What do you do here at Wright Lab?
I work on the Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events (CUORE) experiment and its next-generation experiment CUPID (CUORE Upgrade with Particle IDentification) with Prof. Karsten Heeger and Prof. Reina Maruyama. Both of these experiments are primarily searching for an ultra-rare theorized decay, called neutrinoless double-beta decay. If this decay happens, we know that it’s half-life (the time it would take to observe half of the atoms in a sample decay in this way) is over 1025 years long, which is 1016 times the age of the universe! We hope to gain a greater understanding of neutrinos, a type of fundamental particle, by studying this decay.
What is the most unique and/or exciting experience you’ve had here at Wright Lab?
One of the most exciting things I’ve gotten to do in Wright Lab is learning how to use the machines in the shop to build prototypes for our experiment. I had essentially no experience with machining before grad school, and I have found it insightful (and fun!) to make a system from an initial concept to the final testing.
What are you looking forward to in the coming year at Wright Lab?
This year the Yale CUORE/CUPID group hopes to finish most of the development of a muon veto system. Since I started graduate school, I’ve been working on this project and am looking forward to seeing everything come together. I’m also excited to have a year where we can gather and reconnect again in person in Wright Lab. I’ve missed seeing everyone around the lab!
What is something that people might not know about you that you’d like to share with the community?
During the last year and a half, I started learning how to make a few family recipes. This was comforting to me when I was missing my family and home. I think I’ve almost perfected my mom’s biscuits, pancakes, and bagels now.