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Rooted In Research
At Radford University, research is more than an academic requirement – it’s a driving force behind the institution’s mission to create and disseminate knowledge that positively impacts the world.
Through rigorous investigation and creative scholarship, Radford students, faculty and alumni are making significant contributions to their fields and communities, both locally and globally.
Research at Radford is deeply integrated into the student experience, offering opportunities for undergraduates and graduates alike to collaborate with faculty on projects that address real-world challenges. Whether in a laboratory, in the field or through community outreach, students work side by side with professors to develop research questions, select methodologies, collect and analyze data and, ultimately, share their findings. This hands-on approach not only enhances students’ academic growth but also prepares them for lifelong learning and success in their chosen careers.
Jeanne Mekolichick, associate provost for research, faculty success and strategic initiatives, emphasizes the transformative power of research. “In addition to teaching our students how to explore specific questions and develop innovative solutions, we prepare them to embrace lifelong learning,” she said. “This is a continuous process that involves successes and failures, revealing new insights that beg new questions, ultimately leading to the discovery of connections where previously there were none. In this respect, research is a way of being in the world that prepares our graduates for fulfilling careers and enriching lives.”
Empowering communities through history and technology
One shining example of Radford’s impact is the Community Digitization Project, spearheaded by Professor of History Sharon Roger Hepburn and her students. This initiative helps communities and families preserve their valuable histories through digitization, providing a unique opportunity for students interested in digital archiving. The project, housed in the Department of History’s newly established Center for Archives and Digital History in Hemphill Hall, offers these services free of charge, underscoring Radford’s commitment to community engagement and historical preservation.
The center is more than just a facility; it’s a hub where students gain practical experience in digital archiving while serving the public. Hepburn and her students are committed to preserving an unlimited amount of material, ensuring that the stories of local families and communities are not lost to time. Their work exemplifies the university’s dedication to making a positive difference in society through research and innovation.
Protecting Virginia’s native species
In biology, Professor Karen Powers and her students are making significant strides in wildlife conservation. While her research began with bats, Powers has expanded her focus to include the Allegheny woodrat, a once-common species now at risk due to habitat loss, genetic isolation and parasites. Powers and her students are the only team in Virginia studying these native rodents, working alongside a multistate coalition to preserve them.
The research is physically demanding, requiring arduous hikes and explorations of caves across western Virginia. Despite the challenges, Powers and her students are passionate about their work, which not only contributes to the conservation of a threatened species but also provides students with invaluable hands-on experience in the field.
“We work collaboratively with many states to assist with recovery efforts – students see conservation in action,” Powers explained. This research not only helps protect Virginia’s natural heritage but also instills a deep sense of environmental stewardship in the next generation of scientists.
Spreading the love of bees
Another area where Radford students are making an impact is in the study of bees, under the guidance of Associate Professor Chet Bhatta. Biology undergraduates are engaged in research that ranges from exploring bee community assemblages to studying the antimicrobial properties of beehive products. Their work is gaining recognition, with several students receiving awards for their contributions.
In December 2023, five undergraduate students coauthored a manuscript on bumble bee parasitism for the Journal of Natural History of Virginia. This achievement highlights the high level of research being conducted by Radford students and the university’s role in advancing knowledge about these vital pollinators. Through their research, these students are contributing to the scientific community while raising awareness about the importance of bee conservation.
Faith, health and research in Appalachia
Radford’s commitment to research extends beyond the laboratory and into the heart of the Appalachian region. Through the RARE Appalachia program, students have the opportunity to conduct original research while exploring the unique cultural and environmental landscape of Virginia’s Appalachian highlands. Nursing student Veronica Vann, for example, used this opportunity to investigate how faith leaders influence the physical and emotional health of their congregations.
“We know that more religious people tend to be healthier and have better health outcomes,” said Vann, a nursing student from Richmond, Virginia. “This has been proven over and over again. However, there isn’t much research on the causes of this phenomenon. I wanted to explore just one angle: how faith leaders directly affect health.”
During her research, Vann interviewed priests and pastors, discovering the critical role they play in community health, from organizing food banks to running halfway houses. Her work not only sheds light on the intersection of faith and health but also highlights the broader impact that Radford students are having on the communities they study and serve.
Paving professional research pathways for alumni
Many alumni — once bitten by the research bug at Radford — go on to earn doctorates and pursue research-related careers in academia or industry.
For Bismark Amofah ’17, a senior scientist in the biologics engineering department at global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, a June 2013 phone call with then-Radford men’s soccer coach Mark Reeves set him on the path to a career in research.
A native of Ghana, Amofah had moved to England as a child to continue his schooling after his mother died. There, he was recruited to play on the Reading Football Club’s (Reading FC) academy team.
“Coach Reeves asked me about my family, my father, my brothers, my sister,” he recalled. “He showed care and concern for me as a person, first and foremost, not as a soccer player. And that helped me make my decision to go to Radford.”
When Amofah failed his first two exams in General Chemistry 1 — he had been out of school for two years during an apprenticeship at Reading FC following high school — Tim Fuhrer, an associate professor of physical chemistry, offered words of encouragement that inspired him to persist. He passed the course and went on to earn an A- in General Chemistry 2 the following semester.
As a sophomore, Amofah joined Fuhrer’s research lab, began to present research posters at conferences and secured a paid summer research job for the remainder of his time at Radford. Following graduation, he earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry at the University of Arizona and then decided to pursue a research career in industry instead of academia.
At AstraZeneca, Amofah works on a variety of research projects – from flu vaccines and COVID-19 antibodies to cancer drugs.
“This wouldn’t have happened without Radford,” he said. “From the day I stepped onto campus to the day I graduated, I was surrounded by a network of people who were pulling for my success, listening to me, advising me and guiding me in the right direction.”
Academic advisors in Radford’s chemistry department first sowed the research seed in the mind of then-freshman Donita Brady ’03, who today is the Harrison McCrea Dickson, M.D. and Clifford C. Baker, M.D. Presidential Associate Professor in the Department of Cancer Biology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.
“They were excellent resources who helped me select coursework based on my interests and encouraged me to explore undergraduate summer research programs,” said Brady, a 2003 Big South All-Academic Team softball player.
Chemistry faculty members Cindy Burkhardt and Francis Webster also helped shepherd Brady down the research pathway, piquing her interest through their instruction and writing recommendation letters for her summer research program applications.
This support helped open the door to Brady’s participation in the Carolina Summer Fellowship Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“By the time I graduated from Radford, I had fallen in love with research,” Brady recalled. “I really liked the process of formulating a new research question, testing a hypothesis and then becoming the first person in the world to collect and analyze a unique data set.”
After graduating from Radford as a chemistry major, Brady earned a Ph.D. in pharmacology at UNC-Chapel Hill. Today, she leads a diverse team of undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and research staff investigating how different nutrients in a person’s diet can affect cancer cell communications. She also directs the IDEAL Research office, which cultivates a culture of equitable inclusivity across all Perelman School of Medicine education programs. Through this effort, Brady emphasizes the importance of a strong scientific foundation, curiosity, collaboration and community to a diverse group of learners, including summer undergraduate researchers, postbaccalaureate scholars, Ph.D. students and postdoctoral teaching and research trainees.
“Medicine has become so specialized today that no one is an expert in everything,” she observed. “Our ability as researchers to talk across disciplines, be open to other perspectives and make connections across differences are keys to success.”
Building a legacy of research excellence
Radford University’s Office of Research and Creative Scholarship plays a pivotal role in supporting the diverse research activities of students and faculty and preparing alumni to pursue careers in research. By securing grant funding, fostering partnerships with other institutions and integrating research opportunities into academic programs, the office ensures that research remains a cornerstone of the Radford experience.
Through their research, Radford students, faculty and alumni are leaving an indelible mark on the world, demonstrating the power of knowledge to effect positive change. Whether preserving history, protecting wildlife, conserving pollinators or exploring new treatments for a range of health conditions, the Radford community is living its mission to create knowledge that matters.
