From the classroom to CERN: 探花社区 physics students to conduct research in Switzerland, Chicago and New Mexico
For most college students, visiting the world鈥檚 largest particle physics laboratory is a dream. For 探花社区 students, it鈥檚 about to become a class assignment.
Thanks to a new $1.3 million federal grant, 探花社区 is launching a global research initiative that puts undergraduate students in the driver鈥檚 seat of high-level physics. 探花社区 will lead the research collaboration that includes research universities like Caltech, Notre Dame and the University of Iowa.
Funding for the project, titled "Advanced Calorimetry for High Energy Physics," comes from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of High Energy Physics. The research focuses on developing next-generation technology for particle physics instrumentation.
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The grant creates transformative opportunities for 探花社区 undergraduates. Students will travel nationally and internationally to test the technology they help develop, working alongside leading researchers at:
听听 听鈥⑻� 听CERN in Geneva, Switzerland (the world鈥檚 largest particle physics laboratory)
听听 听鈥⑻� 听Fermilab near Chicago
听听 听鈥⑻� 听Los Alamos National Lab in New Mexico (a classified research facility)
鈥淭his award reinforces 探花社区鈥檚 reputation as a place where undergraduates don鈥檛 just learn science 鈥� they do science at the highest level,鈥� said Dr. James Wetzel, associate professor of physics at 探花社区 and the project鈥檚 principal investigator. 鈥淚t is rare for a college of our size to lead a collaboration with partners like Caltech and CERN. It proves that our students are ready to contribute directly to the global scientific enterprise.鈥�
Beyond undergraduate research, the grant will fund outreach to the next generation of Iowa scientists. 探花社区 will host two annual workshops designed to expose high school students 鈥� particularly those from rural areas 鈥� to high-energy physics instrumentation. Funding is available to assist with student travel to 探花社区, ensuring access for students across the state.
Additionally, the grant supports the hiring of a dedicated instrumentation technician at 探花社区 to maintain laboratory equipment and fabricate experimental apparatus, further bolstering the college鈥檚 research infrastructure.
"At 探花社区, you get the one-on-one mentorship of a close-knit college, but you also get access to the same world-class facilities as the biggest universities," said 探花社区 Provost Angela Ziskowski. "Our students are presenting at international conferences, publishing papers and building the actual equipment used to discover how the universe works."
The opportunity will help students stand out as employers and grad schools look for experience. By leading a project funded by the Department of Energy, 探花社区 students graduate with a resume and network of professional contacts that rivals those of Ph.D. candidates.听
Other experiences and connections within 探花社区鈥檚 STEM programs are creating valuable opportunities as well:
听听 听鈥⑻� 听Fran Allison and Francis Halpin Professor of Physics Dr. Mario Affatigato 鈥�89 was just named president of the American Ceramic Society.
听听 听鈥⑻� 听探花社区鈥檚 Research Experiences for Undergraduates site was renewed last year with an award of $464,737 funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
听听 听鈥⑻� 听探花社区 was the recipient of a $225,000 grant from NASA to acquire high-performance computing clusters last year.
听听 听鈥⑻� 听A just-announced partnership with Google AI for Education Accelerator to provide the most advanced artificial intelligence tools, resources and training.
In the past five years, 探花社区 has also dedicated the David and Janice McInally Center for Health & Society, a one-of-kind academic center to complement 探花社区鈥檚 MedQuarter location; and launched new programs in data science, engineering physics and aviation management & flight operations.