I began working in sPHENIX spring of 2021 when I became a full-time graduate research assistant at the University of Tennessee. I am a fourth-year graduate student at UTK.

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

My main area of research is jet physics, particularly jet azimuthal anisotropies. I do a lot of work for the Jet TG and am currently an analysis contact for PPG04 which is characterizing the underlying event in 2023 Au+Au data. I also have interest in jet background subtraction and have played a role in investigating different jet background subtraction methods for sPHENIX. As far as subsystems go, I’ve contributed a lot of time to the MVTX and am an on-call expert for the 2024 p+p run. I’ve been on both installation teams and have worked in the electronics/ readout group since fall of 2021. Beyond physics, I’m one of the sPHENIX junior reps so I work to build a community and supply resources to my fellow sPHENIX juniors.

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

I was technically born in Harrisburg, PA, but I only lived there for 6 months. I spent most of my childhood in Dallas, TX. I graduated from UTK in spring of 2020 with a BS in physics. I continued to work with the same group as a graduate student.

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

My original thesis title was “Azimuthal anisotropies of D0-tagged jets in Au+Au Collisions at 200 GeV using the sPHENIX Detector”, however given the abrupt ending to run 2023 I’m short a couple million Do-tagged jets needed to perform the measurement. I’m now focusing on measuring inclusive jet azimuthal anisotropies using a cumulant method. Using a cumulant method, rather than an event plane method, allows the measurement to be made in high multiplicity p+p collisions (event though it would probably measure zero). I’ve published 1.5 papers (second one is with the referee currently) on a ML study I did into jet background subtraction. This study got me a departmental award last spring http://www.phys.utk.edu/alumni-friends/awardees-graduate.html and a few invited talks. I’ve linked to one at last years RHIC/AGS users meeting: https://indico.bnl.gov/event/18938/contributions/78598/attachments/48897/83250/RHIC_AGS_2023_TMENGEL.pdf

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

In undergrad, I worked on transverse energy measurements from PHENIX charged particle spectra and I fell in love with the instruments used to perform these measurements. This is also where I first heard about QGP, and I was fascinated by the idea this new form of nuclear matter. I was hooked immediately.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In the event of free time, I enjoy fly-fishing in the smoky mountains, playing chess or spending time with my family.

Fun fact?

I’ve lived in 8 states since I was born.