Boasts century-long legacy of excellence
Read the Cover StoryWe are excited to present the Fall issue of EngineeringWV magazine, highlighting our commitment to the state, our community, and beyond. Inside, you will find stories about our dedicated faculty, staff, students, and alumni who craft exceptional experiences both inside and outside the classroom. You’ll learn about our rich legacy of saving lives, supporting charitable causes, excelling in international competitions, and achieving record research expenditures. Our faculty are setting new benchmarks in research and fostering a brighter future for society, while our students chase their passions and discover their purpose with the support of our outstanding college resources. Enjoy!
We’re built different here in West Virginia. Grit runs in our blood, and we know what it means to work hard. Mountaineers and coal miners have shaped the Mountain State, from seasoned veterans who sacrificed in the depths of traditional industry to the next wave of engineers honing their skills today at the Statler College. We’re paying homage to how intergenerational collaboration, knowledge transfers and fresh perspectives are shaping the future.
Read More : Built on Bravery: How WVU's Mine Rescue Team Was BornOur research expenditures rocket, boosting impact and growth in research
As one of the largest contributors to research conducted at WVU, the Statler College has experienced rocketing growth with a 72% boost in externally funded engineering and computer science research and development since 2020.
Read More : WVU Statler College's research expenditures rocket, boosting impact and growth in researchStatler students cycle cross-country for the Journey of Hope
Each year, a group of dedicated members of Pi Kappa Phi take on the challenge of a lifetime, pushing their limits and stepping into the unknown to make a difference.
Read More : Statler Students Prepare to Cycle Cross-Country for the Journey of HopeMountaineers in Space
Emily Calandrelli, WVU mechanical and aerospace engineering alumna gave the inside scoop about her journey from engineering classrooms to zero gravity. Watch the video to learn more about her path of STEM outreach and her upcoming mission that'll make her the first WV woman in outer space.
Watch Video : Live Q&A with The Space Gal Emily CalandrelliEngineering students lead the launch at this summer's satellite mission program
Launching a satellite into space takes a lot of planning. From development to operations to Federal Communications Commission regulations, successful missions go through extensive design and test phases before anything leaves the ground. Mechanical and aerospace engineering students Isabella Hart, Sam Blair and Evie Harper got hands-on experience this summer through the University Nanosatellite Program in New Mexico, a collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA.
Read More : WVU engineering students lead the launch at this summer's satellite mission programA study by engineers at WVU demonstrated that people’s completion of monotonous assembly tasks improved when doing those tasks involved playing a game.
Undergraduate students will perform hands-on, cutting-edge robotics research that solves real-world problems in Appalachia while working in the five robotics labs at WVU.
With $151,629 in grant funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, researchers at the Statler College have developed a promising new method of utilizing dataless neural networks to respond to a wide range of optimization problems.
Economically distressed McDowell County is one target of a WVU program to connect high school and community college students and others new to the workforce with well-paid jobs in the water sector, which is in urgent need of workers.
With $1.75 million in funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a team of researchers will collaborate with teams at Marshall and Florida International University to address cybersecurity needs in AI technologies.
When Paola Perez-Vega completed her bachelor’s degree in 2023, she had the option of choosing between an industry job or graduate school. She went the graduate school path.
The promotion of Marc Seery and Dave McPherson to leadership positions in our information technology department has been announced.
With $1 million in NASA funding, WVU is preparing its undergraduates and students across West Virginia to build the robots that will build the future.
The Statler College and the Statler College Academic Diversity Committee, announced the recipients of the College’s 2024 Excellence in Cultivating Engagement and Belonging Award. The awards were distributed to the recipients in conjunction with WVU’s Diversity Week celebration.
Faculty fellows and professorships
Each academic year, the Honors College welcomes a new cohort of faculty fellows to help its students to seek out new knowledge and connections, explore diverse ideas and apply what they learn to real-world problems.
Read More : Honors college announces 2024-25 Faculty Fellows
Professor, Yu Gu with the Statler College been named to a distinguished professorship to elevate research and academic excellence.
Read More : Gu named to inaugural distinguished professorship
Stephen Cain, assistant professor of biomedical engineering been appointed the inaugural Statler College Visiting Committee faculty fellow through June 2027.
Read More : Stephen Cain appointed to inaugural Statler College Visiting Committee faculty fellowship position
Yuhe Tian, assistant professor of chemical and biomedical engineering has been awarded with the recently established Stuart and Karen Goodman Faculty Fellowship.
Read More : Tian named Stuart and Karen Goodman Faculty Fellow
Faculty leadership development is one of the core values of the Statler College at WVU. The Dean’s Leadership Fellows Program is designed to develop effective academic leaders that spearhead initiatives driving institutional growth and innovation in teaching, research and engagement.
Read More : Statler College Announces the Dean's Leadership Faculty Fellows Appointments
From studying topics as varied as space science to sustainability, three Statler College faculty and one WVU professor have been named Faculty Early Career Development award winners by the National Science Foundation.
Read More : Four WVU faculty members honored with prestigious NSF CAREER awardsSix faculty members including biomedical engineering assistant professor, Soumya Srivastava and one graduate student were recently named recipients of the Travis Stimeling Award for Mentoring Undergraduates in Research.
Read More : Seven recognized for commitment to mentoring undergraduate students in research
Winners of the College’s outstanding teaching, advising, faculty and graduate student researchers, staff and Dean’s fellowship awards for the 2023-2024 academic year were announced on April 9, 2024.
Read More : Teaching, advising, research and staff awards announced at WVU’s Statler College
Akua Oppong-Anane, teaching assistant professor in the Fundamentals of Engineering program, has been recognized as this year’s Thriving Women Program award recipient.
Read More : Akua Oppong-Anane Receives 2024 Thriving Women Program AwardTop WVU seniors named
Seven Statler College students were named outstanding seniors. Established in 1995 to signify the 40th anniversary of the WVU Foundation, the Outstanding Senior award recognizes students for their contributions and achievements in scholarship, leadership and service.
Read More : Top WVU seniors namedWe take immense pride in our students, and we've had the pleasure of hearing from many of them regarding their most recent accomplishments. We are thrilled to share their stories and celebrate their life changing experiences. Way to go!
Learn more about our students
Three Statler students out of five WVU students have joined an elite group of researchers who’ve been awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, a program aimed at supporting graduate education in STEM-based fields.
Read More : Five WVU students named prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellows
Five exceptionally talented incoming West Virginia University freshmen including Ama Ackon-Annan planned biomedical engineering major whose academic interests span the fields of humanities, medicine and science are eager to use their curiosity, creativity and problem-solving skills to generate new ideas and innovative solutions for a better future as the 2024-25 WVU Foundation Scholars, the highest academic scholarship the University awards.
Read More : WVU names 2024 Foundation Scholars
Some of the brightest high school seniors from across the Mountain State who have demonstrated an impressive commitment to academic excellence and community service while balancing extracurricular activities are eager to represent West Virginia University as the new cohort of Bucklew Scholars including nine Statler College students.
Read More : 2024 WVU Bucklew Scholars vie for Foundation Scholarships
Eight WVU students earned Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships to travel abroad without financial constraints including biomedical engineering student Christopher Smith.
Read More : 8 WVU students receive Gilman Scholarships to study abroad
Three outstanding students including biomedical engineering student Christopher Smith have been named winners of the 2024 Goldwater Scholarship, the nation’s premier undergraduate scholarship in mathematics, engineering and the natural sciences.
Read More : WVU undergraduate students awarded Goldwater Scholarships to continue research
The Statler College proudly announces that Hannah McFadden, aerospace engineering undergraduate student from Leesburg, VA, has been awarded the SMART Scholarship.
Read More : WVU Statler College Student Receives Prestigious SMART Scholarship
The National Society of Black Engineers chapter of the WVU Statler College observed its 40-year anniversary this year, an important milestone in the chapter’s history.
Read More : WVU chapter of National Society of Black Engineers celebrates 40 years
The Statler College was abuzz with scholarly pursuit and inquiring minds on Friday with the culmination of the 2024 West Virginia University Research Week. Chief scientist at Johns Hopkins applied physics lab and Statler College alumna Kerri B. Phillips delivered this year’s distinguished seminar and students from across the College presented their posters as part of this year’s symposium.
Read More : 2024 Research Week recap
WVU undergraduate engineering students have lent their expertise to the construction of new bridges in Morgantown.
Read More : WV Division of Highways to consider WVU student design recommendations for new Morgantown bridges
Chemical engineering graduate research assistant Raphael Oladokun has been recognized by the National Society of Black Engineers as this year’s Graduate Student of the Year. The ceremony was held on March 23 in Atlanta, Georgia as part of this year’s NSBE annual convention.
Read More : Lab to limelight: Graduate researcher Raphael Oladokun snags prestigious national award
Thousands of WVU graduates celebrated their successes Commencement Weekend May 10-12 alongside eight honorary degree recipients including petroleum and natural gas engineering alumnus, Benjamin Ashby Hardesty.
Read More : Statler College honorary degree recipient joins graduates for WVU Commencement ceremonies
For their loyalty and service to WVU, six Mountaineers will be inducted into the Order of Vandalia including Statler College alumnus Robert Orders.
Read More : WVU to induct six into Order of Vandalia
Three WVU supporters with successful careers in investments and executive management were elected to the WVU Foundation Board of Directors including industrial engineering alumna Christine “Christy” Hayhurst Davis.
Read More : Three Elected to WVU Foundation Board of Directors