A $26.8 million in-kind gift to WVU from Rock Flow Dynamics benefits students pursuing careers in geoscience and energy engineering. (WVU Photo/Paige Nesbit)
Morgantown, W.Va. -- West Virginia University students pursuing careers in geoscience and energy engineering will have access to industry-leading professional software thanks to a $26.8 million gift from Rock Flow Dynamics.
The in-kind gift allows students and faculty at the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences to use tNavigator, a state-of-the-art reservoir modeling and simulation platform created by Rock Flow Dynamics.
The majority of the provided software licenses are reserved for use by the Statler College.
“We are immensely grateful to Rock Flow Dynamics for its generous in-kind donation of software licenses to benefit our students and faculty,” Samuel Ameri, professor and chair of the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, said. “This significant contribution will provide access to industry-leading tools essential for the education and future careers of our students and continuation of our Department’s groundbreaking research.”
Ameri said Rock Flow Dynamics’ commitment to WVU empowers students to develop the skills necessary to tackle the complex challenges of the energy sector. He also noted such partnerships strengthen the petroleum and natural gas engineering program to ensure graduates are well-prepared to innovate and lead.
The tNavigator software offers a wide range of advanced innovative tools for geoscience, reservoir and production engineering disciplines. Rock Flow Dynamics personnel hosted a two-day training session on campus last fall to help faculty and students learn how to use the software.
Rock Flow Dynamics personnel hosted a two-day training session on campus to help WVU faculty and students learn how to use the tNavigator software donated through a $26.8 million in-kind gift. ( Submitted Photo)
“Rock Flow Dynamics has actively worked to forge strategic university relationships with the most influential geoscience and petroleum engineering schools in the U.S. and globally,” Tim Pawlik, director of sales USA for Rock Flow Dynamics, said.
“In prioritizing our partnerships, WVU stood out as a logical choice not only because of the investments in these schools, but also for their regional leadership in energy and responsible resource management. RFD is very pleased to partner with Shikha Sharma and Samuel Ameri in developing the next generation of oil and gas thought leaders.”
The remaining licenses gifted to WVU will be used by the Department of Geology and Geography within the Eberly College. For students pursuing degrees in earth and environmental science and/or geology, tNavigator and other software tools are critical technologies for modeling and interpreting data associated with subsurface environments.
“Our students benefit tremendously from the use of real-world applications that make their course material come alive with possibilities,” Brent McCusker, chair of the Department of Geology and Geography, said. “Such experiences are critical for both their progress through their degrees and for their future employment prospects.”
The Rock Flow Dynamics gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
-WVU-
cr/4/22/25
MEDIA CONTACT: Cassie Rice
Director of Strategic Communications
WVU Foundation
304-554-0217;
crice@wvuf.org
Call 1-855-WVU-NEWS for the latest West Virginia University news and information from WVUToday.
At WISER, we’re focused on advancing interdisciplinary research that helps West Virginia lead in sustainable energy innovation.
From geologic carbon storage to responsible resource extraction, our work is rooted in systems thinking, applied science, and real-world impact. One recent example: a powerful reservoir modeling tool now available to WVU researchers and students—thanks to a strategic educational partnership with Rock Flow Dynamics.
Dr. Shikha Sharma, WISER’s Chief Scientific Officer and professor in WVU’s Department of Geology & Geography, helped bring this opportunity to life:
“This software will help our students visualize complex subsurface systems and better understand interactions between energy and environmental systems.”
This is just one step in how WISER is helping shape the next generation of energy and environmental leaders—here in West Virginia and far beyond.