LHC Physics Center

What I will be working on:

I will continue to lead in the development and commissioning of boosted top-tagging algorithms, and to investigate jet substructure reconstruction techniques that will enable us to discover new physics in hadronic final states in Run 2, such as new heavy gauge bosons or other particles that decay to boosted top quarks. I will also continue searching for vector-like quarks ("top partners") using boosted hadronic and semi-leptonic final states, probing the the high-energy tails of the kinematic distributions. Finally, I am working on a search for collider dark matter production in association with heavy flavor, addressing models where the coupling to heavy quarks is significant.

My role in CMS past and present:

I served as the first co-convener of the "Beyond Two Generations (B2G)" PAG subgroup devoted to searches for vector-like quarks and other anomalous top searches, such as displaced top, baryon number violating top, and dark matter produced in association with top. [This group was known as XTY (X to Top + Y) in Run 1, and for Run 2 is now called VHF (Very Heavy Fermions).] Currently, I am co-convener of the B2G PAG through 2017, helping to lead CMS in analyses searching for new physics in top- and bottom-like final states. In addition, I serve as U.S. CMS Institutional Board Chair for EMU (Endcap Muons), as well as the CMS IB Chair for the CSC muon detectors. My group works on operations of the CSC detectors and muon upgrades at the GEM/CSC interface.