[{"id":1699,"date":"2026-08-19T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/?p=1699"},"modified":"2026-08-18T17:49:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T17:49:41","slug":"national-science-foundation-career-award-supports-new-biomanufacturing-techniques-at-the-vcu-college-of-engineering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/2026\/08\/19\/national-science-foundation-career-award-supports-new-biomanufacturing-techniques-at-the-vcu-college-of-engineering\/","title":{"rendered":"National Science Foundation CAREER award supports new biomanufacturing techniques at the VCU College of Engineering"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Leah Spangler, Ph.D., seeks to use light for controlling protein synthesis in real time to make nanomaterials and optoelectronics.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biomanufacturing research at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is getting a boost from the National Science Foundation (NSF), which presented Leah Spangler, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, with a CAREER award to develop light-controlled proteins for sustainable biomanufacturing. With more than $550,000 in funding, Spangler will investigate real-time protein synthesis control, enabling the production of inorganic materials through biomineralization at the VCU College of Engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis award not only drives my research group\u2019s progress in this new and exciting direction, it helps me build new outreach and educational programs here at VCU. Beyond material synthesis, these biomanufacturing applications can be used for pharmaceutical manufacturing as well,\u201d said Spangler. \u201cThe CAREER award is a great honor, and this is one of the most significant grants I have received to date.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on Spangler\u2019s previous work, the grant supports using protein to synthesize nanomaterials, like semiconductor quantum dots. It also facilitates exploration of new research, like making metal oxide nanoparticles, which is the focus of another grant Spangler received from the U.S. Department of Defense<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Metal sulfides and metal oxides made through biomineralization have applications in optoelectronics, useful in products from TV screens to LEDs. This represents a more sustainable way of producing these base materials, which are typically created by industrial processes like reacting metals with sulfur and roasting\/calcination respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cManufacturing of this sort usually requires high temperatures and pressures, using toxic solvents and specialized equipment. This means the process is expensive and sometimes difficult, or impossible, to scale,\u201d said Spangler. \u201cFor example: microprocessor fabrication typically uses lithography, where UV light and toxic chemicals are used to create patterns of material on a surface at the nanoscale to make computer chips. One of my goals is to use light-responsive proteins to replace the chemicals and pattern materials on the nanoscale for a more environmentally friendly process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It sounds like science fiction, but proteins already manufacture the necessary materials to keep us alive. Protein synthesis in a cell is controlled by DNA. Think of proteins like a 3D printer and DNA as code the machine runs on. Carefully designing the DNA code allowed Spangler\u2019s research team to create synthetic \u201cde novo\u201d proteins with capabilities ranging from extracting rare-earth elements<\/a> to making semiconductor materials<\/a> to continuous manufacturing of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy<\/a>. This next stage of research will create a system for controlling these new proteins to make manufacturing more consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Light activated protein domains are typically used to control, or turn on\/off, the process used to make proteins. In this project, Spangler will apply light activated domains to a new process: the protein-driven synthesis of nanomaterials. These biological switches with sensitivities to specific wavelengths of light will allow researchers to control material synthesis with red, green and near infrared light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because biomineralization can be done in water at room temperature, these light-responsive protein domains afford a higher level of control. Manufacturers will be able to deposit materials in specific locations and only expose some of them to light, or they can expose materials to light at different times to start or stop the process. By controlling material synthesis in space and time, the effects can be combined to make heterostructured materials, which are complex, layered materials needed to make high-quality solar cells or electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student researchers backed by the award will assist Spangler\u2019s efforts. A summer training program in biological techniques for community college faculty is also included, providing course curriculum and hands-on learning techniques to professors. It will be developed in collaboration with John Fife, Ph.D., associate professor in the VCU School of Education, and Kendra Brinkley, Ph.D., dean of the School of STEM at Reynolds Community College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile proteins can make materials, the final result is often lacking in quality. The final material might need to be one nanometer thick, but the protein cannot be controlled so the material grows beyond specification,\u201d said Spangler. \u201cAnother situation is needing material to grow in one spot but not another. Light can be the solution to both of these issues. That control of time and space with simple, scalable and sustainable techniques using light can match the capability and quality of more costly traditional material synthesis methods. That\u2019s the goal of this grant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering provides undergraduate<\/a> and graduate<\/a> students with the opportunity to perform real-world research<\/a> as soon as they enroll. From delving into the intricacies of pharmaceutical manufacturing to exploring the effects of climate change through heat studies, our students pursue a diverse range of cutting-edge research topics. Browse videos and recent news from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering<\/a> to discover how the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University prepares the next generation of scientists and engineers for the challenges of the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Leah Spangler, Ph.D., seeks to use light for controlling protein synthesis in real time to make nanomaterials and optoelectronics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1829,"featured_media":1700,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,165],"tags":[768,49,900,1152],"class_list":["post-1699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cbe","category-faculty-awards","tag-leah-spangler","tag-national-science-foundation","tag-nsf-career-award","tag-smee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1829"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1699"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1701,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1699\/revisions\/1701"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1693,"date":"2026-08-18T17:35:42","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T17:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/?p=1693"},"modified":"2026-08-20T13:58:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T13:58:56","slug":"ten-new-faculty-join-vcu-college-of-engineering-for-the-2026-fall-semester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/2026\/08\/18\/ten-new-faculty-join-vcu-college-of-engineering-for-the-2026-fall-semester\/","title":{"rendered":"Eleven new faculty join VCU College of Engineering for the 2026 fall semester"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Top to bottom, left to right:<\/strong> Juhwan Lee, Ph.D., Zixuan \u201cSteve\u201d Feng, Ph.D., Syed Irfan Ali Meerza, Ph.D., Javier Tibau, Ph.D., Maryna Veksler, Ph.D., Xiwei Xuan, Ph.D., Zahra Marvi, Ph.D., Hossam Abdellatif, Ph.D., Gustavo Cardona, Ph.D., Ziquan Deng, Ph.D., and Ambreen Nisar, Ph.D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With expertise ranging from artificial intelligence to automation to nuclear energy systems, ten new faculty members will start at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) College of Engineering this fall. The individuals will support existing programs and lend their expertise to VCU Engineering\u2019s new Bachelor of Science Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering<\/a>, which also debuts this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congratulations to all our new faculty, and welcome to the VCU College of Engineering!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department of Biomedical Engineering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Juhwan Lee, Ph.D.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lee earned his Ph.D. from Dongguk University and joins VCU from Case Western Reserve University. Lee\u2019s research focuses on developing AI methods for intravascular imaging, coronary computed tomography angiography, coronary artery calcium scoring and chest X-ray analysis to predict short- and long-term cardiovascular outcomes. As a translational scientist, Lee has more than a decade of experience conducting interdisciplinary research that helps cardiologists and radiologists make more informed treatment decisions. He has significant experience in medical image processing, machine\/deep learning and their clinical applications. Lee currently serves as principal investigator on multiple NIH-funded projects, with a long-term goal of developing interpretable AI models that improve personalized cardiovascular care and patient outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department of Computer Science<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Zixuan \u201cSteve\u201d Feng, Ph.D.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Feng earned his Ph.D. in software engineering from Oregon State University. His research focuses on empirical software engineering, software quality, open-source ecosystems, developer productivity and collaboration, and the evolving role of AI in software development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Syed Irfan Ali Meerza, Ph.D.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meerza received his Ph.D. in computer engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His research interests include trustworthy AI, generative AI security, multimodal learning and data privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Javier Tibau, Ph.D.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tibau received his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech. His work focuses on human-computer interaction and human-centered design, using qualitative methods and research-through-design to study interactive systems in the settings where people actually use them. Tibau has also contributed to the Association for Computing Machinery\u2019s Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education, with publications highlighting instructional materials he helped design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maryna Veksler, Ph.D.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Joining us after completing her Ph.D. at Florida International University and a postdoctoral appointment at VCU, Veksler’s research focuses on trustworthy and secure AI, adversarial AI, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and autonomous systems, helping advance the security and reliability of AI in critical applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xiwei Xuan, Ph.D.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Xuan joins VCU from the University of California, Davis, where she earned her Ph.D. in computer science. Her research spans artificial intelligence, computer vision, multimodal learning and reliable intelligent systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Zahra Marvi, Ph.D.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Marvi joins VCU from the University of Minnesota, where she was a postdoctoral associate in mechanical engineering. She received her Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Michigan State University. Marvi\u2019s research includes development of safe and scalable control and learning frameworks, with applications in energy systems and robotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hossam Abdellatif, Ph.D.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Completing his postdoctoral research in nuclear engineering at Kansas State University, Abdellatif earned his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the University of Idaho. His research focuses on advanced nuclear energy systems, including molten salt reactors, small modular reactors and Generation-IV reactor concepts. Abdellatif\u2019s expertise includes reactor thermal-hydraulics, nuclear safety analysis, multiphysics modeling and simulation of innovative nuclear fuel designs, and machine-learning applications for accident prediction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gustavo Cardona, Ph.D.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cardona received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University. His dissertation developed formal methods for scalable, robust multi-robot planning using temporal logic and optimization under uncertainty. He joins VCU from the University of Delaware where he was a postdoctoral researcher working on human-humanoid interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ziquan Deng, Ph.D.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Deng earned his Ph.D. in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on explainable artificial intelligence, human\u2013autonomy teaming and computer vision for safety-critical systems. With interdisciplinary research applications in robotics, deep-space exploration, manufacturing, neuroscience and healthcare, Deng develops AI frameworks that combine causal reasoning, human\u2013AI collaboration and structure-aware modeling to enable trustworthy decision-making<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ambreen Nisar, Ph.D. <\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nisar earned her Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on additive manufacturing of advanced ceramics for extreme-environment applications in aerospace and nuclear systems. It integrates 3D printing of ceramics, spark plasma sintering, interfacial joining, and AI-enabled process optimization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The VCU College of Engineering offers innovative undergraduate<\/a> and graduate<\/a> degree programs tailored to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving engineering field. As part of a premier research university, students are given the opportunity to perform real-world research<\/a> in our state-of-the-art facilities as soon as they enroll. Browse videos and recent news to discover how the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University<\/a> prepares the next generation of scientists and engineers for the challenges of the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With expertise ranging from artificial intelligence to automation to nuclear energy systems, ten new faculty members will start at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) College of Engineering this fall. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1829,"featured_media":1708,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,5,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cs","category-ece","category-mne"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1829"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1693"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1709,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1693\/revisions\/1709"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1690,"date":"2026-08-17T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/?p=1690"},"modified":"2026-08-14T18:55:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T18:55:22","slug":"vcu-engineering-professor-ravi-hadimani-receives-young-investigator-award-for-biomagnetics-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/2026\/08\/17\/vcu-engineering-professor-ravi-hadimani-receives-young-investigator-award-for-biomagnetics-research\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU Engineering Professor Ravi Hadimani receives Young Investigator Award for biomagnetics research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ravi Hadimani, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, professor in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University and director of the Biomagnetics Laboratory, recently received the Young Investigator Award at the 2026 International Symposium on Integrated Magnetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The award recognizes Hadimani\u2019s contributions to the field of biomagnetics, particularly his research in transcranial magnetic stimulation technologies and validation methods for human and animal studies. The symposium, a satellite conference of INTERMAG supported by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Magnetics Society, recognizes advances in magnetic technologies and their applications across engineering and medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReceiving this award means a lot to me,\u201d Hadimani said. \u201cIt is a great recognition of many years of work by my students, collaborators and research group. It also motivates me to continue working on new ideas and mentoring students. I am very thankful to the organizers of the conference, the IEEE Magnetics Society and to everyone who contributed to this achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hadimani\u2019s research focuses on developing magnetic technologies to advance brain stimulation and brain imaging. His laboratory has created innovative transcranial magnetic stimulation coil systems and realistic brain models that allow researchers to test and refine these technologies before they are used in clinical settings. By combining magnetic materials, computational modeling, artificial intelligence and experimental testing, his team is developing safer and more effective medical technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to his research contributions, Hadimani has remained active within the IEEE Magnetics Society by supporting biomagnetics-focused programs, workshops and interdisciplinary activities that bring together researchers from multiple fields. His work has helped promote collaboration and expand awareness of biomagnetics as a growing area of research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think this award also shows the quality of research happening at VCU,\u201d Hadimani said. \u201cWe have many good collaborations between engineering, medicine and neuroscience, and students are a big part of our success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead, Hadimani plans to expand his laboratory\u2019s research while continuing to develop technologies with the potential to improve patient care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNext, we want to continue developing new brain stimulation technologies, improve our brain phantoms and translate some of this work into real products through our startup, RamPhantoms<\/a>,\u201d Hadimani said. \u201cWe are also building new research activities in robotics, AI and brain-computer interface technologies at VCU.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This recognition underscores VCU Engineering\u2019s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research with real-world impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering provides undergraduate<\/a> and graduate<\/a> students with the opportunity to perform real-world research<\/a> as soon as they enroll. From applying material science to additive manufacturing techniques to optimizing coolant systems for nuclear reactors and more, students gain understanding of many important engineering topics. Browse videos and recent news from the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering<\/a> to discover how the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University prepares the next generation of scientists and engineers for the challenges of the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ravi Hadimani, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University and director of the Biomagnetics Laboratory, recently received the Young Investigator Award at the 2026 International Symposium on Integrated Magnetics.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1829,"featured_media":1691,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[165,6],"tags":[1151,1227,70],"class_list":["post-1690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty-awards","category-mne","tag-hm","tag-institute-of-electrical-and-electronics-engineers","tag-ravi-hadimani"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1829"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1690"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1692,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1690\/revisions\/1692"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1688,"date":"2026-08-13T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/?p=1688"},"modified":"2026-08-12T15:57:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:57:21","slug":"azim-eskandarian-d-sc-joins-the-virginia-academy-of-science-engineering-and-medicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/2026\/08\/13\/azim-eskandarian-d-sc-joins-the-virginia-academy-of-science-engineering-and-medicine\/","title":{"rendered":"Azim Eskandarian, D.Sc., joins the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The nomination acknowledges Eskandarian\u2019s impact on engineering education and the intelligent and autonomous vehicle industry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For contributions to Virginia\u2019s engineering education system and pioneering research that shaped the intelligent vehicle industry, the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (VASEM) recently inducted Azim Eskandarian, D.Sc.<\/strong><\/a>, the Alice T. and William H. Goodwin Jr. Dean, College of Engineering, as a member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to join an organization like VASEM, which does so much good in the Commonwealth through its rigorous analytical, technical and scientific support to inform policy on issues that affect us all,\u201d said Eskandarian. \u201cI look forward to serving with fellow members and the positive impact we can make on STEM education and research discovery in Virginia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eskandarian\u2019s research has led to innovations like unobtrusive drowsy driver detection, AI-assisted navigation of unpredictable spaces and intelligent and connected autonomous vehicles’ safety. Through this work, his lab developed cooperative perception methods and artificial intelligence techniques that allow connected autonomous vehicles to safely plan trajectories through complex, non-signalized intersections, highway segments, and pedestrian safety areas, among others. Eskandarian\u2019s leadership in developing safe control algorithms for connected-vehicle platoons operating under sensor failure conditions earned him the 2021 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Vincent Bendix Automotive Electronics Engineering Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before joining the VCU College of Engineering, Eskandarian served as department head of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech, leading one of the five largest programs of its kind in the nation. His focus on experiential learning and expansion of interdisciplinary initiatives like the SAE Formula One project at VCU, the SAE Solar Car Project at Virginia Tech and the multiyear AutoDrive autonomous driving challenge maintained a focus on equipping students with a skillset that makes them immediately employable after graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His service extends to the federal level, having previously served as director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Highway Administration\u2019s National Crash Analysis Center at The George Washington University and assisting the U.S. Department of Transportation and auto industry on vehicle crashworthiness and safety standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eskandarian is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and SAE International. Membership in VASEM represents one of the highest professional honors for scientists and engineers working within Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The VCU College of Engineering offers innovative undergraduate<\/a> and graduate<\/a> degree programs tailored to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving engineering field. As part of a premier research university, students are given the opportunity to perform real-world research<\/a> in our state-of-the-art facilities as soon as they enroll. Browse videos and recent news to discover how the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University<\/a> prepares the next generation of scientists and engineers for the challenges of the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The nomination acknowledges Eskandarian\u2019s impact on engineering education and the intelligent and autonomous vehicle industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1829,"featured_media":718,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[165,30],"tags":[1150,25],"class_list":["post-1688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-faculty-awards","category-general-college","tag-aasc","tag-azim-eskandarian"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1829"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1688"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1688\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1689,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1688\/revisions\/1689"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1685,"date":"2026-08-04T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/?p=1685"},"modified":"2026-07-31T14:39:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T14:39:15","slug":"helping-vcu-innovators-build-stronger-startups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/2026\/08\/04\/helping-vcu-innovators-build-stronger-startups\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping VCU innovators build stronger startups"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A partnership between VCU TechTransfer and Ventures and Central Virginia\u2019s Activation Capital is pairing faculty researchers with business leaders.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Jeff Kelley<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers know science, and their breakthroughs often begin in a laboratory. Entrepreneurs know business, and their experience can bring those innovations to market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Virginia Commonwealth University, a partnership is growing that recognizes the reality, and the potential, of that distinction: Most faculty inventors never set out to become startup CEOs \u2013 they prefer to remain focused on research \u2013 while others who build companies are best-suited to guide the discoveries toward commercialization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VCU TechTransfer and Ventures<\/a>, whose mission is to help campus inventions serve a public good, is now working particularly closely with Activation Capital<\/a>, a state authority that promotes biohealth and life sciences entrepreneurship in Central Virginia. The partnership is pairing promising VCU startups with experienced business leaders while providing resources those companies need to grow, said P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation at VCU.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A
Ivelina Metcheva, Ph.D., associate vice president for innovation and head of VCU TechTransfer and Ventures. (File image)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cIt takes an ecosystem to build successful startups,\u201d said Ivelina Metcheva, Ph.D., associate vice president for innovation and head of VCU TechTransfer and Ventures. \u201cOur researchers create remarkable discoveries, but commercializing those innovations requires many different kinds of expertise. That\u2019s why partnerships like this are so important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emphasizing local development<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located in the VA Bio+Tech Park in downtown Richmond alongside VCU TechTransfer and Ventures and the VCU Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation<\/a>, Activation Capital provides emerging life sciences companies with mentoring, business development support, startup space including wet labs, and connections to partners and investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The majority of those companies originate from VCU, where TechTransfer and Ventures has helped launch more than 90 startups since 2016. Through both startup companies and licensing agreements with established businesses, VCU technologies have led to more than 60 products currently on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are outstanding researchers and incredible intellectual property at VCU,\u201d said Michael Steele, president and CEO of Activation Capital. \u201cBut what we found is that most faculty inventors don\u2019t necessarily want to become CEOs, or they feel more seasoned executives are better suited in that role. They want to continue advancing the research they love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Activation Capital developed a program, Pioneer Connect<\/a>, with the goal of keeping development local while bringing in experienced entrepreneurs to build the companies for commercialization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example: Health at home<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"A
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.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One example is Tralyte Health<\/a>, through which Activation Capital helped connect serial entrepreneur Jay Atkinson with founder and VCU associate professor of chemistry Xuewei Wang<\/a>, Ph.D. Wang developed a portable, at-home calcium monitoring device<\/a> for people living with hypoparathyroidism \u2013 a test that otherwise requires going to a lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cActivation Capital and VCU TechTransfer and Ventures created the conditions for Tralyte to move quickly,\u201d Atkinson said. \u201cThe partnership brought together the inventor and an experienced operator at exactly the right moment, which let us focus immediately on commercialization strategy, regulatory planning and building a viable path to market. That alignment shortened our timeline and strengthened the intellectual property position from day one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example: Rare earth elements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"A
Leah Spangler, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is developing a cleaner, more efficient way to separate rare earth elements. (Christopher Kendall, Kelley & Co.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A similar partnership helped launch BioRE-Element Technologies, founded by VCU assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering Leah Spangler<\/a>, Ph.D. She is developing a cleaner, more efficient way to separate rare earth elements<\/a> \u2013 critical materials used in electric vehicles, renewable energy and advanced electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Activation Capital connected her with experienced life sciences executive Steen Nissen, allowing each to focus on their respective strengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSteen brings expertise in business strategy and large-scale manufacturing that has greatly accelerated our progress toward commercialization,\u201d Spangler said. \u201cI\u2019ve learned a tremendous amount from working with him, and he\u2019s constantly advocating for the company and pursuing investment opportunities, which frees me to focus on advancing the science.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example: Regenerating muscle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Activation Capital also connected entrepreneur Greg Merril to Michael McClure<\/a>, Ph.D., a VCU associate professor of biomedical engineering. McClure\u2019s innovation centers on regenerating muscle tissue lost to traumatic injuries<\/a>, and with the help of VCU TechTransfer and Ventures, he created a startup around it, Sarcogenics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI met with six or seven faculty innovators, all pursuing impressive scientific advances, but Sarcogenics immediately stood out,\u201d Merril said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHis technology addresses a significant unmet clinical need, and the depth of preclinical data generated by Dr. McClure had already substantially de-risked the underlying science,\u201d Merril added. \u201cEqually important, Michael brought an entrepreneurial mindset and a collaborative spirit that made him an ideal partner for translating academic innovation into a commercial venture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the introduction, Merril has helped McClure build a commercialization strategy that includes a regulatory pathway, manufacturing strategy, fundraising plan and strategic partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relationships can span years<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finding an executive is only one part of the partnership. \u201cIt\u2019s not just filling a position,\u201d said Steele, the Activation Capital CEO. \u201cYou\u2019re bringing together founders and entrepreneurs who will be working side by side for years. The chemistry has to be right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation at VCU. (File image)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The collaboration between the authority and VCU has also been strengthened through a combination of federal and state funding, including support from GO Virginia. The economic development initiative helps Activation Capital provide entrepreneurial <\/a>programming<\/a> for founders and commercialization resources for emerging life sciences companies, whether the founder serves as CEO or partners with one through Pioneer Connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am confident that together, this growing partnership between VCU TechTransfer and Ventures and Activation Capital will help researchers understand the commercialization process, support proof-of-concept development, connect startups with mentors and investors and introduce faculty and entrepreneurs to the broader life sciences innovation ecosystem,\u201d Rao said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The partnership\u2019s bigger picture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
\n
\"A
Michael Steele, president and CEO of Activation Capital. (Contributed image)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

For Steele, the broader goal extends well beyond launching individual startups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to create an environment where great ideas don\u2019t leave Virginia, and those from outside the commonwealth are attracted here,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, institutions and industry work together, we create the conditions for companies to grow here, create jobs here and ultimately improve lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Metcheva said the partnership with Activation Capital reflects a shared commitment to helping more VCU discoveries reach the marketplace while strengthening Virginia\u2019s growing life sciences economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo single organization can do this alone,\u201d she said. \u201cBy combining our strengths, we\u2019re creating a stronger pathway for discoveries to become products, companies and real-world impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Originally posted on VCU News: https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/article\/helping-vcu-innovators-build-stronger-startups<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A partnership between VCU TechTransfer and Ventures and Central Virginia\u2019s Activation Capital is pairing faculty researchers with business leaders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2033,"featured_media":1625,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3,165],"tags":[768,46,1166],"class_list":["post-1685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bme","category-cbe","category-faculty-awards","tag-leah-spangler","tag-michael-mcclure","tag-vcu-techtransfer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2033"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1685"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1685\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1686,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1685\/revisions\/1686"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1683,"date":"2026-08-03T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/?p=1683"},"modified":"2026-07-31T14:28:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T14:28:26","slug":"vcu-fuels-new-and-emerging-research-endeavors-and-cross-campus-collaboration-with-2026-quest-fund-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/2026\/08\/03\/vcu-fuels-new-and-emerging-research-endeavors-and-cross-campus-collaboration-with-2026-quest-fund-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU fuels new and emerging research endeavors and cross-campus collaboration with 2026 Quest Fund awards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

These competitive internal grants empower faculty to launch pilot studies, restart research programs and drive transdisciplinary discoveries.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Emily Komornik
Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often a breakthrough is sparked when a compelling idea is given the resources and room to grow. From launching pilot studies that lay the groundwork for major national grants to reviving vital research programs, internal funding is often the catalyst that transforms an ambitious theory into real-world impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The VCU Quest Fund has announced its latest round of award recipients. This internal funding opportunity provides critical backing to faculty across all disciplines, with special emphasis on projects that champion transdisciplinary research, cross-campus collaboration and innovation with the potential to translate directly into the marketplace or a healthcare setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Quest Fund is a vital pipeline for VCU\u2019s research enterprise,\u201d said P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation. \u201cBy investing in our faculty at these critical early stages, we are enabling them to push the boundaries of their research. This fund ensures that new, emerging and continuing research programs have the institutional backing needed to scale into major, externally funded initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“By leveraging these internal funding mechanisms, the university remains deeply committed to supporting our research community and advancing the research and innovation enterprise especially as the extramural funding landscape continues to evolve. I look forward to seeing these researchers\u2019 work grow and the future of all of the 2026 Quest Fund awarded projects.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To qualify for funding, Quest applicants must demonstrate how their proposed work advances their discipline while aligning with the VCU Strategic Research Priorities Plan<\/strong><\/a>. Lydia Klinger, director for collaborative strategies, and Gianna DeMarco, project administrator, work with the award recipients throughout the funding term, tracking their progress and supporting their impact as an important part of the internal funding strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 awardees of the VCU Quest Fund and their faculty recipients are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAssessing Transdermal Naloxone Oleogel Formulations for Fentanyl Overdose Reversal in Mice\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Matthew Walentiny, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Medicine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaina Holt, Ph.D., College of Humanities and Sciences<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBuilding Calibrated Reliance: A Longitudinal Study of AI Enabled Capability Formation During System Wide Oracle Health AI Rollout\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shingirai Kwaramba, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Business<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shannon Harris, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Business<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDevelopment of a Chimeric Subunit Vaccine for Broad Protection Against Ehrlichiosis\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Richard Marconi, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Medicine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEarly Childhood Service System Navigation and Family Resilience in Developmental Disability: A Mixed-Methods Study\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chin-Chih Chen, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yaoying Xu, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEliciting Patient Preferences for Artificial Intelligence in Primary Care\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Erin Britton, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Public Health<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Impacts of Environmental Governance in the U.S. Territories\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Andrea Simonelli, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, College of Humanities and Sciences<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIntegrating Spiritual Care at Massey (iSAM)\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kelsey White, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, College of Health Professions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keri Maher, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Medicine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIntraoperative ECG-Guided Decision Support for Precision Conduction System Pacing to Restore Cardiac Synchrony\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ajay Pillai, M.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Medicine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ilija Uzelac, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Medicine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy Voice, My Choice: Virtual Reality Avatar Life Review Intervention to Improve Goal-of-Care Conversations in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yifan Lou, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Social Work<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Semi Ryu, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of the Arts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA Novel Target for Enhancing Immunotherapy Sensitivity in HNSCC\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yue Sun, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Dentistry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNourish for Two: A Community-Partnered Food Is Medicine Program for Pregnant Women Experiencing Food Insecurity\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Michelle Graf, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Nursing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOptimization of Single-Extracellular Vesicle Transcriptomic Profiling of Brain-Derived Extracellular Vesicles\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nasibeh Karimi, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Pharmacy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProtein-based Biosensors for Critical Mineral Recovery\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leah Spangler, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, College of Engineering<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xuewei Wang, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, College of Humanities and Sciences<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReal-Time Sensor-Verified Vibrotactile E-Textile Wearables for Mobility Rehabilitation in Parkinson\u2019s Disease\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Daeha Joung, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, College of Humanities and Sciences<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christina Tang, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, College of Engineering<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSensor-Integrated Laser Additive Manufacturing for Smart Processing of Critical Materials\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Radhika Barua, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, College of Engineering<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jayasimha Atulasimha, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, College of Engineering<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSports Betting and Wellness Behaviors of College Students\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Carolyn Hawley, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, College of Health Professions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTargeting NAD Biosynthesis in Malaria Parasites: A Novel Antiparasitic Strategy\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yana Cen, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Pharmacy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVenetoclax Sensitizes Tarlatamab in Small Cell Lung Cancer\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anthony Faber, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/a>, School of Dentistry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWonderHall\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sterling Hundley<\/strong><\/a>, School of the Arts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason Bennett<\/strong><\/a>, School of the Arts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about the VCU Quest Fund, eligibility criteria and upcoming funding opportunities, visit the VCU internal funding page<\/strong><\/a> or contact ovprifunds@vcu.edu<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This story was originally published<\/a> on the website of the Office of the Vice President of Research and Innovation.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These competitive internal grants empower faculty to launch pilot studies, restart research programs and drive transdisciplinary discoveries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2033,"featured_media":1484,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,165,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cbe","category-faculty-awards","category-mne"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2033"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1683"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1683\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1684,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1683\/revisions\/1684"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1680,"date":"2026-07-23T16:26:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T16:26:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/?p=1680"},"modified":"2026-07-23T16:26:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T16:26:37","slug":"vcu-college-of-engineering-hosts-rits-2026-summer-camp-from-july-20-24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/2026\/07\/23\/vcu-college-of-engineering-hosts-rits-2026-summer-camp-from-july-20-24\/","title":{"rendered":"VCU College of Engineering hosts RITS 2026 Summer Camp from July 20-24"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The program will introduce artificial intelligence to students 13 and older through hands-on labs, collaborative challenges and real-world applications.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Leila Ugincius<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virginia Commonwealth University will host the Richmond Institute of Technology and Science 2026 Summer Camp, \u201cIntro to Artificial Intelligence,\u201d from July 20-24 at the College of Engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This one-week, full-day program introduces students 13 and older to AI through hands-on labs, collaborative challenges and real-world applications. Around 80 students will work with the same concepts and tools used in the industry today to explore how AI is used across multiple industries, learning both how it works and why it matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The week culminates in a final project presentation, with media access, on Friday, July 24, in the Engineering Research Building atrium, 401 W. Cary St. (Courtyard entrance is at 70 S. Madison St.) Students will demonstrate what they have built and learned. Media can speak with students and view projects such as robotic exoskeletons, computer vision cameras and student-built apps from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The program will introduce artificial intelligence to students 13 and older through hands-on labs, collaborative challenges and real-world applications.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2033,"featured_media":1273,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cs","category-general-college"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2033"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1680"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1681,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1680\/revisions\/1681"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1677,"date":"2026-07-23T16:22:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T16:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/?p=1677"},"modified":"2026-07-23T16:22:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T16:22:13","slug":"rapid-cortisol-test-aerial-vehicle-tech-and-water-tanks-are-among-vcu-faculty-research-projects-receiving-new-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/2026\/07\/23\/rapid-cortisol-test-aerial-vehicle-tech-and-water-tanks-are-among-vcu-faculty-research-projects-receiving-new-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Rapid cortisol test, aerial vehicle tech and water tanks are among VCU faculty research projects receiving new awards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Six initiatives are selected in the Commercialization Fund\u2019s latest round of funding that helps bring campus innovation to the marketplace.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By John Battiston<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For every hour that a sepsis patient waits for lab results, mortality risk climbs by 7-10%. Those minutes matter profoundly in a hospital\u2019s emergency department, and that urgency sits at the heart of Vamsi Yadavalli\u2019s latest innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in Virginia Commonwealth University\u2019s College of Engineering, Yadavalli<\/a>, Ph.D., has spent over 25 years developing biosensors from biological materials. Now, he is turning that expertise toward cortisol, the body\u2019s primary stress hormone: His device delivers lab-accurate results from a fingerprick in under 10 minutes, versus the current 60-minute hospital lab average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The technology, called CortiSense, is among six VCU faculty-led projects to receive new Commercialization Fund<\/a> support from VCU TechTransfer and Ventures<\/a>, part of the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation. Commercialization Fund awards, which are made twice annually, accelerate campus discoveries toward licensing and commercialization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sensors built on silk<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

CortiSense fits within Yadavalli\u2019s broader career pursuit: building devices from nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past decade, his lab has pioneered the use of bioinks \u2013 specially engineered proteins derived from silkworm silk \u2013 to fabricate functional sensors at microscale resolution using photolithography, a light-based patterning technique borrowed from semiconductor manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe utilize materials we can derive from nature, do useful things with them, and then once we\u2019re done with it, they can go back where they came from and biodegrade,\u201d Yadavalli said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That philosophy led his team, over more than a decade, to explore a variety of biomarkers for molecules like glucose and ascorbic acid. Then, a collaboration with Benjamin Nicholson, M.D., an associate professor in the School of Medicine\u2019s Department of Emergency Medicine, pointed toward cortisol. In preliminary research, Yadavalli\u2019s group demonstrated that its silk-based biosensor could accurately detect cortisol in mouse blood across a clinically relevant range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why point-of-care matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cortisol abnormalities are implicated in a range of conditions, including Cushing\u2019s syndrome, Addison\u2019s disease, adrenal insufficiency, PTSD, anxiety, depression and burnout. However, current testing requires an invasive blood draw sent to a centralized lab, where turnaround times can stretch for hours. In emergency medicine, those delays have real consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we can change that to something requiring minimal invasiveness, where someone can immediately detect it right there at the point of care and give a result within a few minutes rather than a few hours, that\u2019s really the vision,\u201d Yadavalli said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He pointed to the evolution of glucose sensing as a parallel. Years ago, diabetes monitoring meant pricking a finger multiple times daily and waiting for results. Today, wearable continuous monitors deliver real-time data. The same leap, Yadavalli said, is possible for cortisol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
The CortiSense device delivers lab-accurate results from a fingerprick in under 10 minutes, versus the current 60-minute hospital lab average. (Photo by John Battiston)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The complexities of blood testing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Translating the lab success to human blood presents formidable hurdles. Blood is a complex matrix of thousands of molecules swirling together, many capable of interfering with or confounding results. Cortisol levels also fluctuate naturally throughout the day, and they can spike or plunge in response to stress or illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A clinically useful sensor must deliver accurate readings across an enormous range while remaining selective for the bioactive form of cortisol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re trying to parse out one little thing out of thousands and thousands of other little things in the same drop of blood,\u201d Yadavalli said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The immediate goal is demonstrating a functioning prototype in human blood. Beyond that lies the business of scaling \u2013 manufacturing at cost-competitive prices, selecting a go-to-market model and navigating regulatory approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eyeing a \u2018razor-blade\u2019 business model<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yadavalli envisions a \u201crazor-blade\u201d approach common in point-of-care diagnostics: Sell the reader device at a competitive price, then generate recurring revenue from biodegradable test strips. That model mirrors glucose meters, which typically cost no more than $50 but drive billions in strip sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the Commercialization Fund grant, Yadavalli and his team aim to demonstrate a functioning prototype. They will conduct the first human blood studies, validate the sensor\u2019s performance against laboratory gold standards and explore market feedback from potential users, including emergency departments, endocrinology clinics, mental health providers and corporate wellness programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the integration of data analytics and advanced electronics, we\u2019re able to think about ways in which these devices can be much easier and cheaper to make and adopt,\u201d Yadavalli said. \u201cEventually, of course, the goal is the betterment of human health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advancing innovation across disciplines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The breadth of innovations now advancing through VCU\u2019s commercialization pipeline reflects a university increasingly committed to turning research excellence into scalable solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEach of the inventors we support works in a different field, yet they\u2019re all asking the same essential questions: \u2018Is this work on the right trajectory?\u2019 \u2018Do I understand the risks?\u2019 \u2018Can I get to market on a clear timeline?\u2019\u201d said Ivelina Metcheva, Ph.D., assistant vice president for innovation at TechTransfer and Ventures. \u201cThe Commercialization Fund is designed to help answer those questions while the research is still young enough to adapt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vice President for Research and Innovation P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., emphasized the fund\u2019s role in the university\u2019s broader research ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat excites me about this latest cohort is not just the diversity of technologies, but the maturity of the teams behind them,\u201d he said. \u201cThese are researchers who understand both the science and the business of innovation. That combination is what moves ideas from the lab to impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the Commercialization Fund\u2019s establishment in 2015, more than 100 faculty researchers have received over $4.1 million in total awards. With those investments, researchers have leveraged an additional $41.4 million in follow-on funding from federal agencies, investors, licensing partners and state organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional Commercialization Fund awards<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here are summaries of the five additional VCU faculty-led projects that received awards in the latest funding cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project<\/strong>: Dynamic optical imaging to assess tissue viability<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fund recipient: <\/em>Anuradha Godavarty<\/em><\/a>, Ph.D., professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Godavarty focuses her research on developing near-infrared optical imaging systems to assess tissue health without contact or injecting contrast agents. Her innovation, called NIROS (near-infrared optical scanner), creates real-time, wide-field maps of tissue oxygenation by measuring how near-infrared light is absorbed and scattered in living tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike traditional point-based sensors or fluorescence imaging that requires injected dyes, NIROS captures dynamic, spatiotemporal tissue perfusion data across an entire region, eliminating subjectivity in clinical assessment. The device has been validated, demonstrating 95% correlation with commercial technologies, and has been further used in preclinical models of peripheral vascular disease and clinical studies on subjects with diabetic foot ulcers and post-surgical critical limb ischemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Commercialization Fund will support the transition from laboratory prototype to an FDA-ready device, including prototype refinement, regulatory documentation, software development and risk management planning. Godavarty\u2019s team will consult with regulatory experts and work toward compliance with international device standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

_________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Michael Hindle, Ph.D., (left) and Worth Longest, Ph.D., in the aerosol research lab. (Photo by Karl E. Steinbrenner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Project<\/strong>: Generating efficacy data of a drug-surfactant combination aerosol as a formulation platform technology<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fund recipients: <\/em>Michael Hindle<\/em><\/a>, Ph.D., Peter R. Byron Distinguished Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy; <\/em>Worth Longest<\/em><\/a>, Ph.D., Alice T. and William H. Goodwin Jr. Distinguished Chair, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, College of Engineering<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hindle and Longest have developed a novel platform technology for delivering therapeutics directly to the lungs: the Th-SLS-HYG dry powder formulation, which combines active drugs, lung surfactants and hygroscopic excipients into micrometer-sized particles optimized for rapid lung deposition and transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The technology targets three clinical areas: general hypoxemia and lung inflammation from inhalation injuries, direct treatment of severe pneumonias (viral and bacterial, including COVID-19) and enhanced inhaled vaccine delivery. Early efficacy data in animal models of surfactant-deficient lung disease have been excellent, and the approach allows simultaneous restoration of lung surfactant function while delivering therapeutics \u2013 a dual benefit absent in current treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Commercialization Fund support, the team will generate preclinical efficacy data in animal models of acute inhalation injury, using ciclesonide (an inhaled corticosteroid) and pioglitazone (a PPAR agonist) as lead therapeutics. Success in this funding cycle will position the technology for potential FDA Fast Track or Breakthrough Therapy designation for orphan indications like acute respiratory distress syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

_________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project: <\/strong>Geometry-aware uncertainty calibration for cooperative multi-unmanned aerial vehicles tracking<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fund recipients: <\/em>Yuichi Motai<\/em><\/a>, Ph.D., professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering; Ritesh Sharma, Ph.D., research scientist<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In autonomous multivehicle systems, reported uncertainty estimates from tracking filters are often overconfident and decoupled from actual sensor geometry. Poor geometry triggers inflated noise, preventing overconfident planning decisions. Motai and Sharma\u2019s innovation, a geometry-adaptive noise schedule, ensures that filter covariance \u2013 the metric that downstream planners use to trust position estimates \u2013 strictly reflects the quality of the observation geometry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The algorithm computes geometric dilution of precision at each sensor-to-target configuration and automatically scales the filter\u2019s measurement noise accordingly. Validated in physics-based simulation across 30 multi-UAV configurations, the approach achieved a 75.7% reduction in false-safe planning decisions relative to industry-standard implementations. The technology is sensor-agnostic and applicable to ground vehicle fusion stacks and maritime systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commercialization Fund support will transition the algorithm from simulation to hardware. Primary target customers include defense contractors, commercial drone operators and autonomy stack vendors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

_________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
William Song, Ph.D., is leading the development of a new portable, foldable water tank used in radiation therapy. (Photo by Jeff Kelley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Project<\/strong>: Portable and foldable water tank system for ultra-fast commissioning and quality assurance of medical linear accelerators for cancer treatment<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fund recipient: <\/em>William Song<\/em><\/a>, Ph.D., professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With his collaborators at Blue Physics Inc., Song is addressing a hidden bottleneck in cancer radiotherapy: commissioning and quality assurance of medical linear accelerators. Current systems rely on large, rigid and expensive water tanks that are difficult to transport and impossible to move between treatment sites without substantial logistics costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Song\u2019s innovation is a portable, foldable water tank system<\/a> with integrated automated scanning and high-speed radiation detector synchronization. The system is already under patent and has demonstrated successful water-tight performance in preliminary testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Commercialization Fund support, Song\u2019s team will conduct full prototype validation at VCU Health facilities, iteratively improve mechanical and electrical systems, and execute a proof-of-concept workflow. This validation will position the technology for licensing to international commissioning service providers and hospital networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

_________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project<\/strong>: Development of cholestenoic acid (CA), an endogenous epigenetic regulator, as a novel therapeutic for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fund recipient: <\/em>Yaping Wang<\/em><\/a>, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MASLD affects 25-30% of the global adult population and is the leading cause of cirrhosis. However, safe, disease-modifying therapies remain limited. To fill that gap, Wang is developing CA as a first-in-class epigenetic therapeutic for MASLD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CA functions as a natural DNMT inhibitor that reduces hepatic lipid accumulation and improves liver function in established disease models without detectable toxicity. Wang\u2019s team previously advanced a related endogenous epigenetic regulator, larsucosterol, into clinical development for alcohol-associated hepatitis, where it demonstrated 50% mortality reduction and generated substantial commercial interest, culminating in a $400 million acquisition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commercialization Fund support will generate proof-of-concept and mechanistic data, including through dose-response studies in a validated MASLD mouse model and liver biomarker profiling. These outcomes will strengthen CA\u2019s positioning for technology licensing, external investment and downstream new drug-enabling studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Originally posted on VCU News: https:\/\/news.vcu.edu\/article\/rapid-cortisol-test-aerial-vehicle-tech-water-tanks-vcu-faculty-research-projects-receiving-awards<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Six initiatives are selected in the Commercialization Fund\u2019s latest round of funding that helps bring campus innovation to the marketplace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2033,"featured_media":1678,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5,165,6],"tags":[1202,1132,1151,75,1166,135,76],"class_list":["post-1677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bme","category-ece","category-faculty-awards","category-mne","tag-anuradha-godavarty","tag-commercialization-fund","tag-hm","tag-vamsi-yadavalli","tag-vcu-techtransfer","tag-worth-longest","tag-yuichi-motai"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2033"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1677"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1679,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1677\/revisions\/1679"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1668,"date":"2026-07-17T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/?p=1668"},"modified":"2026-07-16T19:18:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T19:18:26","slug":"four-vcu-students-and-recent-alums-earn-prestigious-nsf-graduate-research-fellowships-for-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/engineering\/2026\/07\/17\/four-vcu-students-and-recent-alums-earn-prestigious-nsf-graduate-research-fellowships-for-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Four VCU students and recent alums earn prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The five-year awards will propel their studies in STEM-based disciplines.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By William Lineberry<\/a>
Honors College<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One Virginia Commonwealth University student and three recent alums have been selected for the 2026 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program<\/a>, a prestigious national initiative that helps graduate students advance their studies in STEM-based disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000 and a cost-of-education allowance of $16,000 to the institution. Fellows must be pursuing a master\u2019s or doctoral degree at an accredited institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe success of these three remarkable alums and one current student underscores VCU\u2019s national and international research prominence as a top 20% global university,\u201d said Arturo P. Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president and provost. \u201cUnderscoring our deep institutional commitment to supporting undergraduate and graduate student research through world-class mentorship and hands-on experiences, VCU is training the next generation of researchers who will solve tomorrow\u2019s most complex challenges. Here at VCU, every Ram\u2019s a researcher, and this recognition shows our students are competing at the highest levels of American science.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current VCU student honored as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow for 2026 is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n