11/05/07 Claire Timlin - RECFA Meeting 1

A PhD in Experimental A PhD in Experimental Particle PhysicsParticle Physics

Claire Timlin

Imperial College

11/05/07 Claire Timlin - RECFA Meeting 2

Who Am I?

What Do I Do?

What Did I Do Before my

PhD?

Why Choose A PhD?

Why Experimental Particle Physics?

Why Imperial College?

Introduction

11/05/07 Claire Timlin - RECFA Meeting 3

•Theory Lectures

•Introduction to Experiments at IC

•Computing Lectures

•Gseps!

•Testing CMS ECAL Crystals at IC

•Pick Experiment

•Testing Crystals in Rome

•Learning to code C++ at CERN

•Learning to use Root and CMS Software

•Analysis of Test Beam Data

•Write up of Crystal Results

•Validation of Electron and Photon Objects in CMS Software

•Investigation of Track to EM Cluster Matching Efficiency

W’→eν analysis…

Outreach

1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year

11/05/07 Claire Timlin - RECFA Meeting 4

Atmosphere at CERN

Working on CMS at the Such an

Interesting Time

Enjoying What I Do Every day – Well Almost!

Contributing to a Field of

Study I Really Care About

Working in Different Countries

Learning Many New

Skills

Working with People Who are Truly Passionate

About What They Do

Close Working Groups with

People from ICThe Best

Bits!

11/05/07 Claire Timlin - RECFA Meeting 5

Lack of Computing Tutorials at Beginning

of PhD

GSEPS

•Good Idea in Principle

•System Needs Reworking

Admin!

• Often Required to Submit the Same Information Twice

• 6 Weeks’ Advance Notice of Any Trip

Pay

(Structure Rather than Amount)

The Worst Bits!

11/05/07 Claire Timlin - RECFA Meeting 6

Pros and Cons of Staying in Particle Physics

Pros ConsFlexibility Insecurity

Continuing to Work in an Interesting and Diverse Field

Finance for UK Post Docs

Opportunities to Travel Necessity to Travel Away from Family

Working in International Collaborations with Motivated People

11/05/07 Claire Timlin - RECFA Meeting 7

• So, has doing a PhD been worth it?– Diverse range of skills– Enthusiastic colleagues– Buzzing working atmosphere

• What am I planning to do next?– Lots of thinking still to do– I want to continue working in the

field… …but will job insecurity, the

constant need to travel away from family and finances make it too difficult?

Summary

Hmm?

YES!

11/05/07 Claire Timlin - RECFA Meeting 8

Any Questions?