News and events

Keep up on the latest information and opportunities from the Institute for Research on Behavioral and Emotional Health.

Featured in The New York Times

A story from April 2023 cited a study by VCU IRBEH faculty in the Journal of American College Health that found 70 percent of college students report that they have been exposed to at least one traumatic event.

The New York Times. Should college come with trigger warnings? At Cornell, it is a hard no. When the student assembly voted to required faculty to alert students to upsetting educational materials, administrators pushed back.

News and events

IRBEH supports events and collaborations that bring research to the public—benefiting students, communities, and the broader public at VCU and beyond. Stay informed about upcoming IRBEH translational research events by visiting the VCU Research Weeks calendar.

Event highlights for 2025-26

Fellowship Poster Session

Every fall semester, IRBEH holds an undergraduate fellowship poster symposium to showcase the research our fellows complete with their mentors throughout the year. 

Spit for Science Research meetings

Throughout the fall and spring semesters, we host virtual research meetings on the third Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. ET. If you’re working with the Spit for Science data – or would like to – we invite you to join us. These meetings offer a great opportunity to connect with researchers across the campuses who share interests, explore collaborative projects and emerging ideas, and stay informed about ongoing work and upcoming opportunities.

IRBEH events calendar

Upcoming events in Spring 2026

Research to Recovery Conference

In 2016, the institute, then known as COBE, created the Research to Recovery Conference. Today, we proudly co-sponsor the event in partnership with Rams in Recovery, bringing together research, community, and lived experience at VCU each spring.

Translational Research Events

IRBEH supports events and collaborations that bring research to the public—benefiting students, communities, and the broader public at VCU and beyond. Stay informed about upcoming IRBEH translational research events in spring semester by visiting the VCU Research Weeks calendar.

Past Translational Research events

Spring 2025: Spit for Science: Research Insights & Bites. View/download the 2025 poster

A roomful of people at a translational research events in 2025

Spring 2025: Christinia Sheerin, Ph.D. (School of Medicine), shares Spit for Science findings on the rates of alcohol and cannabis use in VCU students compared to national averages

A presenter points to information on a screen

Spring 2024: Doing Translational Research: Understanding and Navigating Impactful and Meaningful Research

A roomful of people at a translational research events in 2024

Spring 2024: Stacie Lefeavers, M.P.H., R.N, went on to earn her Ph.D. from the School of Public Health in May 2025. 

A speaker stands at a podium, flanked by seated panelists.

Spring 2024: Ethan Coston, Ph.D., speaks on their most recent applied research project, which assessed LGBTQ needs and opportunities in the Greater Richmond Area.

A group of panelists, mirrored in the screen behind them

Spring 2024: Nicole Corley, Ph.D., shares how she conceptualizes translational research:

A group of panelists, mirrored in the screen behind them