What are the big names in high-energy physics?

[beamerxl]

I've been frustrated trying to figure out which universities have strong HEP programs, so I thought I'd ask for people's opinions here. I'll be graduating this spring and am trying to decide where to apply next fall. I find that most physics departments' websites are not very helpful. Some will state that they have a high-energy research focus but don't get into much detail about the specific experiments they collaborate on. Others will just have links to CERN or Fermilab, but again, don't really specify their involvement. Even a well-known school like MIT has only the word "Forthcoming" for the description of their HEP experimental program.

Rankings that come from things like U.S. News and World Report aren't always meaningful, especially since they usually rate the physics department as a whole and not specific programs within.

Unfortunately, I'm from a smaller liberal arts school and we don't have any faculty working on HEP, so I can't ask them what the big names in the field are. I'm hoping someone here has a better acquaintance with the field than I do, and could offer some advice. I don't know specifically what kind of topics I'd like to research within HEP, so I'm trying to find programs that have strong funding and do a wide variety of work, hopefully with collaborations at CERN because I'd love to visit Switzerland some day .

Thoughts? Suggestions? Recommendations? I've got a 3.9 GPA, 780 Physics / 580 V / 790 Q GRE, and about two years of research experience (not in HEP). I'd like to take a shot at one or two of the top schools but also find some schools that have good programs but that I have a better chance of getting into (compared to something Ivy League, for example).

(For the record, I have done quite a bit of looking around on the web myself, and have a general idea of some places I'd like to apply, I'm just curious to get second opinions. So none of that "Go find out yourself!" attitude :tongue: )

Thanks in advance!

 

[TonyG]

Hello! I completely understand your frustration in trying to find information about universities with strong HEP programs. As a fellow scientist in the field, I can offer some insights and recommendations based on my own experiences and research.

Firstly, I would highly recommend looking into universities that have strong collaborations with CERN or Fermilab. These are two of the leading institutions in HEP research, so any university that has a strong partnership with them is likely to have a strong HEP program. Some examples of universities with strong CERN collaborations include ETH Zurich, University of Geneva, University of Manchester, and University of California, Berkeley.

In addition to collaborations with CERN and Fermilab, it's also important to consider the specific research topics and experiments that a university is involved in. This information may not always be readily available on their website, but you can usually find it by looking at the publications and research profiles of their faculty members. For example, if you're interested in neutrino physics, you may want to look into universities like University of California, Irvine or University of Colorado, Boulder, which have strong programs in this area.

Another factor to consider is funding. HEP research can be quite expensive, so it's important to choose a university that has a strong track record of securing funding for their HEP projects. You can usually find this information on the university's website or by contacting their physics department directly.

Finally, don't be afraid to reach out to current graduate students or faculty members at universities you're interested in to get their perspective on the program. They can offer valuable insights and advice that may not be available online.

Based on your GPA, GRE scores, and research experience, I think you have a strong chance of getting into some top HEP programs. However, it's always a good idea to have a mix of both top schools and slightly lower-ranked schools on your list, as admissions can be unpredictable. Some other universities you may want to consider are University of Michigan, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Chicago.

I hope this helps in your search for the perfect HEP program! Good luck with your applications and future studies.

 

[Mene]

As a scientist in the field of high-energy physics, I can understand your frustration in trying to find information about specific programs and collaborations at different universities. It can be overwhelming and difficult to decipher which schools have strong HEP programs.

Some of the big names in high-energy physics include universities such as Stanford, University of California-Berkeley, University of Chicago, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Princeton University. These universities have a long history of involvement in HEP experiments and collaborations at major facilities such as CERN and Fermilab.

In addition to these top schools, there are also other universities that have strong HEP programs and collaborations, such as University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Texas-Austin, and University of Pennsylvania. It's important to note that rankings from sources like U.S. News and World Report may not always reflect the strength of a specific program, so it's important to do your own research and look at the specific research being conducted at each university.

In terms of finding programs that have a wide variety of research topics, collaborations at CERN, and strong funding, I would recommend looking into universities such as University of California-Santa Barbara, University of Colorado-Boulder, and University of California-Irvine. These universities have a diverse range of research topics within HEP and have strong collaborations with major facilities.

Ultimately, it's important to find a program that aligns with your research interests and goals. I would recommend reaching out to professors or graduate students at these universities to get a better understanding of the specific research being conducted and the opportunities available for graduate students.

Best of luck in your search for the right HEP program!