• Could you share a bit about your background and interests?

I am an experimental particle physicist, and I study Higgs boson production at the Large Hadron Collider, a proton-proton collider located on the border of France and Switzerland. I also focus on the design and construction of silicon tracking detectors, which provide information about the trajectory of charged particles in the aftermath of a high energy collision. One of my current projects, which we call “smart pixels,” involves silicon detector readout electronics that use machine learning for data compression.  I received my bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in 2014 and did my graduate studies on the ATLAS experiment at the University of California, Berkeley. I joined the CMS experiment in 2020, when I started working as a research associate at Fermilab.  

• What are you most proud of in your work at Fermilab / UC Berkeley?

I’m proud of my contribution to the growth of “smart pixels.” Machine learning on-detector sounded a bit crazy only a few years ago, but we have demonstrated that it can be done. And this has opened up a lot of exciting possibilities for how to use this technique in high energy physics experiments!   I’m happy to chat about it with anyone who wants to learn more. 

• What do you find most compelling about your new position as CLASSE/Physics faculty?

In my career so far, I have spent time at both universities and national labs. My new position combines some of the best elements of both!

• What most excites you about coming to Cornell?

Living in the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and the opportunity to work with great students!

• Any hobbies or interests you like outside of work?

I do a lot of crafts like crochet, knitting, and embroidery in my free time. I find them creative and relaxing, and I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with making something tangible.