Tags: faculty research

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AI agents have a memory problem. Franklin researchers are working to fix it.

Researchers in Franklin College of Arts and Science have built a new memory architecture for AI agents that improves response accuracy on complex tasks up to 23 percent.   The system, called Synapse (Synergistic Associative Processing and Semantic Encoding), addresses the current struggle for large-language models and agents to recall past conversations. This “contextual isolation” often results in weak and conflicting responses.…
Charlotte Garing, Rongjie Liu, and Yifan Wang

3 Franklin College of Arts and Sciences professors receive NSF CAREER Awards

Three professors in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences have received National Science Foundation CAREER Awards to fund research and community outreach.  Each year, the foundation recognizes about 500 early-career faculty who have displayed excellence in research and education. These faculty members have the potential to serve as academic role models in their careers, and their awards fund research, labs, equipment, and new…
plants in test tubes

$21.1M in research awards secured by Franklin faculty over summer 2026

More than $21 million in external research funding was secured by faculty in the University of Georgia's Franklin College of Arts and Sciences during May, June, and July 2026.  The 31 awards from federal agencies, foundations, and industry partners underscore the breadth of Franklin's research enterprise and will support discoveries while providing new opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students.  Among the largest…
Magdy Alabady with students in the greenhouse.

A carnivorous plant offers clues to one of biology's biggest questions

New research into a carnivorous pitcher plant is helping University of Georgia scientists understand one of biology's most challenging questions: how plants assemble and maintain stable, functioning microbial communities. The work could eventually help researchers design beneficial microbial communities for crops.  The research is moving microbiome science beyond simply cataloging microbes and their genes toward uncovering the genetic…
Greg Strauss working with patient

The first signs of schizophrenia may appear years before psychosis

Most people associate schizophrenia with hallucinations and delusions. Gregory Strauss, professor of psychology in UGA's Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, studies symptoms that often precede both. People in the early stages of schizophrenia may gradually lose motivation, withdraw from friends, and stop enjoying activities they once loved. These changes, known as negative symptoms, often have a greater impact on daily life than…
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Franklin research questions whether anti-crime crackdowns reduce violence

When violence surges, governments often reach for the same playbook: send more police, deploy the military, increase arrests, and impose harsher penalties. But new research from the University of Georgia’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences suggests those strategies may sometimes result in more violence, not less. In two studies conducted with collaborators led by Guillermo Escaño of Villanova University, Franklin sociologist William…
Timothy Yang

Franklin history professor Timothy Yang unearths hidden histories

For Timothy Yang, history isn’t just about the past. It’s also key to understanding how the world came to be. As an associate professor at the University of Georgia’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Yang approaches his research using a “microhistory” perspective, using one event or case study to demonstrate larger themes and global impact. On the surface, his research focuses on Asian history and the role of commodities like food and…
Jeff Pilgrim

Artemis II: Franklin alumnus Jeff Pilgrim’s innovation on its way back to Earth

Artemis II returns to Earth late tomorrow afternoon, April 10, with Franklin–connected innovation on board. Jeff Pilgrim (B.S., chemistry, ’95), a University of Georgia Franklin College of Arts and Sciences alumnus, designed a laser spectroscopy instrument that monitors cabin air aboard the Orion spacecraft, helping safeguard astronauts on deep-space missions. This achievement underscores the impact of Franklin-trained scientists on space…
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Franklin “Spark Hub” looks to expand into a new generation of chip-based biotechnical platforms

Led by physics professor Yiping Zhao, the Smart Biochips and Sensing Systems research “Spark Hub” at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of Research is building on UGA’s internationally recognized strengths in chemical and biological sensing. Researchers are developing precision sensor-based tools that rapidly detect disease, monitor health, and track environmental conditions. The Smart Biochips and Sensing…
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Celebrating the Franklin Spark: Honors Week celebrates top Franklin faculty

Franklin College of Arts and Sciences faculty and students are receiving top UGA awards during Honors Week. Since the 1930s, UGA has celebrated the accomplishments of its students and faculty with a dedicated week each spring semester. This year’s honorees exemplify the Franklin Spark, the characteristics that define faculty, students, and alumni at the intersection of the arts and sciences: ambitious, curious, creative, innovative, and tomorrow…
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Unlocking cellular secrets: Franklin researchers named AAAS fellows

Two faculty members from UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences are among the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2025 Fellows, retired biochemistry and molecular biology professor Gerald Hart and cellular biology professor Karl Lechtreck. Election to AAAS is one of the nation’s most prestigious scientific honors.  Hart’s work has revealed how complex sugar modifications regulate cellular…
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What really drives us to drink? New research from Franklin faculty offers insight

New research by Franklin College of Arts and Sciences professor Dylan Richards, recently published in the APA journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, explores a straightforward question: what influences whether people drink alcohol responsibly? Drawing on data from college students and adults followed over time, the research identified a clear pattern. People whose psychological needs are met are more likely to maintain healthier…
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UGA biochemist Lance Wells named prestigious 2026 ASBMB fellow

Franklin College biochemistry and molecular biology professor Lance Wells was appointed  a 2026 Fellow of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). In addition to his teaching, Wells serves as associate director of the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center (CCRC), one of the few research centers worldwide dedicated to the study of complex carbohydrates. A graduate of Georgia Institute of…
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