Lauren DouglasPhD Student on the LHCb experiment

Lauren Douglas - LHCb 1

Introduction

• Currently in 2nd year of PhD• Based at the University of Glasgow, UK• At CERN for 18 months from October 2017• How did I get here?• What do I do now?

Lauren Douglas - LHCb 2

How did I get here?

• Pre degree…• Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science

• Undergraduate degree: University of Warwick, Physics• Started on Maths course, switched to Physics

• Integrated Masters (MPhys BSc) 2:1

• 2010-2014

• Modules I liked best:

• Anything particle physics or QM…

• Anything mathsy...

• Anything programmy…

• Visited CERN as part of degree

Lauren Douglas - LHCb 3

How did I get here?• Undergraduate degree: University of Warwick, Physics• Masters’ project : • Evidence of!"# → %&#'( decays• LHCb experiment• Observation of new

decay mode for very first time – cool! • My first taste of real

experimental particle physics• Didn’t go straight to

PhD…Lauren Douglas - LHCb 4)*+ ,-**

How did I get here?• Selex ES (Now Leonardo UK) –

Edinburgh• Software engineer (2014-2016)• Previous summer internship (2013)• Eurofighter Typhoon CAPTOR-E

nose radar control software• Exposure to engineering lifecycle

and development of good software practice• Experience working with people

from different engineeringfunctions• Very cool stuff, but I missed physics!

And wanted to do more data analysis.Lauren Douglas - LHCb 5

How did I get here?• University of Glasgow

• PhD in experimental particle physics (2016 – 2020)• Offered STFC funded position after interview• STFC funding:

• Science & Technologies Funding Council• Can include a 12-18 month (funded) placement at CERN

known as a Long Term Attachment (LTA) • Positions will be advertised as STFC funded

• Currently in my 2nd year of research, and 6 months into my LTA here at CERN• Still on LHCb experiment, different research topic to my

masters…

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What I do now

• CP Violation • When matter is created from pure energy,

equal amounts of particles and antiparticlesare generated.• But the universe is almost entirely made of

particles – and few antiparticles!• Where did all the antimatter go?• "CP-Violating effects” might explain!• Look for evidence of these

Lauren Douglas - LHCb 7

What I do now• LHCb experiment – one of many at CERN!• Optimised for heavy quark physics (bottom and

charm)• Cone shaped detector as opposed to ATLAS &

others (cylindrical) • Measuring parameters of CP violation in

interactions of heavy quark hadrons• Rare decays - possibly see new physics??• I analyse data using C++ and Python• I am involved in the operation of the detector

and do shifts• I also contribute to detector software

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Summary

• Liked science & computing at school• Obtained physics degree• With emphasis on particle physics & programming modules

• Spent 2 years in the real world gaining software experience• Not compulsory, but has been useful!

• Now STFC funded PhD Student, spending 18 months at CERN

Lauren Douglas - LHCb 9

Thanks for listening!