Faculty Research News

Serpentine forests damaged by Hurricane Maria, like this one in Puerto Rico’s Isabela region, recovered faster than expected after the storm. (contributed photo)

Puerto Rico’s forests recovered in unexpected ways post-Hurricane Maria, VCU research finds

April 29, 2026

Biology professor Catherine Hulshof studies extreme environments, like Puerto Rico’s forests, to find out how they may react as the climate changes.

An analysis of 16 studies found that the scientific literature does not support claims that 60-90% of youth identifying as transgender ultimately desist from that identity. (Getty Images)

Common claim that most transgender youth renounce that identity is not supported by statistics, VCU research finds

April 27, 2026

The argument that studies show transgender youth desist from that identity on average has been used to support anti-gender-affirming care legislation nationwide.

Celebrating the famous French philosopher in ‘Badiou’

April 13, 2026

VCU professor Rohan Kalyan brought a creative, “open-ended imagery” approach to his film about Alain Badiou.

Latino Virginia oral history project to get wider audience

March 26, 2026

VCU weekend symposium will offer a preview ahead of a broader launch in the fall.

In her latest book, “The Accused,” VCU author Jessica Trisko Darden examines the wide range of women accused of participating in Nazi-era crimes. (Contributed images)

VCU author’s new book sheds light on Nazi women and war crimes

March 24, 2026

In ‘The Accused,’ political science professor Jessica Trisko Darden puts gender, power and justice into context.

Sara Bouchard’s piece, “En Masse,” was performed in Corvallis, Oregon, this January by a small university choir. (Contributed photo)

VCUarts professor gives voice to a single atom’s journey

March 13, 2026

Sara Bouchard’s choral work, inspired by lab data from Rice Rivers Center leader Chris Gough, traces the earth’s carbon cycle and invites the audience to sing along.

Leah Spangler, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the College of Engineering, and her team are advancing a synthetic protein that is engineered to selectively bind rare earth elements while ignoring more common metals found in mining and industrial waste streams. (Photo by Christopher Kendall, Kelley & Co.)

Rare earth elements, joint pain and addiction treatment are highlighted in VCU faculty research receiving new awards

March 5, 2026

Five projects are selected in the Commercialization Fund’s latest round of funding that helps bring campus innovation to the marketplace.

Xuewei Wang, an associate professor of chemistry, created a portable, at-home calcium monitoring device for people living with hypoparathyroidism, or hypopara. (Christopher Kendall, Kelley & Co.)

At-home calcium testing device could have wide-ranging impact in health care

March 3, 2026

The invention from VCU chemistry professor Xuewei Wang is being evaluated for the marketplace, and the applications could extend to multiple biomarkers.

A team of VCU researchers is working with school divisions in a project supported by a nearly $1.5 million grant from the Virginia Department of Education. (Getty Images)

VCU researchers partnering with public schools on math education

March 2, 2026

The team includes faculty from the School of Education and the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.

VCU math expert Allison Moore specializes in knot theory, which explores the properties of closed curves in three-dimensional spaces. (Getty Images)

VCU expert Allison Moore unknots the complexity of one of civilization’s oldest ideas

Feb. 18, 2026

The mathematics associate professor specializes in knot theory, an advanced math concept that appears in everything from topology to religion.