Graduate Student News

Samantha Castro Teixeira, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology at VCU, is researching psychological interventions for chronic pain. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

World@VCU: Samantha Castro Teixeira from Brazil

April 29, 2026

‘I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how warm and welcoming people are, not only in Richmond but especially within the pain research community.’

(Photo by Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Scenes from a (very) RVA Renaissance Faire

April 22, 2026

VCU students, faculty and alumni teamed with community members to help put on a new event that celebrated both the distant past and what makes the Richmond area so special today.

Pablo Lopez-Bustamante will earn a Ph.D. in integrative life sciences from VCU in May. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2026: Pablo Lopez-Bustamante spreads seeds of knowledge

March 26, 2026

Earning his Ph.D., the tropical ecologist has worked with Catherine Hulshof’s Biodiversity Research Lab to enhance tree and forest data from the Americas and the Caribbean.

Abigail Adade, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, said the mentorship and training she has received at VCU has deepened her commitment to culturally responsive mental health research and helped her grow as a scholar and a practitioner. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

World@VCU: Abigail Adade from Ghana

March 9, 2026

‘I was drawn to VCU’s commitment to community-engaged research and its support for diverse student populations.’

Five Questions with Department of English graduate student Cael Sinclair

March 4, 2026

Sinclair is obsessed with old books, a topic he plans to explore more fully in a doctoral program after graduation.

Shruti Shrivastava is pictured dressed in the Oxford Sub Fusc, the traditional academic attire required at Oxford University. Shrivastava is in front of Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre and Bodleian Library. (Contributed image)

How I found my research: Shruti Shrivastava’s interest in evolutionary biology takes her to Oxford

Jan. 5, 2026

Shrivastava is studying how biological diversity might change over time due to the effects of climate change.

The student team documenting the trees across VCU’s Monroe Park and MCV campuses include Margaret Pletcher, Declan O'Donnell, Daniella Asnicar and Kaleb Rezac. (Contributed image)

How many trees are on VCU’s campuses?

Oct. 2, 2025

Student interns with the Rice Rivers Center are counting trees, and the comprehensive inventory could highlight the environmental and financial impact of the urban forest.

Biology graduate student Kyleigh Johnson takes a sample at Swan Lake. (Thomas Kojcsich/Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

VCU research in action: Finding answers in the algae in Richmond’s lakes

Aug. 22, 2025

Researchers wade into the fluorescent blooms of summer, which threaten human health and the region’s waterways.

The Blackbird team is exploring new ground with the launch of the Blackbird Literary Podcast, which offers a multidimensional experience designed to bring each page to life. (Contributed photo)

Blackbird literary journal team launches multidimensional podcast

Aug. 13, 2025

Through performative readings and music composition, the new format brings the written word to life.

Virginia Commonwealth University is introducing a digital forensics and incident response concentration in its Master of Science in forensic science program this fall. (Getty Images)

New concentration in digital forensics will propel graduate students into a growing field

Feb. 26, 2025

Debuting in fall 2025, the specialized curriculum in the forensic science master’s program reflects how electronic evidence is an expanding frontier in fighting crime.