AJ Zec is a graduate researcher and PhD candidate in nuclear physics currently affiliated with the University of Virginia. Their advisor is Professor Kent Paschke. Their current research interests include experimental nuclear physics, accelerator physics, STEM education and science outreach.
AJ became interested in physics in high school when they were invited by their teacher to create an independent experiment detecting cosmic muons. In 2011 they enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Amherst quickly deciding to major in physics. They first became involved in research in 2012, joining professor Andrea Pocar's group participating on in the Darkside collaboration, with its experiment at the LNGS laboratory in Italy. They graudated UMass in May 2015 with a bachelor of science in physics, and a bachelor of arts in computer science.
AJ enrolled as a graduate student in physics at the University of Virginia in the Fall of 2015. After their first year they joined up with professor Paschke's group, participating on the PREX-II and CREX experiments, measuring neutron skins employing the parity violating electron scattering technique. They are currently involved in maintaining the compton polarimeter DAQ, data and analysis necessary to control key systematics for these two experiments.
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AJ Zec
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AJ's personal stylized logo
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PREX/CREX Collaboration Role
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Primary responsibilities
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Compton DAQ maintenance Compton photon detector maintenance Compton analysis expert
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Other responsibilities
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Expert shift worker Compton laser operator
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Collaborator since
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April 2016
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Graduate Information
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Institution
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University of Virginia
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Years
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2015-present
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Research Advisor
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Kent Paschke
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Undergraduate Information
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Institution
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University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Years
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2011-2015
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Research Advisor(s)
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Andrea Pocar Laura Cadonati
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Degrees conferred
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B.S. Physics B.A. Computer Science
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Other Education
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Institution
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Medford High School
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Years
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2007-2011
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Degree conferred
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High school diploma
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