Research

Exceptional research expertise is what distinguishes the Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering. Our faculty are leading experts in their fields and participate in fundamental and  interdisciplinary research that includes: 

• Artificial intelligence
• Advanced materials research
• Drug discovery and manufacturing
• Cellular engineering
• Protein science and engineering
• Advanced energy development and storage systems
• Oceanic and waterway health

Research expenditures are a measure of faculty productivity and the impact of their scholarly pursuits. The Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering is well funded with:

• $14.7 million in annual research expenditures in 2023, ranking us among the top five chemical engineering programs in the United States.
• Over $1 million per faculty member in research expenditures, demonstrating our commitment to supporting groundbreaking research.

Virginia Commonwealth University and its College of Engineering are home to the Medicines for All Institute and Center for Pharmaceutical Engineering and Sciences. These organizations can provide you with practical learning opportunities. As a student of the College of Engineering, you’ll also have access to state-of-the-art tools through the Virginia Microelectronics Center, Nanomaterials Core Characterization Facility and core laboratories and institutes.

The important work we do leads to the funding of faculty and student research by prestigious agencies. These organizations include the:

• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
• Department of Defense (DoD)
• Department of Energy (DOE)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• National Science Foundation (NSF)

Combining expert faculty, significant research funding, organizational support and advanced tools, the Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering will prepare you for success after graduation.