Physics professor Massimo Bertino holds up a small piece of glass in a room with computers and scientific equipment

Faculty Research

Our faculty conduct research on an extraordinarily diverse set of topics.

Their work ranges 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.

Faculty Research in the News

Aug. 6, 2026

Here’s how one VCU lab keeps watch over the James River

For almost two decades – and with a new $1M grant to cover at least five more years – this research duo has braved the elements year-round to track the river’s health.

Michael McClure, Ph.D., an associate professor of biomedical engineering, created a startup centering on his innovation related to regenerating muscle tissue lost to traumatic injuries. (Christopher Kendall, Kelley & Co.)

July 30, 2026

Helping VCU innovators build stronger startups

A partnership between VCU TechTransfer and Ventures and Central Virginia’s Activation Capital is pairing faculty researchers with business leaders.

(File photo)

July 28, 2026

VCU fuels new and emerging research endeavors and cross-campus collaboration with 2026 Quest Fund awards

These competitive internal grants empower faculty to launch pilot studies, restart research programs and drive transdisciplinary discoveries.

Faculty Research Videos