Speaker
Description
Breakthroughs in science are invariably the result of novel measurement capabilities. Indeed, the invention of radically new technologies often arises out of attempts to probe beyond the known, and leads to advances in the hands of visionary scientists. In particular, major discoveries in High Energy Physics (HEP) are made using custom state-of-the-art instrumentation. Today, however, the deep culture of innovation in HEP is under threat as many of the scientists involved in detector R&D are reaching the end of their careers. Meanwhile, new cohorts of students have had limited exposure to the complete cycle of conceptual design, prototyping, testing, fabricating, commissioning, and calibrating complex instruments. In this talk, I present the High Energy Physics Consortium for Advanced Training (HEPCAT) a DOE-supported training grant since 2021. The mission of this consortium is to renew this critical workforce by training new students in instrumentation for HEP. HEPCAT comprises 8 University of California campuses, Caltech, Stanford, and 5 DOE labs, providing 2-year fellowships for graduate students. I also provide an overview of the HEPCAT organization and some examples of HEPCAT fellow research.