Duncan Lorimer, world-renowned astrophysicist and Professor of Physics and Astronomy in the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, has been appointed as the Eberly Distinguished Chair for Academic Excellence in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the fields of astronomy and astrophysics, excellence in teaching and his significant impact on the scientific research community at WVU and beyond.
In this role, Lorimer will focus on expanding his research, teaching and outreach initiatives, thus increasing Eberly’s position within WVU as a hub of innovation and academic leadership.
He will hold the professorship for an initial term of five years.
“This recognition is incredibly meaningful to me as I reflect on almost two decades as a faculty member at WVU,” Lorimer said. “I'm very grateful to the support from all my colleagues and students over the years, and the support I have had from the University.”
Since joining the Department of Physics and Astronomy in 2006, Lorimer has made significant contributions to the field of astrophysics. He has been recently recognized for his role in the discovery of fast radio bursts (FRBs), a new class of celestial phenomena that has advanced our understanding of the transient universe. Throughout his career, he has also been actively involved in pulsar research, leading to several key discoveries and the development of real-time FRB detection systems using artificial intelligence.
Lorimer’s tenure in the Department of Physics and Astronomy has led to the infusion of over $38 million in research funding to WVU. His work has garnered over 31,000 citations, and he has supervised numerous students and researchers. He has also provided leadership as interim chair for the department.
"I am so very proud that we are able to award this new professorship to Professor Lorimer which acknowledges transformative contributions in academic achievement,” said Gregory Dunaway, Dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. “I can think of no one more deserving than Professor Lorimer whose scholarly achievements reflect the very best in academic values.”
Lorimer received a Cottrell Scholar Award in 2008 from the Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement and has received College and University -level awards at WVU for distinction in teaching. In 2019, he was named a Benedum Scholar for his excellence in research.
He has been a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society since 1994 and in 2018 was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society in recognition of his contributions to our understanding of pulsars and for the discovery of FRBs.
In 2023, he was the co-recipient of the Shaw Prize in Astronomy along with Maura McLaughlin and Matthew Bailes for the discovery of FRBs. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2024.
In addition to his research and teaching, Lorimer has developed numerous undergraduate and graduate courses in astronomy at WVU and has fostered the next generation of astrophysicists through his mentorship of over 50 students. He has also played a vital role in establishing one of the largest radio astronomy groups in North America, increasing the University’s standing as a leader in this critical field of study.
Lorimer’s administrative contributions to Eberly College are equally notable; his tenure as the College’s Associate Dean for Research led to a significant increase in proposal submissions and funding, amounting to over $100 million in external awards.
