Department News

Exploring Innovation in Appalachia: an Undergraduate Research Symposium

 Event is August 11, 2021, at West Virginia University

Uncovering secrets of the sun

 West Virginia University physicists are uncovering secrets of the sun’s turbulent surface in the lab.

KINETIC Center Journal Club: Exploring the Relationship Between Turbulence and Electron-Only Reconnection with Magnetospheric Multiscale

 Dr. Julia E. Stawarz will speak on "Exploring the Relationship Between Turbulence and Electron-Only Reconnection with Magnetospheric Multiscale."

Kinetic Center Journal Club presents "Suprathermal Ion Transport in Turbulent Plasmas"

 Dr. Marcelo Baquero
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
March 5, 11:30 AM (EST)

WVU astrophysicist recognized as emerging leader in research

A West Virginia University astrophysicist is among this year’s Sloan Fellows, scholars recognized as emerging leaders in science.Sarah Burke-Spolaor, an assistant professor of astronomy, is one of 128 young faculty members from the U.S. and Canada to receive the competitive award.  

Kinetic Center Journal Club presents "3D PIC Simulations of Particle Acceleration in Relativistic Jets with Helical Magnetic Fields"

 3D PIC Simulations of Particle Acceleration in Relativistic
Jets with Helical Magnetic Fields
Dr. Kenichi Nishikawa
Alabama A&M University
February 5, 11:30 AM (EST)

WVU astrophysicist named international Highly Cited Researcher

West Virginia University astrophysicist has been named a 2020 Highly Cited Researcher by Web of Science, one of the world’s top research awards.  Maura McLaughlin, the Eberly Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, is one of 123 scholars recognized in the category of space science for research from 2009 to 2019. During this time, she authored or co-authored 192 articles that have been cited more than 13,000 times.

Student Comings and Goings

The department is pleased to welcome our new class of 13 first year graduate students, four of who are on university fellowships:  Aleksandra Abova-Volkova, Joseph Benigno, Victoria Blackmon (DuBois Graduate Fellowship), Graham Doskoch (University Provost Fellowship), William Eshbaugh, Joe Kulikowski, Tyler Matheny, Amanda Nemeth (University Provost Fellowship), John Pace (STEM Fellowship), Hasith Perara, Andres Tellez Mora, and Braden Warr.  This cohort is working in all our research areas and comes from Kansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Finland, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and, of course, West Virginia. 

Physics Professor Duncan Lorimer named Associate Dean for External Research and Development

Stepping down from his role as associate chair of the physics department, Duncan Lorimer has now been named Associate Dean for External Research and Development! He will take up this role from Spring 2019. You can read further about his appointment here: