Associate Vice Provost for Research

As the nation’s Catholic Augustinian University, Villanova is steeped in a rich tradition of academic excellence and intellectual curiosity. We are committed to the collaborative pursuit of knowledge and applying our discoveries to better our communities and the human condition. Research plays a crucial role in our university mission and is an integral part of a Villanova education. Our faculty are committed to excellence both in their teaching and in their scholarship, and embody the teacher-scholar model. Our students, both undergraduate and graduate, are true partners in the research and creative process. The Associate Vice Provost for Research serves as an advocate for Villanova scholarship and supports the research and creative endeavors of our dedicated and distinguished faculty and our talented students.

Please explore our research pages to learn more about internal and external support for research, the exciting projects our faculty and students are involved in, and the challenging problems they are tackling.

Warm Regards,

Amanda M. Grannas, PhD
Associate Vice Provost for Research

Dr. Amanda M. Grannas is Professor of Chemistry and Associate Vice Provost for Research. She completed her BS in chemistry and math at Juniata College in 1998 and obtained a PhD in analytical chemistry from Purdue University in 2002. Following her graduate work, she was a postdoctoral scholar at The Ohio State University with a joint appointment in the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Geological Sciences. Since joining the Villanova faculty in 2005, Dr. Grannas has established a thriving research group focused on environmental and atmospheric chemistry and has mentored over 40 research students. She has a diverse range of expertise, and her recent projects include the study of snow and ice photochemistry, the fate of pharmaceutical and personal care products in local watersheds, and the development of advanced analytical techniques used to study ice cores. She is a prominent and internationally known expert in snow chemistry and has participated in a number of field studies in both the Canadian and Alaskan Arctic and has included a number of Villanova students in her fieldwork. Her research has been supported by the EPA, NSF, NOAA, and the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation. Dr. Grannas’ previous honors include being awarded a prestigious Faculty Early Career Development Award from the National Science Foundation, and being one of seven faculty nationwide recognized in 2013 as a Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar by the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation.

Grounded in our Augustinian intellectual tradition, the Faculty Scholar Advisory Team promotes excellence and distinction in research throughout the University and serves as a liaison between faculty scholars and the Office of the Provost.

Elizabeth Dowdell, Professor, Nursing

Calvin Li, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Matthew Matell, Professor, Psychology

Billie Murray, Associate Professor, Communication

Melissa O’Connor, Assistant Professor, Nursing

Michael Pagano, Professor, Finance

Michele Pistone, Professor, Law

Megan Quigley, Associate Professor, English

Sally Scholz, Professor, Philosophy

Kabindra Shakya, Assistant Professor, Geography and the Environment

Ray Taylor, Professor, Marketing

Wenqing Xu, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Deanna Zubris, Associate Professor, Chemistry

Faculty Messages

Research In Action

Learn more about Amber Shelton and her oncology research.

Learn more about Villanova's EOD robot work.

Proposal Prep for External Funding

We have developed a number of materials to aid you in proposal preparation for external funding, available on a Villanova Sharepoint site.

Please contact Associate Vice Provost for Research for access.