The laboratory’s prominent role in neutrino research is further evidenced by the lineage of NuSTEC leadership.
Pandey’s appointment builds upon 16 years dedicated to neutrino-nucleus cross-section physics, bringing sustained expertise to NuSTEC’s leadership.
NuSTEC’s role, as current co-spokesperson Natalie Jachowicz of Ghent University in Belgium notes, is to provide a platform for collaborative progress.
This commitment to education and technological innovation reflects NuSTEC’s broader goal of achieving progress in neutrino research.
Vishvas Pandey, NuSTEC co-spokesperson
Fermilab associate scientist Vishvas Pandey will bring 16 years of focused expertise in neutrino-nucleus cross-section physics to his new role as co-spokesperson of the Neutrino Scattering Theory Experiment Collaboration, or NuSTEC. The international initiative fosters collaboration between theorists and experimentalists working on particle accelerator-based neutrino research programs, with a key focus on advancing precision for experiments like the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment hosted at Fermilab. “NuSTEC has played an important role in my professional and scientific development,” Pandey said, “and it is a genuine privilege for me to help continue supporting and strengthening our community and our mission in this role.” Fermilab’s central role in NuSTEC’s growth is underscored by the contributions of past co-spokespersons Jorge Morfin and Jonathan Paley, demonstrating the laboratory’s sustained commitment to unraveling the mysteries of these elusive particles.
Vishvas Pandey Elected NuSTEC Co-Spokesperson
Pandey, currently an associate scientist and Wilson Fellow at Fermilab, will help guide the international initiative dedicated to bridging experimental and theoretical approaches to particle accelerator-based neutrino research. NuSTEC’s central goal is to enhance the accuracy of neutrino-interaction physics, a critical need as the field prepares for data from the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, a major undertaking hosted by Fermilab.
The laboratory’s prominent role in neutrino research is further evidenced by the lineage of NuSTEC leadership. Pandey notes that Fermilab scientists, from founding co-spokesperson Jorge Morfin to outgoing co-spokesperson Jonathan Paley, have played a central role in shaping NuSTEC into the strong international collaboration it is today. Pandey began his tenure at Fermilab through a Wilson Fellowship and emphasizes the natural alignment between his career trajectory and NuSTEC’s mission, stating, “In this way, my career has naturally evolved at the intersection of theory and experiment—the same intersection that NuSTEC was created to support.” Looking ahead, Pandey intends to prioritize experiments like DUNE and Hyper-Kamiokande in Japan as they approach operational status.
He also plans to foster innovation within the collaboration by exploring the application of artificial intelligence. “New tools, including AI and machine learning, are beginning to play an important role in neutrino interaction studies,” Pandey said, suggesting a new working group dedicated to this emerging area.
In this way, my career has naturally evolved at the intersection of theory and experiment – the same intersection that NuSTEC was created to support. Vishvas Pandey
NuSTEC Advances Precision Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering
NuSTEC’s current efforts center on refining the precision of neutrino-nucleus scattering measurements, a critical undertaking for unraveling the properties of these elusive particles and the fundamental forces governing the universe. Scientists rely on observing the infrequent collisions between neutrinos and atomic nuclei, a process complicated by the complex behavior within those nuclei; these interactions produce faint signals within massive detectors, requiring precise theoretical understanding to accurately interpret. Pandey’s appointment builds upon 16 years dedicated to neutrino-nucleus cross-section physics, bringing sustained expertise to NuSTEC’s leadership. “Now is the time to move the focus to that next generation and concentrate on how we can enable these experiments to achieve discovery-level precision,” Pandey stated, highlighting the urgency of improving theoretical models. Recognizing the evolving landscape of scientific tools, Pandey intends to explore the integration of artificial intelligence into NuSTEC’s workflow. This initiative, alongside the upcoming NuSTEC School for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, aims to foster collaboration and train the next generation of scientists in the intricacies of neutrino interaction physics, ensuring continued progress in this challenging field.
Now is the time to move the focus to that next generation and concentrate on how we can enable these experiments to achieve discovery-level precision. Vishvas Pandey
DUNE and Hyper-Kamiokande Drive Next-Generation Focus
Fermilab associate scientist Pandey brings 16 years of dedicated research into neutrino-nucleus cross-section physics to the role, positioning NuSTEC to maximize the precision of upcoming observations. “During my term, our experiments, DUNE and Hyper-Kamiokande in Japan, will begin approaching operation,” Pandey said, outlining a strategic shift toward enabling discovery-level precision in these large-scale endeavors. The importance of precise neutrino interaction physics stems from the challenges of studying these elusive particles; they rarely interact with matter, requiring massive detectors to capture even a few collisions. Understanding these interactions, Pandey explained, is crucial because the nucleus itself is a complex target, potentially distorting the signals researchers use to infer neutrino properties. This need for accuracy extends beyond particle physics, connecting to astrophysics and the study of extreme cosmic events like supernova explosions.
NuSTEC’s role, as current co-spokesperson Natalie Jachowicz of Ghent University in Belgium notes, is to provide a platform for collaborative progress. Pandey intends to explore how emerging technologies can further enhance NuSTEC’s capabilities, specifically through the creation of a working group dedicated to artificial intelligence. This commitment to fostering innovation is further demonstrated by plans to host the NuSTEC School at Fermilab, a training program designed to cultivate the next generation of neutrino physicists in both theoretical modeling and data analysis.
In our experiments, these interactions occur inside large detectors and produce tiny flashes and particle tracks that allow researchers to infer the neutrino’s properties. Vishvas Pandey
AI and Training Expand NuSTEC’s Research Capacity
NuSTEC’s expanding research capacity is now being bolstered by advancements in artificial intelligence and a renewed emphasis on training the next generation of scientists, positioning the international collaboration to maximize the potential of upcoming experiments. Vishvas Pandey, the newly elected co-spokesperson, intends to establish a dedicated working group focused on integrating AI into neutrino interaction studies, recognizing its growing importance in the field. He explained that a core mission of NuSTEC is to support this very intersection. This commitment to education and technological innovation reflects NuSTEC’s broader goal of achieving progress in neutrino research. Precise understanding of neutrino-nucleus scattering is crucial, as complex nuclear effects can distort signals in detectors and impact the accuracy of neutrino property measurements. By leveraging AI and investing in training, NuSTEC aims to refine these measurements and unlock new insights into the fundamental properties of these elusive particles, with implications extending to astrophysics and our understanding of the universe.
New tools, including AI and machine learning, are beginning to play an important role in neutrino interaction studies. Vishvas Pandey, NuSTEC co-spokesperson
