Primates in History, Myth, Art, and Science
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
CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck discusses with Physics Professor Alexander van der Horst his research on the multi-wavelength observations.
Africa's Impact on the African American Experience
Professor of History and International Affairs Nemata Blyden spoke with CCAS Dean Paul Wahlbeck about the customs and traditions that carried over from Africa.
Research Making Headlines
Astrophysics Student Impacts Earth and Sky
Graduate student Sarah Chastain searches space for cosmic transients—a project that is opening the field to a diverse new generation of students and scholars.
When Autism Research Hits Home
Luther Rice-winning neuroscience major Mohammed Almarkhan researches autism. His findings may improve the lives of millions——including his own sister.
Study: Online Battle Lost Early in COVID Crisis
A team led by Physics’ Neil Johnson revealed mainstream Facebook communities were already intertwined with anti-science groups before COVID-19 vaccines arrived.
As more mothers are jailed for minor offenses, Sociology’s Zimife Umeh interviewed formerly incarcerated women about the trauma of institutional separation.
Large Grants Fund Innovative Research
A significant number of research grants were awarded this year to CCAS scholars from top research organizations.
Salamander Species Shed Evolutionary Light
Three new black-bellied salamanders once thought to be a single species were discovered in the southern Appalachian Mountains by a CCAS research team.