Randall Harper Research Award
The WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy invites students to compete annually for the Randall Harper Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research in Physics & Astronomy.
Requirements
Undergraduate students who have conducted research projects, either on the WKU campus or through summer research experiences elsewhere, may apply for this award.
At the time of the application, the candidate must:
- Have completed or be currently enrolled in PHYS 321.
- Have presented their research work as lead/primary author (oral or poster preserntation) at a university-wide, state-wide, or national conference.
Award Details
A faculty committee from the Department of Physics and Astronomy will evaluate all complete applications submitted by the deadline. The selected winner will receive a framed certificate and $100 at the annual Ogden College Awards Ceremony.
Application Deadline
The deadline for the 2025 competition is Sunday, March 2, at midnight. Please direct any questions about this award to Ivan.Novikov@wku.edu.
Application Requirements
A complete application must include:
- Personal and academic identifying information.
- Citations for published and/or presented research work (including author list, title, and full bibliographic details for publications and/or conference presentations).
- A one-page essay describing your contribution to the research being considered for this award.
Evaluation Criteria
The committee will assess research quality based on:
- Significance
- Effort
- Originality
- Creativity
Writing Guidelines
Write your essay in first person, using an informal style to describe your specific contributions to the research. Your essay should demonstrate both your understanding of the project's broader context and your individual contributions to its success. Click on previous winners for examples of these essays.
How to Apply
To apply, please download and complete the appliction using the button below and submit the application via email to Ivan.Novikov@wku.edu.
Past Winners
About Dr. Randall Harper
Dr. Randall Lee Harper, Jr., an Allen County, Kentucky native, graduated from WKU in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Physics.
As an undergraduate student, Randy spearheaded Dr. Bill Buckman's research contract on silicon on sapphire for the United States Air Force. He later earned his Ph.D. from North Carolina State University where he published several papers during his dissertation research.
Dr. Harper continued his legacy on the Hill as an assistant professor of Physics. During his short time on the faculty he was developing a laboratory and research program in solid state physics. After a battle with leukemia, Randall passed away on February 24, 1991, at the age of 29.
Following his passing, The Society of Physics Students, as well as Dr. Doug Humphrey, worked together to establish the Dr. Randall Harper Memorial Scholarship Fund. Through this fund, Dr. Harper’s legacy continues by supporting a scholarship as well as the Award for Outstanding Research in Physics & Astronomy.
A community of faculty, staff, and students engaged in better understanding the physical world.