Richard James deBoer

Richard James deBoer is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on determining nuclear reaction rates of light nuclei critical for understanding energy production and element formation in stars, with an emphasis on integrating experimental measurements with R-matrix reaction theory. Dr. deBoer received his Ph.D. from Notre Dame in 2011 and has held postdoctoral positions at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics (JINA) and the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy. He currently advises the International Atomic Energy Agency on charged-particle reaction evaluations in the resolved-resonance region.

Education: B.S. in Physics from Western Michigan University (2003), M.S. in Physics from Ball State University (2005), and dual M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Notre Dame (2008–2011).

His research interests include linking experimental data with theoretical models to quantify uncertainties in nuclear reaction rates, particularly for reactions governing stellar nucleosynthesis. Notable contributions include co-organizing the 2016 R-matrix workshop and pioneering experiments at Notre Dame’s nuclear facilities to study reactions like 3He(α,γ)7Be and 14N(p,p)14N. His work addresses challenges in astrophysical reaction networks and impacts fields like supernova modeling and neutron star mergers.

Key collaborations involve Los Alamos National Laboratories and Ohio University’s Institute for Nuclear and Particle Physics. Current projects focus on neutron capture studies, resonance analysis in carbon-carbon fusion, and development of advanced experimental techniques using facilities like the Neutron Irradiation Station at Notre Dame.