Professor Christopher Irving and student Sethe Howell look down at a tablet, while a monitor behind them displays an illustration of a griffin-like monster.

Dreamwork, team work

Undergraduates at Virginia Commonwealth University have the opportunity to do some pretty impressive and wide-ranging research on almost any topic that piques their interest. 

This is often thanks in part to funding from programs like the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program fellowships, but it wouldn't be possible without the steady guidance of devoted faculty mentors. 

Students gain a lot from working on hands-on projects with faculty who are experts in their disciplines. But the partnership works both ways: The professors will tell you that they too learn from — and are inspired by — their mentees.