28 September 1999 Jay Dittmann ('92)

I am currently a Leon M. Lederman Fellow, Fermilab. As a post-doctoral research associate at Fermilab, I am currently part of a huge collaborative effort to upgrade the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) for the next period of proton-antiproton collisions which is expected to begin next year. The CDF detector is used to examine the multitude of particles which are produced when a proton and antiproton collide. By doing so, we hope to learn more about the smallest particles in nature -- quarks and leptons -- and the forces which govern their interactions. Part of my responsibilities includes educating the public about the science we do at Fermilab and why it is important.

Although the overall goals of my work remain the same, the day-to-day nature of my job continually changes. My activities range from giving presentations to computer programming to solving statistics problems to soldering -- and much more! The variations in my work keep it interesting and intellectually stimulating.

After graduating from VU in '92, I attended graduate school at Duke University for slightly over 6 years. Upon obtaining my PhD I started my current position at Fermilab.

During my years at VU, I came to realize that I was interested in either experimental nuclear physics or high energy physics. Graduate school seemed to be a natural next step. VU physics prepared me well through solid coursework and summer research experience. Even more importantly, the physics faculty at VU were excellent role models for me, as I would someday like to teach at the university level.

Jay