News

Since 2014, students have been exploring the James River and its watershed through the immersive Footprints on the James course, such as these students two years ago. (James Vonesh)

Alums give back to river class that sent them on new and fulfilling paths

Oct. 7, 2026

Footprints on the James is an immersive journey that lets students explore the biological and environmental components of the James River and its watershed. A new fund supports it and other similar field studies courses.

The nostalgic allure of pumpkin spice draws on some interesting neuroscience, according to VCU VCU biology professo Catherine Franssen, Ph.D. (Getty Images)

Why do we love pumpkin spice so much? We ‘fall’ for it.

Sept. 22, 2026

VCU neuroscientist Catherine Franssen explains our seasonal addiction to the flavor and why we can’t wait for autumn every year.

VCU researchers Qingguo Xu, Michael Kiefer, Priscilla Hwang and Amy Rector took part in the 14th annual Rally for Medical Research on Thursday. (Photo contributed by Denver Supinger, VCU Office of Government Relations)

VCU researchers join national call for NIH funding

Sept. 18, 2026

The annual Rally for Medical Research urges Congress to support biomedical innovation and the STEM workforce.

VCU researcher Aliza Ehrlich will study the primary cilium, a little-understood neuron structure that often hosts opioid receptors. (Getty Images)

VCU’s Aliza Ehrlich receives $3 million to study link between opioids and unexplored neuron structure

Sept. 14, 2026

Ehrlich hopes to learn how the antenna-like compartment influences our response to opioids, including its role in building dependence or tolerance.

Photo cutlines: John Jones, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability who established the Little Ram Pantries project, stocks a box in Cary Street Gym. (Photo by Dean Hoffmeyer/Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Little Ram Pantries receive upgraded technology to help address student food insecurity

Sept. 11, 2026

New sensors can show the inventory of each location and help monitor usage while preserving privacy.

VCU to celebrate 15 notable alums at biennial Alumni Stars event

Sept. 2, 2026

Honorees will be recognized at an Oct. 9 event at the Science Museum of Virginia.

The Distinguished Faculty Awards honorees will be recognized at the VCU Faculty Recognition Gala on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

VCU honors seven with 2026 Distinguished Faculty Awards

Aug. 27, 2026

Their work touches on medicine, the humanities, public service and education.

This summer, Aarushi Rao worked with Guangwei Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Medicine, to develop a tool that helps researchers analyze screening images from experiments more efficiently. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

In VCU neuroscience lab, undergraduate Aarushi Rao brought brainpower to new software

Aug. 27, 2026

The sophomore Honors College student and biology major spent her summer with researcher Guangwei Zhang, developing a tool to improve analysis of images.

Isra'a Nour, a 2015 VCU graduate, serves as a program manager for Open Society Foundations. (Contributed photo)

Meet-a-Ram: Isra’a Nour’s humanitarian work is rooted in her VCU anthropology and biology courses

Aug. 19, 2026

The 2015 graduate, powered by her service in Sudan, now works in the U.S. to support human rights, equity and justice.

Melody Ngo with medical student Sarah Lewicki and Adolfo Mauro, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics. Ngo worked on a research project this summer with Lewicki and Mauro. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

VCU summer program propels undergraduate student's research

Aug. 18, 2026

Biology major Melody Ngo embraces how the Honors College and Wright Center offer ‘a crash run in what it is like to work in a lab day to day.’