VCU College of Engineering

Students in the lab of Carrie Peterson, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at VCU College of Engineering, are gaining hands-on research experience while tackling real-world rehabilitation challenges.

From studying the causes of shoulder pain in wheelchair users to exploring how machine learning can help predict patient responses to brain stimulation therapies, their work is contributing to research aimed at improving mobility, independence and quality of life for people recovering from injury or living with neurological disorders.

Read the full story to learn more about the research and the students helping drive these discoveries. https://bit.ly/3SdcND2

Engineering starts with creativity.

At VCU College of Engineering, you'll be encouraged to think beyond the obvious, tackle challenges from new angles and bring ideas to life. From labs and research to capstone projects, creativity is part of the experience.

Swipe to see how VCU students are putting their creativity to work.

That's a wrap on the Learning Locally phase of this year's Global STEMConverge!

Best of luck to the 2026 cohort as they head to Córdoba, Spain, where they'll continue tackling real-world technical and business challenges during the Solve Globally portion of the program.

Global STEMConverge is a unique interdisciplinary study-abroad experience that brings together students from the VCU School of Business and VCU College of Engineering with peers from the Universidad de Córdoba. Designed for undergraduate students in computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and information systems, the program combines global collaboration, innovation, and hands-on problem-solving to address real-world challenges.

Learn more.
https://bit.ly/3S1D5bh

Beyond Earth's magnetosphere, astronauts face a constant threat from ionizing radiation that can damage cells and increase health risks.

That's why Arvind Agarwal, Ph.D., professor and chair of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at VCU College of Engineering, is developing innovative materials designed to protect astronauts and spacecraft in the harsh environment of space.

His research uses boron nitride, a lightweight material capable of absorbing harmful neutron radiation while also resisting abrasion and erosion. By stacking layers of the material, Agarwal's team has created a stronger, more resilient coating that could help support future Artemis missions and long-duration space travel.

Read more about how VCU engineering research is helping shape the future of space exploration. https://bit.ly/4vFOcoX

Presenting at the 2026 American Nuclear Society Student Conference at Texas A&M was a defining moment for VCU College of Engineering seniors Jackson Place, Blake Coghill, Joshua Piper and Ethan Villarreal.

The team showcased their capstone project to leading scholars and industry professionals from across the nuclear field — an opportunity that nearly wasn't possible for every team member. Thanks to the generosity of Irene Burlock and Joseph Holicky III, funding was provided to ensure the entire team could attend and share in this career-shaping experience.

Read how donor support helped make this unforgettable opportunity a reality. https://bit.ly/4esuJ5g

From Funding Hurdles to Full Roster: VCU Engineering at the 2026 American Nuclear Society Student Conference When a funding shortage threatened to sideline half of a VCU Engineering Capstone team, a targeted, last-minute donation ensured every student could travel to Texas.

The celebration continues for our largest graduating class! 🎓

From Richmond to locations across the U.S. and around the globe, supporters tuned in to watch our graduates reach this milestone. No matter where they were, our students had loved ones cheering them on as they crossed the stage.

Tell us where your family and friends were watching from in the comments!

Congratulations to Jessica Nguyen and Ellie Sabalewski on receiving the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Award, a prestigious honor for graduate students pursuing research.

Both are biomedical engineering alumni of VCU College of Engineering who are continuing to advance research in healthcare. Jessica is pursuing her Ph.D. at Texas A&M University, where she studies mechanobiology, tissue engineering and biomaterials. Ellie is pursuing her Ph.D. at Rice University, researching macrophages that can recognize and kill ovarian cancer cells, with aspirations of becoming a professor and advancing solutions to critical women’s health challenges.

Jessica and Ellie credit their early research experiences at VCU for helping them discover their passions and shape their academic paths. We congratulate them on this outstanding achievement and wish them continued success in their research journeys.

🔗 https://bit.ly/3QfSX9A

Capstone is where years of learning become something real.

We followed Team MULTI 26-613 from the first stages of development to presentation day as they transformed an idea into a solution designed to make a difference. Along the way came long hours, problem-solving, teamwork, and plenty of determination.

See how their project came to life.👇
https://bit.ly/4uKkH54

VCU Multidisciplinary Team Receives People’s Choice Award Undergraduates at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Colleg...