Posted on August 11, 2020

Lauren Bailes, Esther Leerkes
Lauren Bailes (left), doctoral student and research assistant, works with Dr. Esther Leerkes (right) on the iGrow research project. The research team resumed data collection when North Carolina transitioned to Phase 2: Safer at Home and has implemented new practices and procedures to keep researchers and participants safe.

The shift to online in March didn’t just affect classroom instruction or student activities. Faculty research – much of which involves community partners, human subjects, labwork, focus groups, and interviews – also shifted in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some researchers were able to continue their work online, while others had to press pause on their projects.

With North Carolina now in Phase 2: Safer at Home, some research projects have been able to slowly and safely resume data collection – complete with masks, social distance, and a variety of other safety procedures. But for many faculty, research has become a primarily online, remote practice, requiring more creativity and flexibility than ever before.

How have researchers altered methodologies and processes? Will COVID-19 have a long-term impact on research at UNC Greensboro? Faculty from across campus share their experiences and perspectives below.

.