Nivedha Vasanth
The DaRin Butz Foundation supports the Illinois Scholars Undergraduate Research (ISUR) Program at The Grainger College of Engineering, funding women undergraduate students to pursue research in science and engineering. Nivedha Vasanth, a junior in physics from Lincolnshire, Illinois, was chosen as one of this year’s DaRin Butz Foundation Research Scholars and is dedicating her time this summer to work on particle physics research at UIUC.
"My research is on upgrading the Reaction Plane Detector (RPD) for the High-Luminosity Zero Degree Calorimeter (HL-ZDC) in the ATLAS experiment at CERN, which studies quark-gluon plasma in heavy ion collisions," says Nivedha. "The work I do with my peers involves improving the RPD's design, developing a new LED calibration system, and making the detector's components more resistant to radiation." She has been part of this group since December 2023, under the guidance of her research advisor, Riccardo Longo.
As a future student in the undergraduate research seminar - ENG 199, Nivedha will continue to develop her science communication and presentation skills. She will present her work at both the fall Engineering Research Fair and the spring ISUR Research Expo.
Reflecting on her experience as a DaRin Butz Scholar, Nivedha shares, "It has been immensely rewarding. I am honored to conduct research with my team and receive the foundation’s support. This award enables me to join the UIUC team at CERN for the 2025 test beam operation, an invaluable experience. It has strengthened my passion for STEM and allowed me to connect with other women in science." The support from the foundation has opened doors for future opportunities in the field of particle physics.
Nivedha's future plans include detector testing at CERN next summer and attending graduate school. She hopes to work at government agencies like NIST or ANSTO, where she can engage in hands-on experimental work. In addition to her academics, she enjoys reading, baking, and is a member of the Marching Illini trombone section. Being a DaRin Butz Foundation Research Scholar has been a life-changing experience for Nivedha, and she is excited to continue her work.