Shore to Summit: UVA’s Field Research Stations

Virginia is one of the most ecologically diverse states in the country, home to more than 2,400 native plant species, 848 vertebrate animals, and 30,000 invertebrate animals. UVA operates four field research stations across this landscape, from the Eastern Shore to the Southern Appalachians, each serving as an extension of Grounds where researchers study the environment, run experiments, and engage with surrounding communities.

Morven Farm

UVA’s historic farm and estate near Charlottesville now functions as a sustainability research lab, bringing together students and faculty from environmental sciences, engineering, architecture, law, the humanities, art and economics to address real-world environmental and social challenges in a shared setting.

Blandy Experimental Farm

Spanning 700 acres in the Shenandoah Valley, Blandy encompasses a wide range of habitats including woodlots, successional fields, pastures, and small ponds, and is home to the State Arboretum of Virginia. A Department of Environmental Sciences field station, it hosts 20 to 25 undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers each summer conducting ecological research.

Mountain Lake Biological Station

Set at 3,800 feet in the Southern Appalachians of southwest Virginia, this station borders Jefferson National Forest and draws 50 to 100 researchers and students daily through the summer. Its diverse habitats support a wide range of biological studies. Founded by the Department of Biology, the station also hosts the ArtLab residency, which brings artists and scientists together around their shared drive to observe and understand the natural world.

The Coastal Research Center

Marking its 50th year of operations on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, the Coastal Research Center focuses on migratory shorebirds, coastal forest ecology,
oyster reefs, and the dynamics of the changing coastline. The center welcomes undergraduates for summer research and provides laboratories, lodging, and research vessels to support their work.

This story originally appeared in the 2026 Annual Research Report, produced by the Office of the Vice President of Research. Find more stories from this report here:  https://news.research.virginia.edu