UBC lead on CERN-ATLAS project to head Physics and Astronomy

UBC’s lead researcher on the ATLAS project – one of two large detectors at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN responsible for discovering the Higgs boson – has been named head of the University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Colin Gay, a leading expert in experimental subatomic and energy frontier physics, will assume the role effective January 1, 2014 for a five-year term.

For the past six years Gay has been involved in designing and running the ATLAS experiment, and in analyzing the massive amount of data generated by the project. After earning his PhD from the University of Toronto, Gay was a CERN associate and a postdoctoral scholar at Harvard University, and the H Taft Assistant and Associate Professor at Yale University. He joined UBC in 2006.

“Colin is deeply committed to UBC Physics and Astronomy and looks forward to working with the department to meet current and future challenges and to advance the department’s undergraduate education, graduate training, and research initiatives,” said Simon M Peacock, Dean of the Faculty of Science, in announcing the appointment.

“I’d also like to express my thanks to Doug Bonn for his great efforts in recruiting and retaining excellent faculty, and for his work advancing the teaching and learning initiatives in the department as head over the past five years.”

The UBC Physics and Astronomy Head search committee consisted of: Harvey Richer, Jeff Young, Carl Michal, Alison Lister, Mike Fryzuk, Ron Parachoniak, Andrew Macdonald, Kelsey Allen.