Department News

Connecting community to accessible science is the pillar of outreach. Our exceptional graduate students are leading an array of impactful educational community outreach opportunities to connect communities to physics. 

“Regan is also redefining our knowledge of plasma physics at Mars. She has conducted expert analysis of spacecraft observations from Mars Express and the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission, and classified over 4400 magnetic boundaries ... In particular, Regan has newly discovered that the boundary dips towards the surface over areas of Mars’ crustal magnetic fields, due to plasma confinement in these regions.”

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

Research Assistant Professor Christopher Fowler is a planetary science researcher in the West Virginia University Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Center for KINETIC Plasma Physics. Fowler analyzes in-situ plasma measurements obtained by spacecraft, including the NASA Mars MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) mission, where he works on the instrumentation team. 

WVU is a comprehensive land grant university and WVU’s Carnegie Classification is R1 (“Doctoral Universities - Very High Research Activity”). Morgantown is centrally located and regularly makes “Best Place to Live” lists because of its good schools, excellent health care, low unemployment rate, low crime rate, and abundant recreational opportunities. WVU provides faculty members with a supportive environment for developing a visible and productive career (https://talentandculture.wvu.edu/new-employees) and commits to assist in partner employment. 

As a graduate student in the WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy, Barbhuiya performed groundbreaking research that will have an impact on the study of superheated gases called plasmas that arise in the regions of space near Earth and in the atmosphere of the Sun. 

One of the most significant opportunities afforded to young scientists as an undergraduate student is the experience of hands-on research and creative exploration.

  The GREENBURST research team, which has been operating for the past five years, has just received funding to extend its quest to search for transient radio sources using the Green Bank Telescope in Green Bank, West Virginia. With support from a three-year $580,000 award from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the team aims to discover and study fast radio bursts (FRBs) and ultra-long period pulsars.

Summer 2024 was a whirlwind of activity for the Department of Physics and Astronomy! Our community of students, staff, and faculty embarked on domestic and international journeys to expand their knowledge, conduct groundbreaking research, and share their discoveries. Additionally, we hosted various camps and programs on campus and at partner sites. Here’s a glimpse at a few highlights from our exciting summer!