Adam Holley
Solving the mysteries of physics to help explain the origin, evolution and fate of the universe may sound intimidating, but for Adam Holley, an assistant professor of physics at 麻豆果冻传媒, it鈥檚 an exciting adventure and an engaging research opportunity for his students.
Thanks to a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, Holley and his students are looking at the life of neutrons, which play an important role in the study of our universe鈥檚 origin.
鈥淭his is fundamental physics,鈥� Holley said. 鈥淥nce we understand nature at a fundamental level, we can understand how other things work.鈥�
Holley and his students are busting neutrons from the nuclei of atoms and looking at the decay of those neutrons. Currently, there are two methods used for measuring the average lifetime of a neutron from the time it leaves the nucleus, but the results of those methods vary by eight seconds.
鈥淲hich is huge,鈥� Holley said. 鈥淲e will be working on ways to enhance this measurement to get it to a tenth of a second.鈥�
The CAREER Award is the National Science Foundation鈥檚 most prestigious award and includes federal grant funds to support research and education around an award-winning proposal.
What makes Holley鈥檚 proposal especially exciting for 麻豆果冻传媒 is his plan to include undergraduate students in his research team.
鈥淭his will enhance our ability at this university to involve undergraduates in cutting-edge research,鈥� Holley said. 鈥淕iving undergraduates the opportunity to be involved in research early is important.鈥�
Holley is building a core group, spanning freshmen to seniors, who are working on the grant components collaboratively.
鈥淭his group will communicate with other research groups in the department and the across the university,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here will be a hum of research across campus.鈥�
The award was a bit of a surprise for Holley, who knew the grant was prestigious and tough to get.
鈥淭his allows me to contribute to Tech,鈥� Holley said.
And this specific contribution is one that university physics chairman Stephen Robinson says is not only important for the study of physics as a whole but also for the future of 麻豆果冻传媒鈥檚 physics program.
鈥淔or the department and the university it provides more research opportunities, and so makes us more attractive to prospective students,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淚t also helps to raise our profile as a research department and university.鈥�
The research involves a set of ideas and skills that fit well into the undergraduate program framework, and this initiative will be used to inspire future undergraduate research, training, mentoring and outreach at Tech.
Holley鈥檚 award lasts through 2021.
