Morgantown, wva (WDTV) – Dr. Maura McLaughlin, Eberly Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy, has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
She is one of more than 100 new members chosen to join, and is the first from WVU to join the group.
“I’m very grateful because the scientists that are in the National Academies are some of the people I really respect, you know, they’re some of the best in the field,” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin is known for his research on pulsars, remnants of exploded stars and supernovae, and gravitational waves.
McLaughlin and her husband also won the Shaw Prize last year for their discovery of a new astronomical phenomenon called fast radio bursts.
McLaughlin said that being selected as a member came as a shock to her, as she was at the airport when she received the news.
“I gave a symposium at Harvard on Monday and I was at the D.C. airport on Tuesday afternoon flying home and I got a few emails from colleagues saying ‘congratulations, congratulations’ even before I got the official announcement, so I was a little confused,” McLaughlin said.
Being elected as a member is one of the highest honors in the world of science.
McLaughlin says he is excited to represent the state of West Virginia and WVU.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to represent our state on a national stage and to be able to contribute West Virginia’s perspective to decisions on science policy that reach far beyond our state,” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin came to WVU in 2006 as an assistant professor.
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