Research & Discovery
At Columbian College, scholars and scientists join student researchers to challenge assumptions and
Advance the forefronts of knowledge.
Research
Discovery and innovation are a Columbian College tradition—from our century-long research partnership with the Smithsonian Institution to our state-of-the-art Science and Engineering Hall. As a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), George Washington University is a distinguished leader in global research. Whether our scholars are observing celestial bodies light years from Earth or examining the roots of diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, Columbian College faculty and students are uncovering age-old mysteries and finding solutions to 21st-century challenges.
13
CCAS research centers
and institutes
$21M
annual college research expenditures
500+
permanent full-time faculty members
720+
average annual
faculty media hits
Impact
Faculty Research
Columbian College faculty are prolific authors, awarding-winning scholars, innovators and artists. They are recipients of Guggenheims, Pulitzers and NEH fellowships, and are published in top media outlets and journals.
Student Research
From labs and classrooms on campus to field sites around the globe, Columbian College students work side-by-side with world-renowned researchers and scholars on a journey of cultural and scientific discovery.
Centers & Institutes
Columbian College is home to top research centers and institutes that explore an array of issues and ideas such as the origins of humankind, the inner workings of the brain and the growth of solar energy.
"Research has definitely broadened what I know about myself and what I want to do in the future. It's really changed my perspective on my career goals, and I'm very excited to keep going on that path now."
Sarah Schrup
BS '19
Faculty Books
Faculty Research Conversations
Addressing Suicide Risks Among Black Youths
In a conversation with Dean Paul Wahlbeck, Psychology's Sherry Molock discusses her work to address rising suicides rates among African American adolescents.
George Washington's Life and Legacy
In a video conversation with CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck, History Professor Denver Brunsman discusses George Washington's life and the impact of his legacy today.
Research Making Headlines
Summer School: Bio Students Thrive in Harlan Fellowship
A cohort of biology students spent their summer in the lab and the field thanks to a CCAS program that supports undergraduate research opportunities.
New study explores the relationship between a canine’s facial appearance and how expressive they appear to be when communicating with their human companions.
Cellphone Central: Smithsonian Exhibit Dials into GW Collaboration
With input from GW scholars and students, a new exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History charts how cellphones have changed our lives and our planet.
Student Research at GW and Beyond Grows through Digitized Scientific Collections
WLP Director and Associate Professor of Biology Carly Jordan was granted $1 million by the National Science Foundation for CUREs, enhancing online natural history collections use.
Unique Jet Structure of Gamma-Ray Burst: 3 Questions with Brendan O'Connor
Physics graduate student Brendan O'Connor was interviewed in a video about the unique jet structure of the brightest gamma-ray burst of all time.
CCAS Showcase Celebrates Student Research
More than 125 undergraduate and graduate students across the disciplines displayed their scholarly work at the inaugural CCAS Research Showcase.