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ECU honors leaders in research, creative activity and innovation

Published Jul 27, 2026 by
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Yong-Qing Li, professor of physics in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, received the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity during ECU’s annual research recognition event April 10. The award reflects Li’s 27 years of scientific contributions to the department’s biomedical physics doctoral degree.

Person seated in a research laboratory beside a microscope and imaging equipment, with computer monitors and scientific instruments in the background.

Physics professor Yong-Qing Li received ECU’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity.

Throughout his career at ECU, Li has received more than $4.5 million in external research funding to support projects in physics, optics and biomedical research from agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense. He has published more than 170 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers across the disciplines of physics and microbiology. His pioneering work integrating optical trapping with Raman spectroscopy led to the invention of laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy.

Adam Offenbacher, associate professor of chemistry in Harriot College, received the Five-Year Research and Creative Activity Award. Since joining ECU in August 2017, Offenbacher has secured nearly $2 million in funding from the NIH, the National Science Foundation and other global industry partners. He has published 33 peer-reviewed articles and one book chapter.

His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms for how proteins and enzymes function, which has implications for the development of better anti-inflammatory drugs for human diseases as well as protein design that can be employed as “green” catalysts for industrial applications. One of the niche areas of Offenbacher’s research is quantum biology – or understanding how nature incorporates and enhances non-trivial quantum phenomena in biological function. One example of such a case is animal migration through magnetoreception – the process of sensing the weak magnetic field of the Earth.

Leslie Cofie, associate professor of health education and promotion in the College of Health and Human Performance, received the Scholarship of Engagement Award for his community-focused research that addresses digital equity, health access and community well-being. Cofie’s work promotes digital opportunities and health access for communities in rural counties across the state, including agricultural workers and low-income households. The research was recently supported by a $1.39 million portion of a $9.9 million state grant to build digital equity.

The university also recognized 15 faculty members who received at least $1 million in grant funding in a single year, staff members who support research efforts, faculty patent holders and others.