Stephen Sekula

Stephen Sekula is a Professor of Physics at Queen's University and Research Group Manager at SNOLAB, focusing on dark matter detection and neutrino physics. He holds academic appointments in the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy within the Faculty of Arts & Science. His research spans experimental particle physics, including leadership roles in the PICO, HALO, and nEXO collaborations. Sekula has authored influential textbooks like The Dark Matter Discoverer's Guidebook and contributed to major discoveries at CERN's ATLAS experiment. He is a recipient of the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.

Education:

• PhD in Physics (2004), University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Interests:

• Development of underground detectors (e.g., bubble chambers for dark matter)
• Neutrino astrophysics with the HALO experiment
• Next-generation experiments like nEXO targeting neutrinoless double-beta decay
• Instrumentation and software for large-scale physics experiments

Key Achievements:

• Co-chair of the ATLAS Higgs physics group at CERN
• Leader in planning for the Electron-Ion Collider
• Authored three physics books for students and the public
• Recipient of major international prizes and grants

Labs & Collaborations:

• SNOLAB (Sudbury Neutrino Observatory Laboratory)
• PICO Collaboration (dark matter search)
• HALO Collaboration (neutrino detection)
• nEXO Collaboration (tonne-scale neutrino experiment)