202 FRIB Graduate Brochure

Director’s welcome
Why do atoms exist? Where did they come from? What do
their properties tell us about the laws of nature? How can we
use accelerator technology and related technology to solve
society’s problems? These are fundamental questions that
graduate-student research in nuclear science, radiochemistry, and
accelerator science at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB)
will answer. What we do and how we answer these questions will
have major implications for our understanding of nature and for
how we address issues related to security, energy, and health.
During the past half-century, researchers were confined
to work with a few hundred isotopes, but now thousands
of new nuclei not found naturally (rare isotopes) are
accessible for experimental research. FRIB, funded by the
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE-SC),
is a pioneer in this new field of rare isotope research and
has world-unique capabilities. What we have learned so
far has had a dramatic impact on how we model atomic
nuclei and understand astrophysical environments. Even
more significant advances are on the way as in the near
future close to 80 percent of all isotopes of elements from
hydrogen to uranium will be available at Michigan State
University (MSU).
This is possible because MSU has established and operates
the next-generation FRIB as a user facility for the U.S.
DOE-SC, supporting the mission of the DOE-SC Office
of Nuclear Physics. FRIB builds upon the expertise and
achievements of the National Superconducting Cyclotron
Laboratory (NSCL), a National Science Foundation (NSF)
user facility at MSU which operated until 2020. FRIB looks
beyond NSCL’s discoveries to envision the next-generation
technology needed for next-generation rare isotope
experiments. Experiments will begin at FRIB when user
operation commences in early 2022.
FRIB is the most powerful rare isotope beam facility and
MSU is poised to become the world hub for rare-isotope
scientists. FRIB opens a vast terrain of unchartered science
to experimental investigations. Today, the ground work
for these discoveries is done by graduate study at FRIB in
nuclear theory, experiment, and accelerator science.
As a DOE-SC national user facility on the campus of
MSU, the laboratory offers unparalleled education and
research opportunities to graduate students, who routinely
meet and work side-by-side with leading researchers in
nuclear physics, nuclear astrophysics, nuclear chemistry,
accelerator physics, and engineering.
Graduate students from the Physics & Astronomy and
Chemistry departments, as well as from the College of
Engineering, conduct research in experimental, theoretical,
and astrophysical nuclear physics, nuclear chemistry, as
well as in accelerator science and engineering and applied
research. Students apply for graduate degrees through
the appropriate MSU department, and FRIB faculty have
joint appointments with FRIB and the corresponding MSU
department. FRIB hosts the Joint Institute for Nuclear
Astrophysics – Center for the Evolution of the Elements
(JINA-CEE), and is the center for the FRIB Theory Alliance.
There is no better way to begin a career in science than
learning and working at a world-leading user facility that
attracts scientists from all over the world in the pursuit
of their research. You will watch, participate in, and lead
discoveries of things no one knew before. In the process
you will develop skills and connections that will enable
you to excel in a wide variety of exciting careers.
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are a
priority for the laboratory. As a federally funded laboratory
and university, we believe it is imperative that the student
body and workforce are representative of our nation’s
makeup. Users, visitors, students, and employees at the
FRIB Laboratory share a common interest—to contribute
to society through scientific discovery. This venture is best
conducted when everyone is included and valued, and
behaves in a welcoming and respectful manner. Creating
a collegial, inclusive, safe, and supportive environment is
everyone’s responsibility. FRIB wants to be a role model
for DEIB in nuclear physics and develop scalable strategies.
Read more about our efforts on page 22.
Please read through the profiles of our faculty and
description of their forefront research. You will see how
we address the big questions, and we hope you consider
joining us in finding answers.
Thomas Glasmacher, FRIB Laboratory Director
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