Create your own research journey

The Ph.D. in Integrative Life Sciences, a program housed in the Center for Integrative Life Sciences Education, is designed for students who want to conduct research that is integrative across multiple disciplines and takes a systems approach to emerging research questions across the many fields that comprise the life sciences.

Students may opt to work with faculty members from any department, center or institute across VCU campuses. The program provides the opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research at multiple scales of study from the molecular to ecosystem levels.  Student research centers around the intersection of the environment and the human condition, building on existing strengths in genetics, sensing, forensic science, sustainability and conservation. 

Unlike traditional graduate programs where there are dedicated faculty, Dr. Stephen Fong, ILS Program Director and Professor in Chemical and Life Science Engineering, and Dr. Sarah Rothschild, ILS Assistant Director and Assistant Professor in Life Sciences run the ILS program. 

We invite you to visit our Directory page, where you can learn more about the wide variety of disciplines and research conducted by our Ph.D. candidates.  Prospective candidates are strongly suggested to have a mentor/PI identified before applying to the program.

Annual ILS Showcase

Our highly-anticipated and well-attended student-run spring showcase brings faculty, students and Michael Rao, Ph.D., President, VCU and VCU Health System, to the VCU Student Commons.

Michael Rao, Ph.D. and two students in front of a slide that says: Welcome! Integrative Life Sciences 16th Annual Spring Research Showcase April 14, 2022 11 am - 4 pm. ILS and VCU logos

News

A man is sitting at a table under a tent in the forest, holding a bird. He is trying to get a DNA sample. On the table are laboratory supplies.

Nov. 30, 2023

CILSE Ph.D. student Jorge Garzon travels deep into the rainforest for his research

The difficult journey yields access to endemic birds not well studied.

Ciara Rhodes, a VCU alum, is a doctoral candidate in the Center Integrative Life Sciences Education in VCU Life Sciences. (Contributed photo)

Nov. 6, 2023

VCU Life Sciences doctoral student Ciara Rhodes receives National Institute of Justice fellowship

An alternative skeletal sampling technique for the recovery of DNA is the focus for the first-generation college student who finds inspiration in the lab and the classroom.

Prolonged periods of extreme heat are becoming more common due to climate change, costing the U.S. approximately $1 billion in health care costs every summer, according to a new report. (Getty Images)

July 17, 2023

Interdisciplinary study from VCU reveals health care costs of extreme heat

Physicians, earth scientists, staff and students collaborated to better understand the health impact of extremely hot days in Virginia and across the nation – and they estimate a toll of $1 billion per summer.