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

(VCU Libraries)

March 26, 2026

Latino Virginia oral history project to get wider audience

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)

March 24, 2026

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

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)

March 13, 2026

VCUarts professor gives voice to a single atom’s journey

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.

Faculty Research Videos