Through relentless innovation and collaboration, the Arts & Sciences Strategic Plan has left a tangible impact on our research and scholarship. Here are some of the ways in which the plan has advanced our work:
Preserving global biodiversity
Combining the forces of WashU, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Saint Louis Zoo, the Living Earth Collaborative (LEC) serves as a global force for biodiversity research, advocacy, and education. The LEC has supported nearly 200 biodiversity fellows and funded seed grants for 32 research and conservation projects in 19 different countries, attracting more than $2 million in external funding. The hiring of two globally acclaimed scientists in 2025 accelerated this vital work.
Expanding opportunities for first-year students
Arts & Sciences significantly ramped up efforts to engage first-year students in signature courses and experiential learning opportunities. In Fall 2024, nearly 240 first-year students participated in our signature Ampersand Programs, which offer small, interdisciplinary classes with opportunities for hands-on fieldwork, research, and travel. In addition, almost 700 Arts & Sciences students enrolled in First-Year Seminars and First-Year Opportunities in Fall 2024. These programs feature in-depth, semester-long classes reserved for first-year students.
Propelling quantum-powered discovery
With the launch of the Center for Quantum Leaps (CQL), Arts & Sciences established a dynamic new frontier of scientific inquiry. CQL researchers are exploring the quantum realm, a subatomic space with rules and processes fundamentally different from classical physics. To do so, they are equipped with two powerful quantum diamond microscopes. These cutting-edge tools are fueling groundbreaking insights in medical research, computing, and quantum sensing.
Attracting world-class faculty
Arts & Sciences has made unprecedented investments in faculty recruitment, including 95 new tenure-track hires since 2022. Additionally, two cluster hiring initiatives attracted field-leading faculty on key topics, supercharging transdisciplinary research across campus.
• In 2024, the Quantum Leaps hiring initiative led to the addition of four talented faculty members in the Department of Physics and one in the School of Medicine. These experts in quantum information, materials, and sensors are engaged in exciting collaborations that will cement WashU's reputation as a pioneer in this growing and highly competitive field.
• In 2025, the Rules of Life initiative resulted in commitments from five exceptional scientists who are joining the departments of biology, chemistry, and physics to use advanced computational and theoretical techniques to advance our knowledge of the systems that sustain life.
Supercharging biology instruction
Nine new biology teaching labs in Jolley Hall are providing students and instructors with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to supercharge collaborative learning. They have also reduced class sizes, creating an enhanced experience for the more than 1,000 undergraduates taking lab courses each year. Expanding the biology department's campus footprint also allows Arts & Sciences to transform its old teaching spaces into world-class research facilities for faculty.
Bringing our expertise to public audiences
It is more important than ever for universities to connect their research and expertise with the interests and concerns of the public. The Office of Public Scholarship (OPS) helps faculty members and graduate students through the publishing process – including workshops, seminars, and webinars. Based on its rapid success, the program moved from Arts & Sciences to the Office of the Provost in Fall 2025, expanding its support to all WashU schools.
Enhancing recognition and research opportunities for graduate students
Launched in 2024, ASCEND (Advancing Scholars through Competitive Excellence and Distinguished Achievement) mobilizes and empowers PhD students to compete for prestigious external fellowships by providing modest financial incentives to students and their advisors. In its first year, the program yielded powerful results: PhD students submitted more than 100 competitive applications, generating over $1 million in external funding — a 20:1 return on Arts & Sciences’ investment.
Earning distinction from leading academic societies
Arts & Sciences faculty continue to receive recognition at the highest levels. Since 2023, our faculty have received honors that include:
- Election to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences
- Election to the National Academy of Sciences
- National Science Foundation CAREER awards
- The Pulitzer Prize
- A Guggenheim Fellowship