Eberly News
WVU astrophysicist to put own spin on first-of-its-kind gravitational wave detector with NASA support
Sean McWilliams, associate professor of physics and astronomy in the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, was part of a team in 2015 that first detected those invisible ripples, which confirmed Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Now, with $750,000 in support from NASA’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, McWilliams will lead efforts to develop models to help facilitate observations from the planned space probe.
WVU undergraduate students awarded Goldwater Scholarships to continue research
Three outstanding West Virginia University students have been named winners of the 2024 Goldwater Scholarship, the nation’s premier undergraduate scholarship in mathematics, engineering and the natural sciences. Easton Cahill, Rachel King and Christopher Smith are among the 438 scholars selected nationwide and join the ranks of 47 Mountaineers selected before them. Each scholarship provides as much as $7,500 annually for up to two years of undergraduate study.
WVU undergraduate research program boosts retention, especially for marginalized populations
A faculty-mentored undergraduate research program at West Virginia University has led to higher student retention rates than institutional averages, according to a new study. Additionally, data revealed higher retention rates for participants from historically marginalized populations.
Pioneering WVU astrophysicist named prestigious Fellow of the Royal Society, the ‘Oscar’ of the science world
Duncan Lorimer, professor of physics and astronomy in the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, has been selected as a 2024 Fellow of the Royal Society of London for his contributions to pulsar astrophysics and his role in the discovery of fast radio bursts.
Phi Beta Kappa inducts new members
Thirty-seven graduates were inducted as lifelong members into the WVU Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a national honor society that recognizes outstanding achievement in the liberal arts and sciences and champions freedom of thought.
Eberly College students awarded Critical Language Scholarships
Two West Virginia University undergraduate students are recipients of the U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship and will study foreign languages abroad this summer.
WVU alumna awarded Rangel Fellowship to pursue foreign service career
West Virginia University alumna and global citizen Giana Loretta is a recipient of the prestigious Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship.
WVU expert on rural Appalachia champions coalition building and local knowledge
Research from a West Virginia University scholar of rural Appalachia shows how even the most marginalized communities can assert power and create change when they come together to form coalitions.
Shaping future geologists: WVU alumni couple provides opportunities through field experience
Ohio native Dan Billman has always been science-minded and had a fascination with rocks. Growing up on Lake Erie furthered his interest in rock formations, but it was a family friend and freshwater biologist who inspired Billman to pursue a career in geology.