At WVU, we’re chasing the mysteries of the universe — in the classroom, the lab and the field. From distant galaxies to the signals hidden in the vast unknown, our astronomers and students are unlocking secrets that could change what we know about space forever.
Maura McLaughlin and Duncan Lorimer are leading the charge, propelling the Department of Physics and Astronomy onto the world stage. Their groundbreaking work on fast radio bursts — powerful signals from deep space — earned them the prestigious Shaw Prize, often called the “Nobel of the East.”
“Our astronomy program at WVU is world renowned. We are really competing with the best of the best,” McLaughlin said.
In 2024, McLaughlin was elected to the elite National Academy of Sciences, a first for the University.
Lorimer was selected as a 2024 Fellow of the Royal Society of London, one of the top scientific academies in the world.
“We have a lot of opportunities that we can give to our students, whether they’re undergraduates or graduate students, we give them these authentic experiences so they can get an as good, if not better, education here than anywhere else,” Lorimer said.
At WVU, our students don’t just learn about the universe, they make their own discoveries while working alongside world-class researchers to push the boundaries of what’s possible.