Biographical Sketch:
Talia Weiss is a Physics Ph.D. student on the Project 8 neutrino mass experiment in Karsten Heeger’s group. The neutrino mass scale plays a crucial role in particle physics and cosmology, yet this scale is unknown. Project 8 aims to measure the neutrino mass using energies of electrons from tritium beta decay. Within Project 8, Weiss’ research centers on Bayesian data analysis, neutrino mass sensitivity calculations, the design and fabrication of magnetic traps for electrons, and magnetometry. She currently leads the experiment’s Spectrum Analysis and Sensitivity team. Previously, Weiss conducted a year of post-bacc research at MIT, received an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago (with a thesis on societal effects of CRISPR gene editing), and received a B.S. in Physics from MIT. While at MIT, her research focused on testing interpretations of quantum mechanics using neutrinos as well as analyzing beta spectra.
In 2021, Weiss created the Yale Kimball Smith Series, which tackles issues at the intersection of technology, ethics, and global affairs—ranging from nuclear weapons risks to AI policy. The Series is sponsored by the Physics Department. Weiss has written and guest-lectured on nuclear weapons and energy, the history of scientific responsibility and self-regulation, and lessons learned from the case of Nazi nuclear physicists.
Education:
M.A. in Political Science, University of Chicago, 2019
B.S. in Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2018
Honors & Awards:
- Yale D. Allan Bromley Fellowship, 2023. (For “creation and leadership of the Kimball Smith Series that explores the intersection of technology, ethics, and global affairs and expansive resume of science communication, science policy, public service and outreach activities.”)
- Next-Generation Fellow of the Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction, 2023.
- Yale Leigh Page Prize, 2020.
- Phi Beta Kappa, 2018.
- MIT Malcolm Cotton Brown Award, 2018.
Selected publications:
- “Cyclotron Radiation Emission Spectroscopy of electrons from tritium beta decay and 83mKr internal conversion,” Project 8 Collaboration. Phys. Rev. C. 109 (2024) 035503, arXiv:2303.12055.
- “Tritium beta spectrum measurement and neutrino mass limit from Cyclotron Radiation Emission Spectroscopy,” Project 8 Collaboration. Phys. Rev. Lett. 131 (2023) 102502, arXiv:2212.05048. Coverage in Yale News, APS Physics, PNNL News.
- “Bayesian Analysis of a Future Beta Decay Experiment’s Sensitivity to Neutrino Mass Scale and Ordering,” Project 8 Collaboration. Phys. Rev. C 103 (2021) 065501, arXiv:2012.14341.
- “Scientific Blinders: Learning From the Moral Failings of Nazi Physicists,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (2019).
- “Violation of the Leggett-Garg Inequality in Neutrino Oscillations,” J. Formaggio, D. I. Kaiser, M. Murskyj, and T. E. Weiss. Phys. Rev. Lett. 117 (2016) 050402, arXiv:1602.00041. Coverage in Science News, APS Physics, WBUR, MIT News.
- ArXiv
Experiments:
Project 8 Neutrino Mass Experiment
