Four West Virginia University doctoral students have been named as the 2025 class of Ruby Scholars Graduate Fellows. The recipients, Ayers Aguiar, Abyss Halley, Damon LeMaster and Dylan Nice, will each receive a $34,000 stipend, a $2,000 travel grant and a tuition waiver to support their research at WVU.
The Ruby Scholars Graduate Fellows program was established in 2011 by the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust. It aims to provide financial assistance for incoming doctoral-level scholars so they can focus on their studies and research. Since its start, 57 students have benefited from this fellowship at WVU.
“Each year, we are excited to welcome a new cohort of exceptional scholars to WVU through the support of the Ruby Fellows program,” said Paul Kreider, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “This year’s fellows are stellar examples of the innovative and dedicated students who become true changemakers in society. I look forward to watching their success.”
Ayers Aguiar is originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental science with a geographic information system certification from the University of Maine at Farmington. Aguiar has participated in research programs such as the Research Experiences for Undergraduates at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and worked in laboratory roles before coming to WVU for graduate studies in environmental microbial ecology. At WVU, he plans to work with Ember Morrissey on plant-microbe interactions and soil microbiology.
“My appreciation for the outdoors started with camping during Cub Scouts events and exploring the backyard at home, where it felt as if another world full of hidden value was being opened up,” Aguiar said.
“I am excited to work alongside experts at WVU to unearth knowledge that could have a potential to benefit our society,” he added.
Abyss Halley is from Atlanta, Georgia. She began her academic career with an associate degree in physical sciences before earning her bachelor’s degree in physics from WVU. Her research has included studying pulsars through collaborations like the Pulsar Search Collaboratory and presenting findings at conferences such as those held at Green Bank Observatory and California Institute of Technology.
“I realized who I am and decided to be that on purpose, instead of letting societal or financial pressures dictate my path — that’s why I think it worked,” Halley said.
“I want to contribute something new and very meaningful to this grand endeavor that is science,” she continued. “Every contribution is important, but I want to have this body of work and this book that I can put in my office that I wrote that says, ‘This is what I did for humanity.’”
Halley hopes to pursue postdoctoral research after completing her PhD at institutions such as the National Radio Astronomy Observatory or Max Planck Institute in Germany before eventually teaching physics and astronomy at a rural community college.
Damon LeMaster grew up in Sissonville and earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental microbiology from WVU. His undergraduate research focused on soil stability on cattle farms under different grazing intensities. He also studied how fertilizer treatments impact fungi important for bioenergy crops during his time with Morrissey’s lab through programs like the WVU Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.
“I think soil runs the world with agriculture and ecosystems,” LeMaster said. “To best understand our forest ecosystems and grasslands, I think it is best to start with the soil because it is the foundation.”
“Every soil sample and measurement I take is a pixel that I am able to have a better resolution of, for my home and for the ecosystem,” he added.
LeMaster is now pursuing his doctorate under James Thompson at WVU focusing on improving relationships between plants, microbes, animals and people within working ecosystems.
Dylan Nice comes from Proctor. He received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from WVU after developing an early interest in industrial facilities within his community. As an undergraduate researcher under Yuhe Tian’s supervision he explored machine learning-aided process design; he also gained industry experience as an intern at Westlake Chemical.
“If my professor hadn’t reached out to me to join her research team, I would probably have just finished my bachelor’s and gone into industry without research experience,” Nice said.
“Getting a PhD is what is going to allow me to pursue a position as a teaching professor in the future, which is currently what I desire to do,” he added.
Nice’s doctoral work focuses on process safety efficiency along with environmental sustainability within chemical industries especially relevant for communities similar those found throughout West Virginia.
The Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust established this fellowship program honoring Hazel Ruby McQuain who supported philanthropic efforts benefiting West Virginia University over two decades until her death aged 93 years old back 2002 including an $8 million gift toward construction J.W.Ruby Memorial Hospital named after late husband J.W.Ruby Memorial Hospital.
Recently The Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust contributed $50 million towards building new cancer hospital Morgantown operated by WVU Cancer Institute .
Gifts made by McQuain herself along contributions managed via WVU Foundation, nonprofit responsible receiving administering private donations supporting university initiatives.
