Skip to main content
Vanderbilt Background Photo

Graduate Research

Graduate research in the College of Arts and Science is boundary-breaking and world-changing.

With all the resources of an R1 institution, coupled with a high mentor-to-student ratio and a compact campus, we provide a cutting-edge but personal experience. Collaboration across disciplines isn’t just possible, it’s the norm—you'll explore your field of study from a range of perspectives and with colleagues in different fields. Graduate research at Vanderbilt expands your horizons like nowhere else.

For detailed information about graduate research opportunities in your field of interest, visit the department websites.

GRADUATE RESEARCH IN ACTION

Shaniya Jarrett

Physics

Shaniya is helping Black middle school girls reach for the stars through her astronomy and music program AstroBeats. Together, they translate NASA data into unique musical compositions, teaching the importance of thinking creatively about how to interpret scientific data, while demonstrating that reachable opportunities exist for all.

Read More

student smiling

Annie Hatmaker

Biological Sciences

Annie recently helped publish a study identifying the differences in virulence among Aspergillus species, a common human-pathogenic genus of fungi that includes A. flavus, which can cause aspergillosis and fungal keratitis infections, a type of eye infection. "It ultimately would benefit the scientific community to have the genomes of species causing each infection available for further study."

Read More

Jacob Westerberg with two faculty researchers, in lab cots

Jacob Westerberg

Psychological Sciences

Jacob won an opportunity at the Allen Brain Observatory to explore theories around predictive coding, or brain energy conservation. All research produced at the observatory is made freely available to anyone tackling open questions in neural activity in health and disease. 

Read More

Elvira Morell, HEART class, article thumbnail

Elvira Aballi Morell

Spanish & Portuguese

When Elvira came to Vanderbilt to work with her mentor, William Luis, she realized the importance of creating artistic spaces for Latinx communities. Elvira’s research is primarily about Afro-Cuban religions and how the diaspora frames cultural references, such as symbols and legends, in everyday life.

Read More

Read more research stories

Key Research Initiatives