Texas Tech Research

In the latest installment of Rise & Research, Texas Tech University Professor Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter discusses her research on interpersonal communication and how it is expanding our understanding of human relationships.

Her research examines how people communicate through verbal and nonverbal cues, navigate relationships in digital spaces and adapt their communication during times of change. Her findings from studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that people sought deeper connections by sharing more personal information online before meeting in person, demonstrating how communication evolves to meet changing social needs.

Read more: https://www.ttu.edu/now/posts/2026/07/rise-research-narissra-punyanunt-carter.php

College of Media & Communication, Texas Tech University

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command has developed a new partnership with Texas Tech University. Dr. Chi-Chin Wu has been named as a liaison officer to align the university’s national security research with government agencies. This includes assistance with the Texas Tech University - Critical Infrastructure Security Institute.

Wu is no stranger to Texas Tech, as she has been involved in TTU projects going back a decade. She has two doctorates: one in materials science, and the other in chemical engineering. Her expertise and experience enables her to bring a unique approach in developing collaborations and finding solutions in advancing research.

“National security is the umbrella for virtually everything we are doing,” she said. “Texas Tech has already identified many of the technical areas where they want to work, so I will be the liaison with subject-matter experts, professors, post-docs and research centers to see where on the government side they can connect with.”

Read more:
https://www.ttu.edu/now/posts/2026/07/chi-chin-wu-tabbed-to-strengthen-texas-techs-research-enterprise.php

High Energy Physics Collaboration Wins Top Science Prize

Four ongoing experiments at CERN, the internationally recognized physics research facility in Europe, were awarded the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, acknowledging several scientists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) that includes the High Energy Physics group at Texas Tech University.

Led by Drs. Nural Akchurin, Yongbin Feng, Sung-Won Lee, Christopher Madrid, and Igor Volobouev, the High Energy Physics group develops measurement systems that allow more detailed data collection in high-energy collisions at the LHC. This type of research provides insight into the building blocks of the universe. July 4 also marks the 14th anniversary of the discovery of the Higgs boson particle, and TTU research played a role in this achievement.

The Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics was created by Yuri Milner in 2012 to recognize scientists who have made significant contributions to physics.

College of Arts and Sciences, Texas Tech University
Texas Tech Department of Physics and Astronomy