LHC Physics Center

Work Description:

My main contributions to CMS have been in top quark physics. I am the main author of the 2010 measurement of the top pair production cross section in lepton plus jets. I have also explored for new physics by searching for heavy top quark pair resonances, heavy W# bosons decaying to top and bottom quarks, and search for production of four top quarks. My research program aims to search for new physics beyond the standard model using top quarks, and develop new trigger and reconstruction algorithms for the upgrade and operations of the CMS detector at high luminosity scenarios.

My leadership experience in CMS includes co-leadership of the four tops working group (2012), co-convenership of the b-tagging Performance Group (2011-2012), co-convenership of the Boosted Top Group (2007-2010), co-leadership of the LPC b-tagging Group (2009-2010), and co-leadership of the LPC top quark working group (2010). I have also supervised many undergraduate and graduate students, and postdocs stationed at Fermilab.

During the 2009 commissioning of the CMS detector, I led the effort on the position determination of the luminous region, also known as beam spot. These monitoring tools are being used to scan the beam position and quality of the collisions. I have also developed tools to measure the b-tagging efficiencies using a data sample of muon-in-jets. These tools are widely used in CMS.

I have been instructor in many of the CMS Data Analysis Schools (CMSDAS) and my research projects have strong collaboration with several LPC institutions.