Department of Chemistry

College of Humanities and Sciences

Current StudentsGive

News

John Jones, who is pictured stocking a Ram Fridge, is the principal investigator for a $1.04 million grant to launch a coordinated initiative to reduce food waste across VCU and VCU Health. (Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

New initiative to reduce food waste, increase composting at VCU and VCU Health

June 18, 2026

The Food Rescue and Composting initiative aims to reduce an estimated more than 120,000 pounds of food waste.

After completing her Ph.D., Milan Marsh hopes to begin a career in industry, applying mathematical modeling to real-word problems. (Contributed image)

VCU and math have long been part of the equation for systems modeling student Milan Marsh

June 16, 2026

A high school program on campus helped propel her Ph.D. studies, which touch on biology and disease.

Tara Nikzad Joolhar said the culture of the lab where she conducts research is “uplifting.” “People are always teaching and learning from one another without any judgment.” (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

How I found my research: Tara Nikzad Joolhar loves both the challenges and surprises she finds in the lab

April 27, 2026

Joolhar, a science and philosophy major at VCU, will graduate this spring at the age of 20. A career in medicine is in her sights next.

Grayson Jacey is interested in the scientific and engineering side of medicine, especially how drugs are developed and made. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

How I found my research: Grayson Jacey seeks to help make important medicines more accessible

April 21, 2026

The junior, who says ‘there is always something new to learn,’ has engaged in research projects at VCU, in private industry and in India and Germany.

William Thomas has dived into research while at VCU, including researching sickle cell disease – a condition that he has himself. (Jonathan Haff, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2026: William Thomas explores biology, medicine and his own disease

March 27, 2026

Sickle cell disease interrupted his freshman year, but the experience inspired him to join a VCU lab focused on the condition.

Thomas, Colleen, Mary Reilly and Todd Cecil each majored in chemistry as undergraduates at various schools before doctoral paths diverged between medicine and analytical chemistry at VCU. (Contributed photo)

Meet ‘The Doctors Cecil’ – 1 family, 2 generations, 4 VCU doctoral degrees

March 9, 2026

40 years ago, Todd and Mary Cecil came to VCU, and kids Thomas and Colleen have made it a family affair.

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.)

At-home calcium testing device could have wide-ranging impact in health care

March 3, 2026

The invention from VCU chemistry professor Xuewei Wang is being evaluated for the marketplace, and the applications could extend to multiple biomarkers.

a professor teaching a large class full of students who are taking notes

Come join our team and work with us in the VCU Chemistry Department

Feb. 20, 2026

The VCU Chemistry Department invites applications for a non-tenure track position (renewable) at the Assistant Professor level in general chemistry and organic chemistry.biochemistry to begin in August 2026.

VCU researcher Matthew C.T. Hartman and his team are fighting cancer at the molecular level as part of their work in chemical biology. (Contributed photo)

VCU researcher using $2M in new grants to explore cancer chemical biology

Jan. 22, 2026

The lab of Matthew Hartman is working toward molecules that could help drugs target disease-linked proteins.

Clinton McFeely stands in front of a research poster hanging up on a bulletin board

Clinton McFeely, Ph.D. (B.S. ’14, B.S. ’17, Ph.D. ’22) experiments at the molecular level in search of new treatments

Oct. 22, 2025

The Departments of Physics and Chemistry alumnus found his niche in theoretical science, experimenting in VCU’s labs to prepare for his professional career.