Research

The College of Humanities and Sciences develops and advances nationally recognized student and faculty scholarship, research and creative initiatives committed to addressing challenges in our urban Richmond community and beyond.

We aim to become a leader in integrating meaningful engagement with real-world challenges that support the development of global citizens.

Student Research

We have many faculty who are internationally recognized experts in their fields. In the College of Humanities and Sciences, we prioritize student engagement and interaction with faculty. We don't just want you to help with research, we want you to lead.

The diversity of our research means students can obtain hands-on experience in many different areas in order to find their passion. Many CHS faculty conduct community engaged research, which allows students the opportunity to conduct research that has a meaningful, positive impact on VCU and our Richmond community.

Learn more about student research

Faculty Research

Our faculty conduct research on an extraordinarily diverse set of topics, ranging from the understanding of the histories of Native American people, to addressing inequality and disparities in education, to climate change and the development of alternative and efficient energy sources.

CHS faculty regularly win a variety of prestigious awards, fellowships and scholarships, including Woodrow Wilson fellowships and Fulbright scholarships. They also hold some of the largest grants at VCU, including center grants from the Centers for Disease Control to prevent youth violence and from the Federal Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health to understand the health consequences of e-cigarettes and the impact of policies put in place to regulate them.

Student and Faculty Research in the News

Oct. 30, 2025

The hidden dangers of vapes: VCU study reveals chemicals, risks and teen use

Researcher Michelle Peace and her team examine nicotine, cannabinoids, ethanol and other ingredients in nearly 1,300 products from K-12 schools in Virginia.

Oct. 28, 2025

How I found my research: Liam Babcock savors the challenges and lessons of discovery

The biology major is working in research labs investigating therapeutics on the MCV Campus.

A student scoops water out of a lake

Kylie Johnson, a graduate student who is pursuing her master’s degree in biology, is part of a study that monitors water quality in Richmond’s small lakes.

This past summer, her research team sampled a mix of nine urban and suburban lakes in and around Richmond. The researchers measured E. coli bacteria, which can infect the gastrointestinal system, as well as an algal toxin called microcystin.

In July, all nine sites in the study exceeded the E. coli safety threshold for recreational contact. Anyone splashing around in the city’s lakes during that time could have been at risk of E. coli infection, even if they were in a small boat or kayak. The findings help inform the Department of Health whether to take action to keep pets and humans out of the water.

“I really enjoy impactful science and science that’s going to benefit a community directly,” Johnson said. “And I feel like doing this work – figuring out what’s in these bodies of water, and how it may impact the public – is very community-impact-driven work.”

Read the full story.