Dr. Sherine Obare kicks off her first week as UNCG’s Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement with an award for her scholarly impact. At its Triad BioNight celebration, the NC Biotechnology Center honored five of the Piedmont Triad region’s most impactful individuals and organizations in the life sciences with NCBiotech Excellence Awards. Obare received the 2024 Academic Development Excellence Award, which recognizes educational program development or workforce skill development.
The professor of nanoscience, who previously served as dean of the UNCG NC A&T Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, received the distinction for her work at the intersection of environmental chemistry and engineering. Her research has led to innovations in environmental contaminant detection and remediation; the development of nanoscale materials for drug delivery, healthcare, biomass conversion, and alternative energy; and an increased understanding of the fate, transport, and toxicity of anthropogenic nanomaterials.
Under Obare’s Joint School leadership, UNCG became home to the newly established Innovative Collaborative Laboratory for Nanotechnologies to Empower the Future Soldier, a collaboration with the Soldier Center of the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. ICONS focuses on research breakthroughs to support the future of defense, as well as the workforce development for the scientists and engineers who will create national security innovations. She also founded the Joint School’s Institute for Research Technologies, focused on strengthening partnerships between the university and industry. The institute was also recognized by NCBiotech with a 2022 Biotechnology Service Excellence Award and by the University Economic Development Association with a 2022 Award of Excellence in Innovation.
A fellow of the American Chemical Society, Obare has published over 100 articles and has received several research awards including the National Science Foundation CAREER award, and the NSF Division of Materials Research American Competitiveness and Innovation Fellowship. She was an associate editor for the Journal of Nanomaterials and has edited five books, including “Chemistry Education for a Sustainable Society (2020),” “Green Technologies for the Environment (2014),” and “The Power and Promise of Early Research (2016).”
Over her career, Obare has trained more than 100 students in her laboratory and has been highly active in promoting science to elementary and middle school students at the local and national levels.
In 2021, Obare was named a Trailblazer by Chemical and Engineering News, and in 2020, the Triad Business Journal named Obare as one of its Outstanding Women in Business. She has also been named a TBJ Triad Power Player in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 for shepherding and executing game changing initiatives that are moving the Triad economy forward.
