Zoltán Varga is a Postdoctoral Associate (Research Fellow) in the Department of Physics at Yale University, working within the Relativistic Heavy Ion Group under Principal Investigator Laura Havener. He is actively involved in the ALICE experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. Education: Ph.D., Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), 2025 Research Interests: Varga specializes in Relativistic Heavy Ions, focusing on the experimental study of quark-gluon plasma formation through ultra-relativistic heavy nucleus collisions. His work contributes to understanding quantum chromodynamics (QCD) at extreme energy densities, recreating conditions analogous to the early universe microseconds after the Big Bang. He analyzes collision data to investigate quark and gluon confinement mechanisms and the properties of primordial matter. Labs and Teams: Based at Wright Laboratory (WLW 308) at Yale, Varga is a core member of the ALICE collaboration. Yale's group contributes to hardware development including GEM readout chambers, and participates in the Jets and Hard Photons Physics Working Group where PI Laura Havener serves as co-convener. The team also engages in educational outreach such as hosting high school students through the Yale Pathways Summer Research Internships for hardware testing projects.
Saša Ceci is a Senior Research Associate at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb, Croatia, working in the Department of Experimental Physics and the Laboratory for Elementary Particle Physics. With a PhD in Physics from the University of Zagreb and postdoctoral experience at the University of Georgia, he has established himself as a prominent researcher in particle physics. Dr. Ceci earned his B.A. in Physics from the University of Zagreb (Faculty of Science and Technology) in 1998, followed by a Master of Science in 2003 and a PhD in 2007, all from the University of Zagreb (Faculty of Science). He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Georgia (UGA), USA in 2008. His research focuses on hadronic physics and resonances, with particular expertise in elementary particle physics and nuclear physics. Dr. Ceci's work often involves analyzing particle collision data to understand fundamental properties of resonances and hadronic interactions. His research combines theoretical models with experimental data analysis, contributing significantly to our understanding of particle physics phenomena. He has made important contributions to the extraction of pole and Breit-Wigner resonance parameters, as evidenced by his highly cited publications in Physical Review Letters. Dr. Ceci's recent publications span from 2020-2023 and demonstrate his active involvement in major particle physics experiments, particularly with the CMS Collaboration at CERN. His work covers diverse topics including resonance physics, heavy ion collisions, detector development, and searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. The consistent high-impact factor of his publications reflects the significance of his contributions to the field. Annual State Science Award (together with Marko Košiček) for the popularization and promotion of science in the field of natural sciences (2015) Annual award of the Ruđer Bošković Institute for excellent scientific work in 2013 As an active member of the CMS Collaboration, Dr. Ceci has contributed to numerous significant research projects at CERN. His work involves both theoretical aspects of particle physics and hands-on experimental work with detector systems. He has also authored two popular science books and participated in media projects like 'The Third Element' show on HTV, demonstrating his commitment to science communication and education. Dr. Ceci works within the Laboratory for Elementary Particle Physics at the Ruđer Bošković Institute, collaborating with international research teams on cutting-edge particle physics experiments. His laboratory work focuses on data analysis from the Large Hadron Collider and contributes to the development of detector technologies for future experiments. He is also involved in educational initiatives, including a 2023 publication on hybrid STEM education approaches.
