Q&A

What is the research you are engaged in and what have you accomplished this summer?

This summer I’ve been working with the CESR positron storage ring. I have been taking data from the accelerator and using it to accurately measure the size of the positron beam at the sextupoles, which are a specific type of magnet used.

What are the impacts of your research for the general public?

This project is the first of its kind, so being able to accurately measure the beam in new ways can not only improve Cornell University’s accelerator, but particle accelerators all over the world. We can use this project to better understand sextupoles and increase their efficiency and calibration. With these improvements we can focus on bigger breakthroughs in particle physics.

What did you enjoy most about this research/summer experience?

Getting to experience a professional research setting and so many group meetings were a few of my favorite parts of this summer. I was able to meet so many talented peers and connect with mentors. It was a rewarding experience and it was very insightful about post-undergraduate options in the physics field.

What did you find the most challenging about this research?

Completing this research fully online was a big struggle. Not having those important social interactions made the whole experience more challenging, but it made me understand the importance of communication in this field.

How has this experience changed your view about being a researcher?

Thanks to this experience I am planning on pursuing a career in academia. The environment at Cornell University is so uplifting and all the mentors and graduate students we were able to work with were very open and helpful. This was a positive experience overall and I’ll be looking at coming back here for graduate school.