John Alison

John Alison is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Carnegie Mellon University's Mellon College of Science, specializing in experimental high energy physics with the CMS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. His work focuses on fundamental particle interactions and detector development for cutting-edge physics research.

Education:

• PhD in Physics, University of Pennsylvania (2012)
• B.S. in Physics, University of Pittsburgh (2006)

Dr. Alison's research centers on Higgs boson physics, particularly Higgs-boson pair production, which provides crucial insights into the Higgs self-interaction and potential physics beyond the Standard Model. His group is actively involved in building detector modules for the High-Granularity Calorimeter upgrade to the CMS detector, conducting automated assembly and testing of over 5,000 silicon modules on CMU's campus. He also applies advanced machine learning techniques to enhance data analysis from the LHC, improving both real-time data selection and classification of Higgs boson decays.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong trajectory toward understanding fundamental particle interactions through increasingly sophisticated experimental techniques. The research spans detector development, statistical methods for background modeling, and precision measurements of Higgs properties, reflecting a comprehensive approach to advancing high energy physics.

Professional Experience:

• Associate Professor, Carnegie Mellon University (2024–present)
• Assistant Professor, Carnegie Mellon University (2018–2024)
• Fermi/McCormick Fellow, University of Chicago (2013–2018)