James Battat

James Battat is an Associate Professor of Physics at Wellesley College's Physics & Astronomy department. His research focuses on experimental particle astrophysics, including neutrino detection, dark matter research, and precision gravity tests through lunar laser ranging. He leads the Battat Lab, collaborating with major initiatives like the Q-Pix consortium and the APOLLO project.

Education: Sc.B. in Physics from Brown University; A.M. and Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University.

Research interests include developing novel detector technologies for large-scale experiments such as the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) and conducting millimeter-precision lunar laser ranging to test gravitational theories. His work explores neutrino oscillations, matter-antimatter asymmetry, and gravitational physics principles like the strong equivalence principle.

Teaching responsibilities span the physics curriculum, including introductory relativity/quantum courses (PHYS 100), classical mechanics (PHYS 107/207), and experimental techniques (PHYS 210/310). He emphasizes hands-on learning and student-driven exploration.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Battat Lab, focusing on detector innovation and collaborative projects with national research consortia. Active in the Society of Physics Students (SPS) through outreach initiatives.