Doreen and Lyman Spitzer Graduate Fellowship in Astrophysics

The Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Ritter Astrophysical Research Center at the University of Toledo are pleased to announce the creation of a new graduate fellowship in astrophysics. This fellowship honors the contributions to astronomy and astrophysics of native Toledoan Lyman Spitzer, and the generous support for astrophysics research at the University of Toledo by Doreen Spitzer and the Canaday Family Charitable Trust. Doreen Canaday Spitzer, the daughter of the eminent automotive industrialist Ward Canaday, was an internationally recognized archeologist from Toledo. The Canaday Trust also provided the gift to the University of Toledo that established the Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections at the Carlson Library.

In addition to his seminal accomplishments in our understanding of the Universe, Lyman Spitzer was the founder of space-borne astronomy. Beginning in the 1950’s and continuing throughout his career, he provided the fundamental scientific and political vision which led directly to the present era of incredibly powerful space telescopes (including the Hubble Space Telescope, and the eponymous Spitzer Space Telescope). We honor his profound impact on past, present, and future research in astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Toledo with the creation of a named fellowship supporting the research of exceptional students at the start of their graduate careers.