The Summit Ahead

What’s New at WVU? AI Research and Supernovas

Written by Shelly Quance | 9/19/23 6:58 PM

Timothy Faerber, a WVU graduate student, and Professor Loren Anderson study supernova remnants to further understand the properties and dynamics of the galaxy. (WVU Photo/Nathaniel Godwin)

The academic year is in full swing at WVU and with the new year comes continued progress in R1 research, student achievements, and exciting alumni news.

Dead stars cast long shadows: WVU astronomer hunts for glowing ghosts of supernovas

A West Virginia University astronomer is on a mission to uncover the remnants of supernovas, the explosive deaths of massive stars. Utilizing sensitive data and machine learning, Loren Anderson aims to increase the number of known supernova remnants and explore their association with pulsars. 

This study holds promise for enhancing our understanding of our galaxy and the precise timing capabilities of pulsars. The project also includes collaboration with the West Virginia Science Public Outreach Team to engage students through interactive presentations.

Explore the full list of out-of-this-world grad programs
at Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

Study Abroad Trip Provides WVU Student with Beneficial Experiences in Pharmacy and Beyond

Leah Dykstra, a student pharmacist at WVU, participated in a study abroad trip to Lima, Peru organized by MEDLIFE, a non-profit organization focused on improving access to medicine in underprivileged communities. Through this experience, Dykstra gained valuable insights into healthcare practices and challenges in underserved areas. 

She assisted in setting up mobile health clinics, provided free healthcare services, and worked in the pharmacy station. Prior to the trip, Dykstra took a course on Travel Medicine and Global Pharmacy Practice, which expanded her understanding of healthcare worldwide. 

Q&A: YNST founders talk about inspiration, success and the future

YNST Magazine was founded in 2023 by a group of Reed College of Media alumni from West Virginia University. The purpose of the print and digital media company is to highlight and amplify the creative voices of Appalachia's arts and culture. The founders talk about how their magazine came about, why they chose to focus on the Appalachian region, and their favorite moments/experiences from launching the magazine. They also discuss the challenges of running their business and how the Reed College of Media helped prepare them for their endeavors.

The sound of science: AI can ID musical copyright infringement better than human ears, WVU law experts say

WVU law experts believe that AI could revolutionize the way courts handle cases of musical copyright infringement. By using AI to verify the originality of a piece of music, courts could move away from relying solely on human ears and "a battle of the experts." 

By programming AI to detect distinctive elements and make distinctions between songs in the same genre, it could provide a more objective and fact-driven approach to determining copyright infringement. Additionally, the use of AI could potentially prevent lengthy litigation and provide stability and consistency in evaluating infringement liability. This innovative application of AI has the potential to transform the landscape of copyright disputes in the music industry.

Dive into our R1 research guide to discover the value of top-rated research programs.

 

WVU names 2023 class of Ruby Fellows

West Virginia University has announced the names of the 2023 class of Ruby Fellows, a prestigious program that provides funding to graduate students dedicated to advancing their education and research. 

The Ruby Fellows program plays a crucial role in nurturing and encouraging outstanding graduate students in their pursuit of knowledge and innovation. These students have demonstrated a deep passion for their respective fields and will receive support from the Ruby Scholars Graduate Fellows program to further their academic endeavors at WVU

This year's fellows include:

  • Christopher Anderson; graduate research assistant in the environmental engineering biotechnology lab, where much of his work focuses on wastewater-based epidemiology for genetic detection of COVID-19 and other targets of interest as it relates to rural infrastructure characteristics

  • Jessica Hovingh; After her PhD, Hovingh said she hopes to do lab work, teach and gain professional recognition to focus on what she enjoys most — crime scene reconstruction.

  • Annalisa Huckaby; works in an immunology pathogenesis lab where she helps others with their projects as they try to develop a new vaccine for Lyme disease.

  • Nicole Krahulik; she plans to continue her synthesis research at WVU. After graduation, she wants to go into pharmaceutical research and development.

  • Travis Rawson; Rawson is a lab technician in Ivan Martinez’s lab, where most of his work focuses on SARS-CoV-2 infection, human papillomavirus and different types of cancer.

Learn more about obtaining a graduate degree at one of
the best research universities in the U.S. —
download WVU's Research Collaboration Guide!