Ian, the Henry Moseley Centenary Professor of Experimental Physics and Head of the Department of Physics, is one of the leading minds in the world of particle physics. He serves as a Professorial Fellow at St. Catherine’s College, where his work continues to inspire both students and colleagues alike. With a career dedicated to uncovering the fundamental mysteries of the universe, Ian has played a pivotal role in some of the most groundbreaking experiments in modern physics.
Ian was renowned for his expertise in experimental particle physics, a field that requires both deep theoretical knowledge and technical innovation. His work focuses on understanding the origins, evolution, and eventual fate of the universe. As a member of large international scientific collaborations, Ian has sought to answer some of the most profound questions in science using particle accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and cutting-edge telescopes.
At the heart of Ian’s research lies a passion for unraveling the mysteries of the subatomic world. He has made significant contributions to the study of heavy quarks, a class of fundamental particles that provide critical insights into the structure of matter. Additionally, Ian has played a central role in the study of the Higgs Boson, the particle responsible for giving other particles mass. His team’s development of a pixel detector was instrumental in the first identification of the Higgs Boson, a discovery that captured global attention and earned the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics for the experiment’s originators.
Beyond his work with heavy quarks and the Higgs Boson, Ian is also engaged in the search for dark matter—one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the universe and the study of dark energy, a force driving the universe’s accelerated expansion. His contributions extend not only to theoretical research but also to the development of cutting-edge instrumentation that makes these discoveries possible. His advancements in detector technology have allowed scientists to observe the universe with greater precision than ever before.
Ian’s achievements in the field of particle physics have earned him widespread recognition. In 2002, he was awarded a Fellowship of the American Physical Society (APS) in recognition of his groundbreaking work on the physics of heavy quarks. This honor, one of the highest accolades in the field, was a testament to his leadership and pioneering research.
His work with the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the world’s most powerful particle accelerator, also earned him the prestigious Fellowship of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2012. The discovery of the Higgs Boson at the LHC represented a monumental leap in our understanding of the universe, and Ian’s contributions to this effort cemented his legacy as a central figure in the field of experimental physics.
Ian’s leadership extends beyond his research, as he has held key positions in numerous international collaborations that shape the future of particle physics. In 2013, he was elected Chairperson of the Collaboration Board of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) Experiment at the LHC, one of the major experiments at CERN that played a crucial role in the discovery of the Higgs Boson. His leadership helped guide the collaboration of thousands of scientists from around the world.
In addition to his work at CERN, Ian has been an integral figure in several other high-profile collaborations. He was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) Corporation, serving two terms from 2009 to 2012 and again from 2017 to 2021. The LSST project aims to create the most detailed map of the night sky ever made, offering new insights into dark matter and dark energy.
From 2009 to 2012, Ian served as the co-coordinator of the LHC Physics Center at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), where he helped to shape the scientific agenda for LHC research in the United States. His expertise was also sought at Cornell University, where he was elected co-Spokesperson of the CLEO experiment at the university’s particle physics lab from 2001 to 2004. This experiment explored the behavior of quarks and leptons, contributing valuable knowledge to the field of particle physics.
His influence within the APS was equally significant. From 2011 to 2014, he was elected Chairperson of the APS Division of Particles and Fields (DPF), a major professional organization representing physicists in the United States. His tenure in this role saw important developments in the field and helped to advance the work of physicists worldwide.
Ian’s contributions to experimental particle physics have left an indelible mark on the field. Through his leadership in global collaborations, his technical innovations, and his passion for unlocking the universe’s greatest mysteries, Ian has helped to shape the future of physics. His work continues to inspire the next generation of scientists, as they build on the foundations he has laid to further our understanding of the cosmos.