Lance Barton

Lance Barton, Ph.D. is Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. A biochemist and cellular immunologist by training, he earned his B.S. from Dickinson College and his Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. His research and mentoring have focused on immunology, cell stress, and cancer biology, and his own undergraduate research experiences inspired a career-long commitment to student learning through research.

Over a two-decade faculty career, Dr. Barton taught multiple research-embedded courses (CUREs) and mentored more than 80 students on individual and collaborative research projects. He has held a variety of academic leadership roles, including directing undergraduate research programs, leading an academic department and honors program, and supporting student development through honors societies and research-focused conferences. His experience includes organizing large-scale undergraduate research events, including the State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium.

A national leader in undergraduate research and mentoring, Dr. Barton has served the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) for more than a decade, including as Chair of the Biology Division, and currently serves on the CUR Board of Directors. His professional interests include mentoring frameworks that promote student success, building communities of practice that support effective mentors, and leveraging undergraduate research to advance career readiness and inclusive excellence across the academic continuum.