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Eberly College of Arts & Sciences Department of Physics and Astronomy
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About the Department

Part of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Physics and Astronomy is a vibrant academic unit devoted to excellence, community, service, and opportunity. 

Values Statement

Along with the values of West Virginia University, the Department of Physics and Astronomy aspires to the following values:

EXCELLENCE
We pursue high-quality, evidenced-based education and research, conducted ethically, responsibly and with integrity.
COMMUNITY
We endeavor to respect, appreciate and support those inside and outside the department.
SERVICE
We serve our department, university and the public through our activities in science, teaching, outreach, and advocacy.
Opportunity
We dedicate ourselves to expanding opportunities for every member of the department, guided by the land-grant mission.

The study of Physics and Astronomy has been offered at WVU since its establishment in 1867. Initially included as a part of the school's land-grant obligation to teach mechanical arts, it later found a permanent home as the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences in 1896.

We are dedicated to the study of the physical world and the processes that govern it. Our faculty train students in a wide range of fundamental areas of classical and modern physics through a structured program of courses, individual and group research activities, department activities, and advanced electives.

Welcome from the Leadership Learn More About Our History

2024-2025 Department Photo

All Department Photo


Quick Facts

Physics is crucial to understanding the world around us, the world inside us, and the world beyond us. It is the basis of many other sciences, including chemistry, engineering, oceanography, seismology, and astronomy. It can also be applied to biological or medical sciences.


Students

  • We offer two degree pathways for undergraduate students (Bachelor of Science in Physics and Bachelor of Arts in Physics) and two degree pathways for graduate students (Master of Science in Physics and Doctorate in Physics).
  • Our minors in Astronomy and Physics, open to undergraduate students, pair well with a range of majors.
  • The Department is housed in White Hall, renovated in 2012, which contains state-of-the-art research laboratories and teaching facilities. Additionally, undergraduate physics majors have access to lounge space in the building.
  • Undergraduate student organizations with the Department, such as the Astronomy Club, regularly take trips to Green Bank Observatory and other national laboratories and telescopes to perform research and experimentation.
  • Hands-on research is a fundamental aspect of the student experience in the Department.
  • Graduate students in physics are provided access to office space in White Hall while pursuing their degree.
  • The rooftop of White Hall is home to the WVU Planetarium and Observatory. Planetarium operations and shows are run by graduate students.

Research & Faculty

  • We are home to  six active research groups in physics and astronomy:  Astronomy and Astrophysics;  Condensed Matter Physics; Medical Physics;  Optical and Laser Physics;  Physics Education Research; and  Plasma and Space Physics.
  • Our faculty lead three centers on the WVU campus: the Center for Excellence in STEM Education (CE-STEM), the Center for Gravitational Waves and Cosmology (GWAC), and the Center for Kinetic Plasma Research (KINETIC).
  • Our department and its faculty secure significant external research funding from a variety of federal, state, and private agencies. The funding enables us to perform world-class research with the support of a dedicated group of graduate research assistants, graduate teaching assistants, and graduate fellows. Example agencies include:
    • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
    • National Math and Science Initiative
    • National Science Foundation
    • The Howard Hughes Medical Institute
    • The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
    • US Departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, and Justice
    • WV Department of Education
    • WV Higher Education Policy Commission
  • We lead and engage in various outreach programs for learners of all ages, including the Mountaineer Area Robotics Team and the Pulsar Science Collaboratory. 
  • We are a funded member of NANOGrav, an NSF-funded Physics Frontier Center project.
  • We partner in research projects with several other institutions of higher education, including:
    • Catholic University of America
    • Johns Hopkins University
    • Oregon State University
    • Princeton University
    • Texas A&M
    • University of Alaska
    • University of California - Berkeley
    • University of Wisconsin
  • Our faculty and staff have received a number of awards and accolades, including:
    • 1 Fellowship of the Royal Society Member
    • 1 National Academy of Sciences Member
    • 2+ Eberly College Outstanding Teaching Awardees
    • 3 Sloan Research Fellows
    • 3+ Eberly College Outstanding Staff Awardees
    • 4 Cottrell Scholars
    • 6+ National Science Foundation CAREER Awardees
    • 8 American Physical Society Fellows
    • 11 Benedum Distinguished Scholar Awardees (current faculty)
    • 13 Goldwater Scholars (2000-2025)