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.
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
May 19, 2025
African American studies professor Adam Ewing earns National Humanities Center fellowship
He will spend the upcoming academic year working on his book about 20th-century pan-Africanism.
May 8, 2025
VCU chemistry professor Julio Alvarez receives grant to further explore the origins of life on Earth
His research lab is targeting the Last Universal Common Ancestor, which would connect 4 billion years of history.