Reyes, a sixth-year PhD student in the Formaggio Group at MIT’s Laboratory for Nuclear Science, focuses on neutrinos—elusive particles with minimal mass that hardly interact with matter. Produced during radioactive decay, including processes in nuclear reactors, neutrinos are challenging to detect. Despite their rarity, they offer insights into phenomena beyond the Standard Model of particle physics, which accurately describes many fundamental forces and particles but is not fully complete.
As part of the Ricochet neutrino experiment, Reyes collaborates internationally to study neutrinos from a nuclear reactor in Grenoble, France. The goal is to observe coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering, improving our understanding of these particles and the fundamental workings of the universe.
Reyes initially envisioned a different path for her research but adapted when the project she intended to join fell behind schedule. She shifted her focus to the Ricochet experiment, spending three months in France to learn about its detectors. As the experiment grew from two to 18 detectors, she recognized the need for automation in monitoring and analysis.
With a colleague, she developed a software framework that streamlined these repetitive tasks, significantly deepening her understanding of the experimental workings. This experience allowed Reyes to transition from a learner to a contributor, earning the trust of her collaborators and enhancing her value within the Ricochet team.
The connections Reyes has made at MIT and through the Ricochet collaboration have been particularly rewarding, fostering critical thinking and helping her grow as a physicist.
