Alumnus

Maine Christos

Maine ChristosChristos, from Ringwood, New Jersey, majored in physics and math. Under her academic advisor, Sunil Somalwar, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, she worked on a physics student’s dream: analyzing data from the LHC, specifically its Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector. 

Her focus is on using machine learning, in which computer systems separate useful information from “background” in large sets of data, to more efficiently look for new particles that may emerge when protons collide with each other at high speeds. Christos’steam is specifically looking for a set of particles that, if discovered, would expand on the Standard Model of particle physics.

But she noted that, even if those particles are not found, “We’re seeing an improvement in our ability to recognize signal from background that we believe is significant and can be applied to other searches,” particularly in the field of high energy experimental physics.

The two students at Rutgers University–New Brunswick’s School of Arts and Sciences were among 211 selected nationwide as Goldwater Scholars for the 2018-19 academic year, the top undergraduate award of its kind in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. 

“Maine was the top choice of our Goldwater Scholarship nominating committee, convinced as all of us were that she has an extremely bright future as a researcher at the bench doing computationally-intensive physics, “ said Arthur D. Casciato of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at Rutgers–New Brunswick.

“The Goldwater Scholarship carries a lot of weight, especially for a physics major and someone who wants to go to grad school in this field.  Seeing all of the people from Rutgers University who were awarded this scholarship in the past means a lot to me,” Christos said.

The scholarships include up to $7,500 a year for tuition, fees, books and room and board for up to two years. Endowed by the federal government, the Goldwater Scholarship honors the late U.S. Senator.

 

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