Alexander Thornton

Major / Minor: Astronomy and Physics

Area of Research: Physics

Name of Mentor: Professor Zeynep Demiragli, Dr. Simona Ilieva

How did you get involved in research?

I first got involved with research by looking at faculty who’s interests overlapped with mine, and then emailing them expressing my interest. From this I began working in Professor JJ Hermes’s White Dwarf Group, which then set me on the research path and allowed me to be a part of the BU Geneva Study Abroad program where I did research in particle physics at CERN.

How did you meet your mentor?

After being accepted to the Geneva Study Abroad program headed by Professor Zeynep Demiragli, I was introduced to many potential research opportunities in various subfields of particle physics at CERN. I was most interested in software, including data analysis and software development, and my interests led me to working with Dr. Simona Ilieva on the Scattering Neutrino Detector at the Large Hadron Collider.

What has your UROP experience taught you?

My UROP experience confirmed that performing full-time research and trying to discover new physics is my passion. I learned an incredible amount through working on a fascinating project with an incredible group of people. This experience inspired me to pursue a PhD in physics to continue my path in physics.

How has this experience helped you with non-research related things at BU?

I learned many skills in both collaborating with others and in writing/presenting. I learned how to better communicate with others in my field by talking and working through problems in my research group, but also to many different types of audiences through both poster and oral presentations.

What does a day in your research life look like?

I woke up around 7:45am to take to the train to my office at 9am at CERN. I do my best work in the morning, so I worked on the most intensive and difficult problems then, either analyzing data or trying to debug code (which can be quite frustrating). This was followed by a lunch break, and afterwards I would meet with my advisor to talk about the progress and difficulties in my code. I’d then take this feedback and use it to guide my research for the rest of the day and the following morning, until the cycle repeats.

What advice would you give to someone interested in UROP?

I would advise to find a professor that does research you find interesting, and then tell them you’d like to apply for UROP! Some research groups can be full or simply not taking students at all, so keep reaching out until you find a group that you’d like to work in!

UROP has given me the opportunity to conduct research at the bleeding edge of particle physics at the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN). Not only did this experience lead to my first-author publication and multiple presentations at American Physical Society conferences, but it also ignited a strong passion for research, motivating me to apply for a PhD to further advance my research career.