WSSU research endeavors are centralized to three areas: health and social justice, community and economic development, and STEM innovation. As a Historically-Black College and University (HBCU) our researchers benefit from having access to specialized communities, and having diverse perspectives that institutions without our designation recruit for research collaborations.
Annual Figures 2018-19
450 Students Supported
91 Awards
$52.9 M Awarded
11 Research Centers
Research at WSSU has a global impact. The translational research we conduct helps communities that need our support most. The basic research we explore contributes to the disciplines in ways only HBCUs can. Supporting research at WSSU supports more than just WSSU students, it supports our communities.
Community Engaged Scholarship
North Carolina Mathematics and Science Education Network (NC-MSEN) is a community based project to recruit student grades 6-12 to pursue high level mathematics and science based courses by preparing them with Saturday Academy, the Summer Enrichment Program, tutoring, mathematics and science competitions, field trips, Parent Involvement for Excellence (PIE) Clubs, and leadership development.
CSEM’s B.I.G. Idea in Community Engagement is an integrative needs-based approach that connects businesses, individuals, and governments to help generate interventions and structural reform for the benefit of the community.
International Research through Study Abroad engages students in scholarship on a global level. Students develop multi-cultural perspectives by traveling to locations like South Africa, Brazil, or South Korea and participate in humanities and social science projects that are authentic to the local communities to which they travel.
WSSU Research In the News
Greater Winston-Salem awards WSSU for innovation partnership in regenerative medicine project by National Science Foundation
November 11, 2025
WSSU is among the universities recognized with the “Truliant Collaboration of the Year” award by the Winston-Salem Chamber for its role in the groundbreaking National Science Foundation (NSF) Regenerative Medicine Engine.
WSSU secures $1M investment from Adobe for digital empowerment and student success
October 27, 2025
WSSU has received a $1 million investment from Adobe Inc. to expand digital equity, leadership development and student success across campus.
WSSU hosts inaugural Summer Research Institute on Interprofessional Collaboration
October 27, 2025
WSSU successfully hosted the inaugural Summer Research Institute that brought together 11 fellows and 19 expert mentors and presenters from across the U.S., Canada and the U.K.
