John F. Beacom is a Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy at The Ohio State University and Director of the Center for Cosmology and AstroParticle Physics (CCAPP). His academic roles include leadership in astroparticle physics research and education. He holds joint appointments in both the Department of Physics and the Department of Astronomy within the College of Arts and Sciences. Beacom earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Wisconsin (1997) and dual B.S. degrees in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Kansas (1991). He has held postdoctoral positions at Fermilab and Caltech before joining Ohio State in 2004. His research focuses on neutrinos, dark matter, and multi-messenger astrophysics, with emphasis on neutrino detection techniques, supernova physics, and cosmological implications. He leads major projects like the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) and contributes to the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). Awards: APS Fellow (2014), NSF CAREER Award (2005–2010), multiple teaching awards for distinguished instruction. Grants: Extensive funding from NSF, DOE, and collaborative international initiatives. Labs/Teams: CCAPP, DUNE Collaboration, ASAS-SN project. His articles span neutrino physics, detector development, and observational astrophysics, reflecting interdisciplinary expertise in theoretical and experimental particle astrophysics.
Simon Birrer is an Assistant Professor in Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook University, specializing in cosmology and gravitational lensing. He holds a PhD from ETH Zurich (2016) and previously served as Kavli Fellow at Stanford University. Birrer leads research probing dark matter and dark energy using gravitational lensing phenomena. His group develops computational tools for analyzing strong gravitational lensing data to study cosmic expansion and dark matter distribution. Research areas include time-delay cosmography, Hubble constant measurements, and machine learning applications in astrophysics. Recent publications focus on multi-messenger gravitational lensing (2025), LSST survey applications (2025), and AI-powered lens modeling pipelines (2025). His work consistently addresses fundamental cosmological tensions like the Hubble constant discrepancy. Awards: Kavli Postdoctoral Fellowship (2019-2022) Kugelpyramide Lifetime Achievement Award Experimental Innovation Award (ETH Zurich) Research Group: Leads the SBU Strong Lensing group with 9+ graduate students and postdocs. The group participates in major collaborations including LSST Strong Lensing Science Collaboration (co-chair), LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration, and TDCOSMO.
Dragan Huterer is a Professor of Physics and Associate Chair for the Graduate Program at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on cosmology, particularly dark energy and large-scale structure, utilizing data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collaborations. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (2001) and B.S. from MIT (1996). His work explores the nature of dark energy through cosmological probes like Type Ia supernovae, galaxy clustering, and cosmic microwave background anisotropies. Key contributions include co-leading DESI's first-year cosmological analysis, revealing unprecedented constraints on dark energy and neutrino masses. He also investigates the statistical isotropy of the universe and authored the textbook A Course in Cosmology: From Theory to Practice . Awards include the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award (2019) and the Chambliss Astronomical Writing Award (2025). He has advised numerous graduate and undergraduate students, and his funding includes DOE, NSF, and NASA grants. Current projects include the Michigan Cosmology Summer School and leadership in the DESI Collaboration.
Takemichi Okui is a Professor of Physics at Florida State University (FSU), part of the Department of Physics within the College of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley (2003), and a B.Sc. from Hokkaido University, Japan (1998). His research focuses on High Energy Theory, with expertise in particle physics, cosmology, and quantum field theory. Okui has been recognized with awards such as the FSU Developing Scholar Award (2017) and University Teaching Award (2016). He has mentored multiple graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Okui's academic roles include serving on FSU's Graduate Affairs Committee and organizing events like the Dirac Lectures. He has taught advanced courses in high energy physics, quantum field theory, and relativity. His research has been supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Japan's JSPS, totaling over $10 million in funding. Key research interests include neutrino physics, dark matter, and axion models. Recent work explores primordial black holes and B-meson decays at the Belle II experiment. Okui actively contributes to professional services, reviewing grants for NSF/DOE and refereeing top journals like Physical Review Letters.
Todd Adams is a Professor in the Department of Physics at Florida State University . He leads research in particle physics (high energy experiment) with the CMS Experiment at CERN and previously the D0 Experiment at Fermilab , focusing on searches for new physics in underexplored datasets through long-lived particles , machine learning techniques , and charged particle detection . Education : PhD in Experimental Particle Physics from University of Notre Dame (1997); Postdoctoral researcher at Kansas State University (1997-2001) His research includes electromagnetic calorimeter studies for CMS, calorimeter upgrade investigations , and Monte Carlo simulation leadership for D0. He pioneered searches for neutral long-lived particles and top quark decay anomalies , co-authored key publications in Physical Review Letters and Journal of High Energy Physics , and served as Faculty Senate President and Board of Trustees member at FSU. Notable affiliations include: Collaborations : CMS, D0, NuTeV, NuSOnG Laboratories : CERN (Geneva), Fermilab (Chicago), Florida State High Energy Physics Group Key contributions: Co-convenor of D0 Monte Carlo Simulations and New Physics Signatures groups Expert in heavy quark production , dimuon analysis , and neutral current studies Publications on Higgs boson discovery implications, supersymmetry , and anomalous gauge couplings Scientific Awards : Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science Multiple Fermilab Result of the Week highlights (2006, 2008, 2013) Contributor to CMS Thesis Award Committee He advises graduate students in experimental particle physics and contributes to detector technology development, particularly in timing studies , calibration , and trigger systems . His research program will continue through the LHC's 2035 operations with ongoing CMS data analysis.
Steven L. Manly is a Professor of Physics at the University of Rochester within the College of Arts, Sciences and Engineering. He has been affiliated with the University of Rochester since 1998, following a decade at Yale University as both a postdoc and faculty member. Professor Manly received his BA in chemistry, mathematics, and physics from Pfeiffer College in 1982 and his PhD in experimental high-energy physics from Columbia University in 1989 under Charles Baltay. His research spans high energy, nuclear, and gravitational physics, with a current focus on neutrino physics across multiple major experiments. His primary research interests include neutrino interactions and oscillations, with significant contributions to the T2K experiment (for which he shared the 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics), the MINERvA experiment at Fermilab, and the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). His work aims to understand neutrino properties, measure oscillation parameters, and investigate potential connections to matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe. The recent publications reflect a strong focus on neutrino cross-section measurements, detector calibration techniques, and data analysis methods for the T2K and DUNE experiments. His research group contributes significantly to advancing our understanding of neutrino properties and interactions through precision measurements. NY State Professor of the Year (2003) Mercer Brugler Distinguished Teaching Professor (2002-2005) American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2007) Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2016, shared as member of T2K) Professor Manly has authored or co-authored numerous publications in leading physics journals, with recent work focusing on neutrino interaction measurements, detector development, and data analysis techniques. His research has involved collaborations with major international facilities including Fermilab, J-PARC in Japan, and Brookhaven National Laboratory. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided text, his participation in large-scale international collaborations suggests significant research funding support.
Clay Córdova is an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago, associated with the Enrico Fermi Institute, James Franck Institute, Kadanoff Center, and Kavli Institute. His research focuses on theoretical physics, particularly quantum field theory, non-invertible symmetries, and their applications in particle and condensed matter physics. Córdova’s work explores topological phases, gauge theories, and string theory, with recent contributions to non-invertible symmetry classification and their role in phase transitions. His research interests include categorical symmetries, topological defects, and anomaly matching in quantum field theories. He has pioneered studies on soliton-particle degeneracies, anyon condensation mechanisms, and anomalies in non-invertible symmetry frameworks. Córdova’s work bridges high-energy physics with condensed matter systems, often employing advanced mathematical techniques from category theory and algebraic topology. His 2023 Sloan Research Fellowship highlights recognition of his contributions. Key research trends span non-invertible symmetries across dimensions, topological field theory applications, and interdisciplinary methods combining machine learning with lattice gauge theory. Current projects include exploring duality defects, gapped phase obstructions, and symmetry-enriched phases in (3+1)D systems.
Dr. Shuo Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Michigan State University's College of Natural Science. Her research focuses on observational high-energy astrophysics and particle astrophysics, with particular emphasis on supermassive black holes, Galactic cosmic-ray origins, and large dataset analysis. As a member of the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, she leads X-ray observation campaigns of the Galactic center supermassive black hole and its vicinity. Dr. Zhang received her educational training at prestigious institutions: Ph.D. in Physics, Columbia University, 2016 B.S. in Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, 2010 Her research interests span observational high-energy astrophysics and particle astrophysics, focusing on supermassive black holes including Sgr A* flaring activities, outburst history, and radiation in quiescence. She investigates Galactic cosmic-ray origins and exotic physics, particularly TeV electrons and PeV protons pointing to Galactic PeVatrons. Her work constrains MeV-GeV proton/electron populations in the central 1 kpc of the Galaxy and examines supernova remnant and molecular cloud interaction sites. Dr. Zhang's recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on multi-messenger astronomy, combining neutrino, X-ray, and radio observations to understand cosmic particle acceleration. Her work spans from Galactic center studies of Sgr A* to extragalactic investigations of active galactic nuclei like M87. The research demonstrates increasing sophistication in analyzing complex datasets from multiple observatories including IceCube, ALMA, NuSTAR, and Chandra. Her notable scientific achievements include: NASA Hubble/Einstein Fellowship at Boston University (2019-2020) Heising-Simons Fellowship at MIT (2016-2019) NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship for research on Galactic center supermassive black hole Dr. Zhang's career path demonstrates a steady progression from her doctoral work at Columbia University through prestigious postdoctoral fellowships to her current faculty position. She has developed significant expertise in X-ray observations using the NuSTAR space telescope and has been instrumental in Galactic plane survey campaigns. Her research group combines high-energy photon and neutrino signals from PeVatron candidates to address fundamental questions about cosmic-ray origins and particle acceleration mechanisms. As a member of the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, Dr. Zhang contributes to cutting-edge research on black hole physics, utilizing multi-wavelength observations to understand accretion, feedback, and particle acceleration mechanisms around supermassive black holes. Her work bridges observational astronomy with theoretical astrophysics to address some of the most fundamental questions in modern astrophysics.
Simon Mak is an Assistant Professor of Statistical Science at Duke University and a Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. His educational background includes: Ph.D. in Statistics, Georgia Institute of Technology (2018) M.S. in Statistics, Georgia Institute of Technology (2018) B.S. in Statistics, Simon Fraser University (2013) Dr. Mak's research focuses on advanced statistical methodologies for complex scientific problems. His expertise spans statistical modeling , Bayesian inference , Gaussian process emulation , and uncertainty quantification . He applies these methods to nuclear physics (heavy-ion collisions), engineering (engine control systems), and music information retrieval, emphasizing scalability and interpretability in scientific computing. Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals dominant trends in scalable Gaussian process methods for massive datasets and multi-fidelity simulations, particularly applied to high-energy physics and engineering systems. He has pioneered innovations in Bayesian optimization for expensive simulators and developed novel frameworks for online change-point detection in streaming data, demonstrating exceptional cross-disciplinary impact. Dr. Mak leads multiple significant research initiatives: Collaborative Research: Cost-Efficient and Confident Sampling for Modern Scientific Discovery (2023-2026) Science-Integrated Predictive modeLing (SCINPL) for scalable scientific computing (2022-2025) The X-SCAPE collaboration for statistically advanced nuclear collision modeling (2020-2025) These projects fund his development of statistical frameworks for scientific discovery in complex systems. He actively contributes to the JETSCAPE collaboration, developing multi-stage frameworks for studying jet quenching in heavy-ion collisions, and applies statistical methods through the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences to advance neuroscience research.
Donna Naples is a Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh, affiliated with the Dietrich School. Her research focuses on neutrino physics, particularly their fundamental properties and oscillations. She is involved in major experiments such as NOvA, MicroBooNE, and the upcoming DUNE project at Fermilab. Her work contributes to understanding neutrino masses, mixing matrices, and potential sterile neutrinos. Naples has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Physical Society (2018). Research Interests: Neutrino oscillations and cross-section measurements High-intensity neutrino beam experiments (NuMI) Detector development for neutrino physics Search for sterile neutrinos and beyond-Standard-Model interactions Key Contributions: Leadership in the MicroBooNE detector design Analysis of MINERvA neutrino interaction data Role in planning the DUNE experiment Awards: Fellow of the American Physical Society (2018) Advising & Collaboration: Advises graduate student Fan Gao Collaborates with international teams on neutrino experiments
Zackaria Chacko is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Maryland and a founding member of the Maryland Center for Fundamental Physics (MCFP). His research focuses on theoretical particle physics, addressing unresolved questions in the Standard Model through novel frameworks like weak scale supersymmetry, extra dimensions, and composite Higgs models. His work intersects with experimental efforts at the Large Hadron Collider, dark matter detection, neutrino oscillation studies, and gravitational tests. Affiliations: Maryland Center for Fundamental Physics (MCFP) Teaching: Courses include Mathematical Methods for Physics I/II, Advanced Quantum Mechanics, and Advanced Quantum Field Theory. Research Interests: Chacko explores dark matter, baryogenesis, and neutrino physics, with connections to cosmological observations (e.g., cosmic microwave background) and precision measurements. His theories aim to resolve gaps in fundamental physics, such as the hierarchy problem and matter-antimatter asymmetry. Awards: Elected Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). Labs/Teams: Active contributor to MCFP’s theoretical physics initiatives, collaborating on projects bridging particle physics and cosmology.
Pierre Baldi is a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He is affiliated with the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences. His research spans artificial intelligence, machine learning, bioinformatics, and communication networks, with notable projects in protein structure prediction, gene expression modeling, and neutrino physics collaborations like DUNE. Baldi’s work bridges theoretical foundations (e.g., neural network theory) and applied domains, including medical imaging and fusion technology. Key research interests include AI-driven biomedical applications, neural network theory, and interdisciplinary projects such as the DUNE neutrino experiment. His contributions to neural network engineering were recognized with the 2023 INNS Dennis Gabor Award, highlighting his paradigm-changing impact on computational neuroscience and physics. Baldi’s academic leadership includes directing UCI’s Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, fostering collaborations in computational biology and AI. His recent work explores AI’s role in healthcare, climate modeling (e.g., ClimSim-Online), and fundamental physics challenges like neutrino oscillation studies.
Imre Bartos is an Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Florida, specializing in multi-messenger astrophysics that combines gravitational waves, neutrinos, and electromagnetic signals. His research investigates extreme cosmic explosions involving black holes and neutron stars, with emphasis on merger environments in active galactic nuclei. Groundbreaking work includes demonstrating how nearby neutron star mergers influenced Solar System composition, identifying AGN disks as factories for eccentric black hole mergers, and developing techniques to probe black hole origins through gravitational wave localization. His group participates in major collaborations including LIGO, LISA, and IceCube observatories. Professor Bartos received the Sloan Fellowship and shares Breakthrough Prize honors for contributions to gravitational wave astronomy. He leads observational programs using Chandra, VLA, and Fermi telescopes while mentoring students in computational astrophysics techniques.
Carsten Rott is a Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Utah and holds the Jack W. Keuffel Memorial Chair until December 2025. His academic journey began with a Ph.D. in Physics from Purdue University (2004), preceded by undergraduate studies at the Universität Hannover. Rott has held academic positions at institutions including The Ohio State University (CCAPP Senior Fellow 2009-2013), Penn State University (postdoc 2005-2008), and Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea (Assistant Professor 2013-2017, Associate Professor 2017-2025). He has been a member of the IceCube Neutrino Telescope collaboration since 2005 and serves on committees like the IceCube-Gen2 Coordination Committee and JSNS2 Speakers Board. His research spans Particle Physics , Neutrino Astronomy , and Dark Matter Detection . Key projects include analyzing IceCube data for sterile neutrino signatures, studying cosmic-ray anisotropy, and investigating terrestrial gamma-ray flashes. Notable achievements include the Bruno Rossi Prize (2021) for high-energy astrophysics contributions. Rott's work involves multimessenger observations (neutrinos, gamma-rays, radio signals) and detector calibration innovations, such as those for the JSNS2 experiment. Recent publications focus on atmospheric neutrino oscillation parameters, TGF spectroscopy, and dark matter constraints. He employs machine learning techniques (CNNs) for event reconstruction and leads initiatives like the IceCube Master Class for student engagement. Grants include funding for IceCube upgrades (2024-2026) and Hyper-Kamiokande collaborations (2023-2026). As department chair since 2023, Rott continues to bridge experimental particle physics with astrophysical discoveries.
Wolfgang Lorenzon is a Professor of Physics at the University of Michigan, specializing in experimental particle physics, nuclear physics, and astrophysics. His research spans three major experimental programs: the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) dark matter experiment at SURF, the MUSE experiment at PSI for proton radius measurements, and the SpinQuest collaboration at Fermilab studying hadronic physics. He has held significant roles in major collaborations including SeaQuest and HERMES, where he served as Deputy Spokesman from 1997-1998. His educational background includes a Ph.D. (1988) and Diploma (1984), both from the University of Basel. Lorenzon has built a distinguished research career focusing on precision measurements in particle and nuclear physics, with particular expertise in detector development and experimental techniques. Lorenzon's research interests center on fundamental questions in particle physics. His work on the LZ experiment involves developing the in-line radon removal system for the central time-projection chamber, crucial for enhancing the detector's sensitivity to WIMPs. At PSI, he leads the development of liquid hydrogen targets for the MUSE experiment, which aims to resolve discrepancies in proton charge radius measurements. His hadronic physics work with SeaQuest and SpinQuest focuses on understanding nucleon structure through antiquark distributions and polarized Drell-Yan processes. His research bridges theoretical questions with cutting-edge experimental techniques, often requiring innovative detector solutions. Analysis of his recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on dark matter detection using liquid xenon technology, precision measurements of nucleon structure, and development of next-generation detectors. His work spans theoretical interpretation of experimental results, detector development, and analysis of fundamental particle interactions. The research shows increasing collaboration across international boundaries, with significant contributions to multiple major experiments simultaneously. Scientific Awards: Fellow of the American Physical Society Lorenzon has mentored numerous graduate students through completion of their Ph.D. degrees, with recent graduates including Haley Reid (2024), Noah Wuerfel and Chami Amarasinghe (2023), Maris Arthurs (2022), Marshall Scott (2020), and Daniel Morton (2019). His current research group includes postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers. His research is supported by multiple grants from the National Science Foundation (Grant 2110229) and the Department of Energy (Grant SC0019193 and Subcontract 734299), as well as University of Michigan funding. Lorenzon leads a research group with active laboratories at both the Homer A. Neal Laboratory (3265 HANL) and West Hall (357 WH) at the University of Michigan. His team collaborates with international groups at Fermilab, SURF in South Dakota, and the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. The group maintains strong connections with the LZ collaboration, MUSE experiment, and SpinQuest collaboration, contributing both technical expertise and physics analysis capabilities to these major international efforts.
