Baylor Physicists Win Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics
Four physicists with Baylor’s Experimental High Energy Physics group join more than 13,000 CERN collaborators honored for groundbreaking discoveries at the Large Hadron Collider
The Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics team, Jay Dittmann Ph.D., Jonathan Wilson, Ph.D., Andrew Brinkerhoff, Ph.D. and Kenichi Hatakeyama, Ph.D. (Photo Credit: Baylor University/Matthew Minard)
Contact: Baylor University Media & Public Relations, 254-710-1961
Follow us: @BaylorUMedia on X and LinkedIn
Baylor University physicists Jay R. Dittmann, Ph.D., Kenichi Hatakeyama, Ph.D., Andrew Brinkerhoff, Ph.D. and Jonathan Wilson, Ph.D., are among more than 13,000 global researchers recognized with the prestigious Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for their contributions to CERN’s ATLAS, CMS, ALICE, and LHCb experiments.
Often called the “Oscars of Science,” the Breakthrough Prize honors pioneering discoveries that deepen the understanding of the universe. This year’s award shines a spotlight on transformative research at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, including the confirmation of the symmetry-breaking mechanism that gives particles mass, discoveries of new strongly interacting particles, insights into rare processes and matter-antimatter asymmetry, and bold explorations of nature at its most extreme.
Dittmann, Hatakeyama, Brinkerhoff and Wilson conduct research as part of Baylor’s Experimental High Energy Physics (HEP) group, which is deeply involved in cutting-edge research at CERN’s Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment. Their work focuses on probing the properties of the Higgs boson and other elementary particles, while also searching for new physics, such as the origin of dark matter.
“We are incredibly honored that our Baylor High Energy Physics team is part of this remarkable global achievement,” Dittmann said. “This award is a testament to the dedication and collaborative spirit of scientists worldwide who are united in their pursuit of uncovering the universe’s most profound mysteries. It’s an exciting time to represent Baylor in such an extraordinary effort.”
“The Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics not only honors those who have made profound contributions to human knowledge, the ‘Oscars of Science’ also brings scientific achievements to a broader audience and inspires future scientists,” said Lorin Swint Matthews, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Baylor. “We are proud of the accomplishments of the High Energy Physics team and greatly appreciate the world-class research opportunities and training they provide to Baylor students.”
Since Baylor joined the CMS experiment in 2010, Baylor HEP group members – including post-doctoral and Ph.D. students – have played a major role in data analysis, experimental operations and upgrade projects. As of Fall 2024, 10 current and former Baylor postdocs have worked on the CMS experiment, and seven Ph.D. graduate students defended their theses based on their analyses of data collected at CMS. More future opportunities at CERN could be available, too. $1 million of the $3 million Breakthrough Prize allocated specifically to CMS was donated to the CERN & Society Foundation for grants to doctoral students from member institutes, like Baylor, to spend research time at CERN.
Baylor University’s research efforts and reputation continue to grow through national awards and fellowships earned by Baylor faculty and significant research grants addressing global challenges across the spectrum of human need. A preeminent Christian research University, Baylor is one of only 52 private R1 research universities and one of the few distinctly Christian universities recognized among the nation’s top research institutions.
ABOUT THE PROFESSORS
Jay R. Dittmann, Ph.D., is a professor of physics and undergraduate program director at Baylor University, specializing in experimental high-energy physics. He is the founding member of Baylor’s High Energy Physics group, investigating the fundamental particles and forces of the universe using data from the international CMS experiment at CERN. He is presently the Hadron Calorimeter Institution Board Chair for the CMS collaboration.
Kenichi Hatakeyama, Ph.D. is a professor of physics at Baylor University, specializing in experimental high-energy physics. His research encompasses searches for supersymmetry, studies of the Higgs boson and top quark sectors, and the development of advanced data analysis techniques using artificial intelligence. He also contributes to detector operations and upgrades, including work on the hadron calorimeter and high granularity calorimeter systems.
Andrew Brinkerhoff, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of physics at Baylor University, specializing in experimental high-energy physics. Dr. Brinkerhoff is a key member of Baylor’s High Energy Physics group, pursuing investigations of the Higgs boson and a search for lepton-quark scattering using novel machine learning techniques. He leads Baylor’s involvement on the Level 1 Trigger system on CMS.
Jonathan Wilson, Ph.D., will be joining Baylor University as an assistant professor of physics in August 2025. As a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Baylor, Dr. Wilson has carried out searches for indications of new physics involving the top quark and also pursued advanced detector techniques for CMS and for a future experiment.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
The College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University’s largest academic division, consisting of 25 academic departments in the sciences, humanities, fine arts and social sciences, as well as 11 academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. The College’s undergraduate Unified Core Curriculum, which routinely receives top grades in national assessments, emphasizes a liberal education characterized by critical thinking, communication, civic engagement and Christian commitment. Arts & Sciences faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines. Visit the College of Arts & Sciences website.