By Elizabeth Syson | Echo
(Photograph by Tabitha Hillebrand)
Colliding protons, antimatter and a Taylor student: these are all things that will be found at the CERN-"Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire," or European Council for Nuclear Research-this summer. Jordan Melendez was selected as one of 10 American undergraduates to complete a summer internship at CERN. Located in Switzerland, CERN is the largest research facility in particle physics, known for the discovery of the Higgs boson, or "God particle," and the invention of the World Wide Web.
Melendez, a junior physics major from Elyria, Ohio, began preparing for this internship over a year ago when he first found the application online. He was too late to apply for last year's program. Instead, he spent that summer working for Ken Kiers, department chair and professor of physics in the Physics and Engineering department, performing research in particle physics along with senior Sam Judge, another student hired to work on the project.
Because Taylor has no classes on particle physics, Melendez applied himself over the summer to learn the material and accustom himself to the research environment.
"We worked on some of the theoretical work that complements the experimental work that's going on at CERN," Melendez said. "I feel like that's really what helped, because not many people do that at the undergraduate level."
The internship will involve analyzing data gathered at CERN. Although Melendez does not have a specific project assignment yet, he is preparing for the internship this semester by studying quantum field theory, which is fundamental to the research at CERN.
"It's a tough one, so I want to know as much as I can about it before I go," Melendez explained.
Kiers, who wrote a recommendation letter for Melendez and taught him particle physics, believes Melendez is highly qualified for the internship and its demands.
"(CERN) is the center of the particle physics universe at the moment," Kiers said.
Kiers expressed hopes that the internship will help Melendez on his way to graduate school as well as giving him valuable global engagement experience.
"I'm really excited for the opportunities this is going to generate after I come back, with graduate school and future careers," Melendez said. Melendez said the internship is intimidating, but he is looking forward to the opportunity. Melendez hopes to attend graduate school and become a professor of physics.
Previous Taylor students to study at CERN include Jeff Kolb ('02), who did postdoctoral research there, and David ('07) and Callie (Bradley, '06) Bertsche, who are both currently researching at CERN for doctorates. Melendez will be the first to go as an undergraduate.
When asked what enabled him to take on this challenge, Melendez answered, "A lot of late nights! . . . It's taken a lot of dedication and a lot of help from my professors and fellow students to help me get through."
Melendez will fly to Switzerland June 6 and return August 10. He hopes to share his experience with interested students and faculty when he returns in the fall.
