Edward Stech

Edward Stech is a Research Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Notre Dame. He is a core member of Prof. Michael Wiescher’s research group, focusing on nuclear reactions critical to understanding energy production and element formation in stars and explosive stellar environments. His work leverages the Nuclear Science Laboratory’s accelerators to support faculty, graduate, and undergraduate researchers. Additional research includes developing a Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) setup using the FN tandem accelerator and leading JINA’s PIXE PAN program, which brings physics education to high school teachers and students through annual summer workshops.

Stech holds a B.S. (magna cum laude, 1995), M.S. (2001), and Ph.D. (2004) in Physics from the University of Notre Dame. His research emphasizes accelerator-based studies of neutron capture reactions, resonance strengths, and detector instrumentation. Key projects include the HECTOR gamma-ray spectrometer for γ-process studies and the Neutron Target Demonstrator (NTD) for irradiation experiments. His contributions span interdisciplinary collaborations across campus and with external institutions.

His recent publications (2023–2025) highlight advancements in resonance strength measurements, accelerator applications, and experimental techniques for nucleosynthesis studies. These include analyses of reactions like 22Ne(α,n)25Mg, 92Mo(p,γ)93Tc, and 15N(α,γ)19F, with implications for stellar energy production and element formation. Stech’s work also advances applied technologies such as the LENZ neutron detection system and the PIXE education program.