Eastern Kentucky University professor has received more than $1 million in National Science Foundation funding

Eastern Kentucky University associate professor Dr. Jason Fry of the Department of Physics, Geosciences and Astronomy has secured the university more than $1 million in National Science Foundation funding in the past five years. Dr. Fry is the leader of the department’s Nuclear and Particle Physics Detector Lab and has secured numerous grants in order to bolster student research opportunities.

According to an article on the university’s website, Fry is quoted as saying, “The main impact of all this funding is to help students. I came to EKU because I wanted to create opportunities for students that didn’t exist here before. We can actually tell students that they’ll have the chance to work on projects at national labs and even travel abroad to study fundamental science. That brings a whole new meaning to what it means to be the School of Opportunity.”

Fry studies neutron decay, which is a process that helps scientists understand how the universe works on a grand scale. Fry gets his students involved in important research projects that have a significant impact on the world of physics, like building particle physics detectors and presenting at various conferences. Working with Fry also allows students to network with scientists and build their resumes through experiences at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

One such student who has benefitted from the opportunity to work with Fry is Jasmine Shim, who has been working in Fry’s lab while also collaborating on a large project with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Speaking of her experience with Fry, Shim said, “Once I met Dr. Fry, the opportunities were endless. It’s an honor to work with him, because he truly cares about our education and being the next generation in the research industry. I’m not surprised he has secured that much funding, because he’s a pioneer in the field.”

Among the awards Fry has accumulated for the university are RUI: Testing Fundamental Symmetries in Neutron Beta Decay, LEAPS-MPS: Precision Measurements of Neutron Beta Decay, and IRES Track I: Neutron Optics Parity and Time Violation Experiment in Japan. The latter award provides undergraduate students with the funding to participate in a study abroad research experience at Japan’s Nagoya University.

University president David McFaddin said, “When students come to EKU, they have opportunities to work alongside renowned faculty in state-of-the-art labs on groundbreaking research projects. From our campus to international laboratories, these discoveries spark curiosity, fuel innovation and expand EKU’s reach as the School of Opportunity.”

For more information about Eastern Kentucky University, visit the school’s website.