Dr. Kimberly Weaver (Goddard Space Flight Center)

Current Position?
Associate Director for Science for the Astrophysics Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Skills learned as a WVU Physics student that are most useful in your career?
My interactions with the people were the most important skills for me. The WVU Physics Department has always been a personable place. On the other hand, personal interactions are one thing I find some scientists have a hard time with. So, the positive relationships with faculty and students in the department helped me to have a base of knowing how to work well with other technical people and scientists in my career.

Reason for coming to WVU to study Physics?
I did not choose to attend WVU to study physics. I did, however, choose to study physics there after finding out that I liked physics and I liked the people in the department.

Return visits to WVU as an alumni?
Two to three times a year.

Most rewarding Physics course(s) taken?
I liked the physics labs. Working in the laboratory was great fun for both the introductory and more advanced courses. I think this helped steer me toward wanting to work at a place like NASA, where we build instruments and telescopes and launch them into space.

Favorite Physics professor(s)?
Carl Rotter. He was always available to talk and to hear and share ideas with the students. This was tremendously important for my own learning how to think.