Larry asked us to quickly respond to the prompt: “What the BU/CERN program meant to me”. Here is a brief response.

During my time in the BU/CERN physics program I participated in the R&D of the Electron Muon Ranger (EMR) for the Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment (MICE). I was tasked with testing and analyzing the performance of 217 old photomultiplier tubes. I helped in the construction of a cosmically-calibrated test bench, and later wrote code to analyze and interpret the data that we collected. A summary of the work I performed is included in an internal MICE note (http://mice.iit.edu/micenotes/public/pdf/MICE0383/MICE0383.pdf). As a MICE collaborator, I learned how to utilize experimental techniques such as analog to digital conversion, data acquisition, and use of an oscilloscope.

The BU/CERN physics program was an overwhelmingly positive experience for me. As a participant in program, I was able to attend many CERN conferences and colloquia (including the Higgs discovery seminar). This gave me a good sense of the world of high energy physics research. I became privy to the field’s jargon, and learned much about the process of experimentation for high energy physics. This stimulated an intense interest in the field.

Though I am currently searching for jobs that will make use of the skills I gained in Geneva and subsequently, I have not lost my zeal for high energy physics. After I have gained some more working experience, I aspire to pursue graduate studies in the field.

If any current or prospective participants in the program have any questions,  I can be reached at lievens@bu.edu.

– Daniel Lievens