I have been working for sPHENIX since the summer of 2022, when I helped in the construction of the sEPD at Lehigh University.

What is the focus of your work on the sPHENIX experiment?

I am currently working on the commissioning and performance of the sPHENIX tracking system. I am analyzing 2024 collision data across the 4 tracking detectors. I am creating 1D quality control plots of the energy, transverse momentum, phi and eta coordinates, energy loss per unit length (dE/dx), and the positions of the vertices in the x, y, and z directions. I am also creating 2D plots of the energy loss per unit length as a function of the transverse momentum. I am presenting my work at daily meetings with the sPHENIX tracking team. In the future, I hope to be involved with the heavy flavor/quarkonia program.

Where were you born and what is your educational background before your current position?

I was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I graduated from Muhlenberg College in 2022 with a degree in physics and mathematics, where I worked under Dr. Brett Fadem. In May 2024, I received my master's degree in physics from Lehigh University en route to my PhD. I am currently a graduate research assistant under Dr. Anders Knospe.

What is the title of your Ph.D. or tentative title? Awards or biggest talk highlight?

Although I am early in the process, my PhD will tentatively focus on upsilon v2. I have yet to give a formal talk, but I will hopefully attend the DNP conference in Boston to share my work with the tracking team.

How did you decide to go into heavy ion or spin research?

I decided to go into heavy ion research in large part due to my undergraduate advisor Dr. Brett Fadem. I am also eager to develop my skills in programming, statistical analysis, and physics as I pursue my PhD.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my free time, I love to play basketball. I also perform card magic to my friends, family, local schools, hospitals, and summer programs in the Lehigh Valley.

Fun fact?

My first time on the subway was this year.