Scientists at Fermilab get funding for collaborations

Scientists at the University, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory have been awarded $270,000 for new and continued joint research projects through the University’s Strategic Collaborative Initiatives program for Fermilab.

The research projects cover a broad range of studies and include one collaborative project with an Argonne scientist.

Proposals receiving grants and their principal investigators are: “Fundamental Studies of the Interfacial Oxidation Chemistry of Niobium and the Influence Such Oxidation Has on High-performance Superconducting RF Materials,” Steven Sibener, Carl William Eisendrath Professor in Chemistry and Director of the James Franck Institute, and Lance Cooley, SRF Materials Group Leader, Technical Division, Fermilab.

“The Development of Ultra-Fast Timing Detectors,” Henry Frisch, Professor in Physics and the Enrico Fermi Institute; Erik Ramberg, Scientist II, Particle Physics Division, Fermilab; and Karen Byrum, Scientist, High Energy Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory.

“Absolute Measurement of Air Fluorescence Yield for Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays,” Paolo Privitera, Professor in Astronomy & Astrophysics, and Carlos Hojvat, Scientist II, Particle Physics Division, Fermilab.

The proposals were selected on the basis of the importance of the work, whether the collaboration creates a more powerful or convincing research program than working independently, and the potential to achieve an ongoing collaboration. The first two projects are continuations, and the third is new.

The University has developed the grant program as part of the Fermi Research Alliance, LLC laboratory management contract, and a similar program was established for Argonne as part of the UChicago Argonne, LLC management contract.

Strategic Collaborative Initiatives grants further collaboration between University researchers and scientists at Argonne and Fermilab to create more powerful research programs in areas that support the scientific priorities of both laboratories.

The University has committed $1.5 million per year, and $7.5 million, collectively, over a five-year period toward the establishment of Strategic Collaborative Initiatives that include shared research projects, strategic joint appointments and joint institutes.