My Journey as a Physicist 


Season 3: Nuclear-Science Advisory Committee Long Range Plan (LRP)

This season's interviews were conducted by Bill Good and Kinza Hasan,  and edited by Kiran Sakorikar and Esther Cohen-Lin. 

Episode 1 (flyer) (transcript)
Prof. Gail Dodge (she/her)
Old Dominion University

I am a medium energy experimentalist (otherwise known these days as cold QCD) and I am also the Dean of the College of Sciences at ODU. I do experiments related to understanding the structure of the nucleon (unpolarized as well as polarized), at Jefferson Lab. This type of research takes a long time, but I love it because the questions about the nature of matter are interesting and working with students and colleagues is a lot of fun. The Long-Range Plan process is very important for the community to consider priorities and make the case that this research is important. 

Episode 2  (flyer) (transcript)
Prof. Xiaochao Zheng (she/her)
University of Virginia

I am a Chinese American Physicist and a mother of three. I like running, swimming, painting, gardening, and trying new things. I used to play volleyball in college. I don't like singing. Experimental Nuclear and Particle Physics with a focus on Electron Scattering. I like that all the number crunching and figure making have a higher meaning behind. Long Range Plan to me is a field guide for research in nuclear physics/science, new edition available every 7 years. 

Episode 3  (flyer) (transcript)

Dr. Bjoern Schenke (he/him)
Brookhaven National Laboratory

I am a theoretical nuclear physicist. I like running, painting, photography, fixing things, some gardening, traveling, and electronic music. I work on describing all aspects of heavy ion collisions to learn about the properties of matter, and am also moving toward studying collisions of electrons with nuclei, which can for example provide detailed insight into how gluons arrange and interact inside nuclei. I love research because I just like to figure stuff out and learn new things - doing research is great, because you can figure things out that nobody else has understood before. I am a convener of the QCD Town Hall and White Paper, which provides community input to the Long Range Plan, and I am also on the LRP writing committee.  

Episode 4  (flyer) (transcript)

Prof. Rebecca Surman (she/her)
University of Notre Dame

I am a theoretical nuclear astrophysicist interested in the formation of the elements. I am also the mother of one daughter and doting aunt to eleven nieces and nephews. My work combines the nuclear theory of heavy nuclei, experimental results from radioactive isotope experiments, and astrophysical observations to understand how the heaviest elements are synthesized in the universe. It is a particularly exciting time for my field, given advances in computing, stellar spectroscopic surveys, and multi-messenger astronomy, as well as new facilities such as FRIB and the N=126 Factory. I’m looking forward to our community developing the vision to take advantage of these and other key recent advances as part of the Long-Range Plan for nuclear science.

Episode 5  (flyer) (transcript)

Prof. Grigory Rogachev
Texas A&M University

I am a physicist focusing on experimental nuclear physics, and I also like playing tennis and golf, fishing and reading books. I use particle accelerators to study structure of atomic nuclei and nuclear reactions relevant for nucleosynthesis in stars. I love what I do because my experiments help advance general understanding of nuclei and origin of elements in the universe. Working on the nuclear physics Long-Range Plan is a fascinating opportunity to learn about recent advances in the field and contribute to shaping the future of nuclear physics for many years.

Episode 6  (flyer) (transcript)

Prof. Vincenzo Cirigliano (he/his)
Institute for Nuclear Theory
University of Washington

I'm a theoretical physicist, and I also (try to) play guitar. I work on low-energy probes of physics beyond the Standard Model. I like to challenge the Standard Model and look for cracks in its fabric: at times it can be quite suspenseful,  like a mystery novel. 

Episode 7  (flyer) (transcript)

Prof. Lindley Winslow (she/her) 
MIT

I am an experimental nuclear physicist. I like hiking and skiing on the weekends with my husband, three kids and our dog (the two cats usually stay home). My work centers on specialized experiments that make use of novel technology from quantum sensors to deep learning to push the bounds of what is measurable. The work is driven by big questions about the formation of our universe and how physics on the smallest scales leads to the universe we observe. 

Episode 8  (flyer) (transcript)

Prof./Dr. Ramona Vogt (she/her)
LLNL and UC Davis

I am a nuclear physicist, involved in APS leadership and I run far-ish. My  research involves both heavy flavor production, mostly in cold nuclear matter, and the phenomenology of nuclear fission. I love the challenge of doing physics and the rush of understanding something new. I am on the Long Range Plan writing committee, the NSAC Nuclear Data subcommittee and Secretary-Treasurer of the DNP.

Episode 9  (flyer) (transcript)

Prof & Chair of Physics, Shelly Lesher (she/her) 
University of Wisconsin La Crosse

I am an experimental nuclear physicist, and I also love traveling and playing fetch with my dog. I work on the vibrations (structure) of rare-earth nuclei. The other area is on the intersection of nuclear science and society. Analysis is a big puzzle to solve, which I love. The nuclear community is a very welcoming and supportive community and that is why I chose this field. I am the chair of the writing committee on workforce development and DEI.

Episode 10  (flyer) (transcript)
Prof. Filomena Nunes (she/her) 
Michigan State University 

I am a theoretical physicist working on nuclear science. I am a mother. I really enjoy interacting with people and nature. My research is on the theory for nuclear reactions, particularly those involving rare isotopes. I have an inquisitive mind, and research give me the tools for find answers. The long range plan is a mechanism for the research community to coalesce on the priorities for the field. 

Episode 11  (flyer) (transcript)
Prof. Abhay Deshpande
Center for Frontiers in Nuclear, Stony Brook University, Science and BNL

I am an experimentalist working the field of nuclear and particle physics. I am a SUNY Distinguished Professor  at Stony Brook University. I also serve as the Electron Ion Collier (EIC) Science Director at BNL and Director of the Center for Frontiers in Nuclear Science (CFNS). I like to use “spin” as a tool to investigate and understand nature — thus I always use polarized beams or targets. I have been involved experiments at BNL (both RHIC and AGS), at Jefferson Lab, PSI, CERN and DESY. These experiments addressed my interests in nucleon spin structure and also precision electroweak physics that push the boundaries of the Standard Model of Physics. In every one of them the property of “spin” played an important or pivotal role. I was one of the earliest Electron Ion Collider (EIC) enthusiast, having been involved from its birth/infancy to now- when it is being realized. It has been a privilege to be involved or participating in the US long range planing process since 2001 in all things related to the EIC. Through those years I learnt so many other things from friends and colleagues in our field including the wonderful initiatives like the FRIB which is operational now and the neutrino-less double beta decay experiments - which hopefully will also happen soon. 


Episode 12  (flyer) (transcript)
Prof. Haiyan Gao (she/her)
Brookhaven National Laboratory and Duke University

I am a Chinese-American physicist, and I love gardening, cooking, walking and music. I am an experimentalist, who uses electrons and photons as microscopes to look deeper and deeper inside protons and neutrons, which are the building blocks of atomic nuclei, to advance our understanding about the structure of visible matter. While visible matter is only several percent of our universe, we, humans are made of visible matter. I am fascinated by the fact that I am studying myself and that gives me great joy. This is the second time I served on the Long-Range Plan Writing Committee.


Episode 13  (flyer) (transcript)
Dr. Allena Opper (she/her)
National Science Foundation

I am a nuclear physicist and have done experiments at laboratories across north America. I’ve been a professor at Ohio University and George Washington University. Since 2014 I have had the honor and privilege of serving as a program director of the National Science Foundation’s Nuclear Physics Program. During the pandemic I did a few online “Paint Night” things where the instructor guides the participants in making a painting with acrylic paints – I now have three “paintings” decorating a shelf in my closet! The Long Range Plan, like the previous LRPs, has valuable advice that DOE and NSF will use in making funding decisions -- just as importantly, it clearly communicates to Congress and the American people the priorities and exciting opportunities in nuclear science.



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