bestows on its faculty members in recognition of research and creative activity.
Domenici North Wing RM 3710
CTSC BIOVENTURE
The BioVenture showcases biotechnology research and innovation from UNM and New Mexico’s bioscience sector that is boosting the healthcare and economic landscape for New Mexico. Participation is open to all, from academic research to private sector. Includes lightning talks, posters, and a pitch competition.
HOMEOSTASIS OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS
All dynamic systems tend to reach a steady state. In biology we refer to this state of balance as homeostasis. However, the concept of homeostatic regulation can be applied to nearly all complex systems that resist outside forces of change. In this symposium, we will hear about di erent complex systems being studied at UNM, ranging from water ecosystems to virus-host interactions, and the controllers that maintain them in homeostasis.
ADVANCING RNA BIOLOGY IN THE UNM COMMUNITY
8:30 AM
11.6
College of Population Health
RM 1601
INFORMATICS & AI METHODS SYMPOSIUM
Join us for a dynamic symposium featuring hands-on sessions in R programming and AI, synthetic data creation, and using real-world datasets for biomedical research. Learn new computational methods and how AI and open data resources can accelerate your research.
11.11 9 AM
Domenici Northeast RM 2410
We are excited to announce the first RNA biology symposium at UNM Health Sciences Center, a milestone event designed to bring together researchers across UNM to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of RNA science. This symposium will feature talks from UNM faculty actively engaged in RNA biology, who will share their latest research on topics ranging from epigenetic regulation, genome organization, mechanobiology, and biomarker discovery to RNA-based therapeutics and spatial transcriptomics.
CASAA RESEARCH DAY: SCIENCE THAT CONNECTS
At the Center on Alcohol, Substance use, And Addictions (CASAA) our first priority is to reduce su ering and social costs caused by substance use and other addictive behaviors, while improving quality of life. The purpose of CASAA Research Day is to engage with the university and local community in discussions about addiction and addictive behaviors. This year’s event focuses on bridging the gap between scientific inquiry and applied practice.
11.12 9 AM
Clinical & Translational Sciences Center
HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER CORES OPEN HOUSE
Join us to learn about the many core facilities and resources available for research at UNM Health Sciences. Participating centers include the Southwest Center for Advancing Clinical and Translational Innovation; UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center; Interdisciplinary Substance Use And Brain Injury; Center for Brain Recovery and Repair; Autophagy, Inflammation & Metabolism Center; and Center for Metals in Biology & Medicine.
11.13
11.14
WORKSHOPS FEATURED EVENTS
HOW TO (AND HOW NOT TO) USE AI IN THE CLASSROOM
IRB PROTOCOL WRITING
INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS: ROADMAPS TO SUCCESS
NAVIGATING FELLOWSHIPS & HONORIFIC AWARDS IN THE HUMANITIES, SOCIAL SCIENCES, AND ARTS
PRACTICAL AI: TOOLS YOU CAN USE
EUROPEAN RESEARCH CONTACTS AND FUNDING
EXPANDING THE IMPACT OF BASIC NEEDS RESEARCH FOR STAFF AND FACULTY
RESEARCH PANELS & SYMPOSIA
WEATHERING, FRAILTY, AND ADVANCED BIOLOGICAL AGE
BRIDGING THE ARTS & SCIENCES DIVIDE: TRANSFORMATIONAL RESEARCH
ADVANCING PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH AI
AI ADVANCING RESEARCH AT UNM
IT TAKES THE WHOLE PACK: INNOVATING STUDENT WELL-BEING AT UNM
A MEANS TO MORE MEANS: REIMAGINING MASTER’S RESEARCH PROJECTS AS A SUSTAINABLE LIVING INQUIRY
THE FUTURE IS OPEN: COLLABORATING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS WITH OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
STUDENT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FAIR
BIOSCIENCE ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE (BEE) INTERNSHIP FAIR
LOBOBITES 3 MINUTE THESIS COMPETITION GRAND FINALS AND RECEPTION
UNM RESEARCH ADVANCES NEW MEXICO
9 AM - 12 PM
SUB Grand Ballroom
An expo highlighting innovative discoveries and the ways UNM research creates positive impacts on the people and places of New Mexico. Themes include community engagement, public policy, workforce and economic development, heritage preservation, environment and sustainability, and health care.
HANDS ON MY RESEARCH
10 AM - 2 PM
SUB Atrium
Fun, interactive demonstrations of UNM research and outreach programs in engineering, neuroscience, water resources, transportation safety, substance use prevention, and the arts.
RESEARCH SHOWCASES
1 PM - 3:15 PM
Student Union Building Level 3
DIRECTED ENERGY CENTER @ UNM
ECONOMIC RESEARCH FOR A BETTER NEW MEXICO
PREVENTING CHILD MALTREATMENT
ARID RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
RESEARCH INNOVATIONS FOR EDUCATION
SUSTAINABLE SPACE RESEARCH GRAND CHALLENGE SYMPOSIUM
ARTS & CULTURE CELEBRATING ARTS & CULTURE AT UNM
7:30 PM
11.6
Popejoy Hall
UNM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: MUSIC FOR THEIR COUNTRIES
Conducted by UNM Assistant Professor Karin Hendrickson. Repertoire includes Sibeius’s Finlandia, Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7.
Tickets required.
CREATIVE CONVERGENCE: STORIES FROM THE INTERSECTION OF ART, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY
This roundtable brings together four researchers whose work sits at the intersection of art, science, and technology, opening up discussion to explore how to build e ective interdisciplinary partnerships and more.
Followed by an Open House at 12 PM.
THE BODY AS ARCHIVE: GUIDED EXHIBIT AND DISCUSSION
1 PM Elizabeth Waters Center for Dance
This session highlights the tangible dance and history sources embedded in the visual documentation on display in the Elizabeth Waters Center for Dance. These visual documents of creative practices reflect diverse systems of knowledge and demonstrate how UNM and southwest dance exist as sites of artistic, social-cultural and political developments and influences in recent history and the current moment.
MULTILINGUALISM MATTERS
The Grand Challenges "Multilingualism Matters" team brings together scholars whose work advances our understanding of linguistic diversity and language development by focusing on multilingual children.
Hall RM 335
Followed by the Festival of Languages at 3 PM.
OPERA SCENES
UNM Prfoessor Jaime Flora directs the UNM Opera Theatre in scenes from classical and modern opera, operetta, and musical theatre. Tickets required. 11.14
BRIDGING KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS: THE TRANSFORMATION NETWORK’S CONVERGENT APPROACH
The challenges facing the Intermountain West are characterized by extreme complexity and enormous consequences. This workshop shares Transformation Network's approach to these challenges that builds across di erent knowledge systems within academia and community partners.
LIBRARY SCHOLARSHIP DAY
Get to know your library colleagues through their scholarship. University Libraries, the Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center, and the UNM Law Library will showcase research works contributed by our faculty and sta with our campus community. Drop in at any time during the celebration for research presentations, lightning talks, and poster sessions.
BRIDGING THE ARTS & SCIENCES DIVIDE: TRANSFORMATIONAL RESEARCH
The Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusivity Committee at the College of Arts & Sciences (DEAI at A&S) will host a series of panels that celebrate the expertise of faculty, sta , and students in A&S. Our aim is to highlight transformational research that serves the rich and varied cultures of New Mexico and contributes to the success of our local and global communities. We highlight research that engages critical thinking and transformational change.
EXPENDITURES IN FY25 $389M+
AWARDS RECEIVED IN FY25
1,590
We want to thank sta with the UNM O ce of the Vice President for Research, our partner organizations, and sponsors for your invaluable contributions. Without you, this week of events would not be possible.
START-UP COMPANIES FOUNDED IN FY21-25 36
STUDENT RESEARCHERS SUPPORTED IN FY25
1,626 PUBLICATIONS IN 2024 3,500+
research.unm.edu/researchanddiscovery