Case study: Dr Andy Buckley

University Research Fellow 2013 – 2021
University of Glasgow
Boosting discovery prospects for Higgs -> bb and new physics at the LHC

Andy is a Senior Lecturer in the Particle Physics Experiment research group at the University of Glasgow and has an interest in understanding what new physics lies beyond the Standard Model of physics, by ensuring a solid understanding of established physics that is nevertheless very difficult to calculate.

Andy is working to resolve several questions surrounding the bottom quark, a type of elementary particle which is a frequent decay product of the Higgs boson. His research involves taking different measurements of how bottom quarks are produced, and how they radiate and decay: this enables improvements to computational models used for detecting new physics that interact with bottom quarks. Additionally, Andy and his group work on re-interpreting data from the ATLAS experiment, part of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, against simulations of new physics for use in several different international interpretation projects. For Andy it is important to continue to improve the accuracy of LHC experiment measurements, the ways results are reported and the systems to analyse the data, so as to ensure the public investment in the LHC programme provides lasting impact and a resounding legacy.

“My Fellowship absolutely revolutionised my research, giving me the freedom to explore ideas with a longer timescale to results than viable in short-term posts, and enabling development of important systems and tools for LHC physics. The Royal Society professional development schemes were another excellent component of the fellowship, and helped me place my research in the wider context of my research as I took on positions of greater formal responsibility.”