Research Success Stories

In the Heat of the Moment: Undergraduate Research to Combat Climate Change

Brynn Vandegriff ‘22 can take the heat. The Earth and Environmental Sciences major spent the hot summer of 2021 traveling the city of Virginia Beach to measure heat and its impact on the community.

Read Brynn's story


Violence, Family, and Religion: Discovering the LeBaron Family through Undergraduate Research

Cecilia Ward, a third year history major who plans to graduate a semester early in December 2021, conducted undergraduate research during the 2020 fall semester.

Read Cecilia's story


'Batty' for Undergraduate Research

When Ezekiel Herrera-Bevan ‘21 walked into the Old Growth Beech Forest on VWU’s campus, he had no idea how that environment would change his perspective on biology, ecology, his future plans, and bats.

Read Ezekiel's story


My Eureka Moment: Learning the Scientific Method through Trial and Error

When asked what surprised him the most about conducting research, Matthew Bavuso, a junior majoring in biology and chemistry, responded, “I had to do a lot of troubleshooting.”

Read Matthew's story


Earth and Environmental Science Student Parlays Undergraduate Research into a Career

In summer 2016, first-year student Mayanni McCourty '19 (Earth and Environmental Science) landed a research-based internship with Virginia Tech's Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program.

Read Mayanni's story


Green Chemistry at VWU

In summer 2018, Cassandra Caldwell '19 (Chemistry) conducted Green Chemistry research under the mentorship of Dr. Kevin Kittredge using Virginia Wesleyan's new microwave reactor in our new Greer Environmental Sciences Center.

Read Cassandra 's story


Seizing Experiential Learning Opportunities

Caleb Mercer ‘19, a senior majoring in history and religious studies, has embraced the experiential learning opportunities offered by Virginia Wesleyan University.

Read Caleb's story


Callaway's Pathway to Research at VWU and Beyond

Since his first year at Virginia Wesleyan University, mathematics major LeMar Callaway III '18 has participated in a number of research projects.

Read LeMar's story


Summer Research at Virginia Tech

Ms. Mayanni McCourty '19 (Earth and Environmental Sciences) participated in the Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP) at the Virginia Tech Undergraduate Summer Research Internship in Blacksburg, Virginia in summer 2016.

Read Mayanni's story


Putting Data Science to Work

Laura Robosto ‘17 (Mathematics) interned this past summer at the headquarters of Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) in Orlando, Florida. Offering a wide array of programs for its congregation, Cru employs mathematicians who utilize business software and analyze user data to make decisions that benefit the ministry.

Read Laura's story


VWU Student Presents: Mercury Concentration in Tissue of Bottlenose Dolphins Research

Ms. Sherie Coleman '17 (Biology) travelled to San Francisco, California to attend the 21st Biennial Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals.

Read Sherie's story


Interning in the Rocky Mountains

Lightning crackled overhead. I ran down the mountainside until I finally reached the base of the trailhead, soaked to the skin. Only a few weeks into my National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) internship in Boulder, CO.

Read Seth's story


Experiencing China: Lessons Beyond the Classroom

This past summer, I spent three weeks in China conducting research on two World Heritage sites and Chinese preservation techniques.

Read Alex's story


Deep in Research

Hali Goad (‘16, Earth & Environmental Science) received a research grant from the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges (VFIC) this past summer to examine the efficacy of retention ponds to improve the water quality of stormwater runoff...

Read Hali's story


Linear Diophantine Equations vs. the Penny

Virginia Wesleyan students Laura Robusto and Tyler Searcy presented their summer research at the Mathematical Association of America's national summer meeting, MathFest 2015...

Read Laura's and Tyler's story