Rodney Elliott

Rodney Elliott, a non-traditional student and retired master sergeant of the U.S. Air Force from Bogota, Texas, will graduate with degrees in physics and Russian studies. He served as a Russian linguist in the military, president of the WVU Astronomy Club, serves as a teaching assistant in the Physics and Astronomy Department and telescope operator for the WVU Planetarium & Observatory. 

His attraction to space and dream to become a scientist began as a boy, but family finances deterred him from attending college. But after 20 years of active duty, he decided to retire from the military and pursue his lifelong dream to study astronomy and physics. 

While searching for a university to bring his childhood passion to fruition, he discovered the university’s partnership with the Green Bank Observatory, and from that point on he knew WVU was the university for him. 

One of his most significant experience at WVU has been his research with the Department of Physics and Astronomy where he explores binary supermassive black holes, which are remnants of galaxy mergers. He analyzes radio and optical observation of the mergers to better inform the search for low-frequency gravitational waves from these types of sources. 

In summer 2017, he conducted research at Green Bank Observatory where he worked to estimate the mass of the Milky Way galaxy. 

His opportunity to interact with the public through his part-time job at the WVU Planetarium and Observatory has been especially rewarding for him. The smiles and positive reactions from young and old alike the first time they see the craters of the moon or the rings of Saturn through a telescope is an experience that always serves to remind him of why he began his journey. 

As the president of the WVU Astronomy Club, he has organized and led public outreach events. Throughout the years, his group has hosted science demonstrations at local elementary schools and a star party at the West Virginia Botanic Garden and has assisted the Green Bank Observatory with their annual open house science day. 

Elliott also led the Physics Department’s efforts to provide safe eclipse-viewing opportunities during the partial solar eclipse in August 2017. He trained a group of students to operate telescopes with solar filters and handed out thousands of eclipse eye glasses on campus for the duration of the event. 

He is the recipient of Goldwater Scholarship and Defense Meritorious Service Medal. 

After graduation, he will pursue his Ph.D. in astrophysical and planetary sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.