Hello Knox physics!

It was nice to get the newsletter. Sounds like the physics department is
still going strong there. It's been a while since I've communicated so
I'd thought I better send a couple words.

So, I finished my Ph.D.! I graduated from Cornell in May. As I think I
had posted before, my Dissertation was entitled "The Preservation of
Emittance and Polarization in the International Linear Collider." It was
a great thesis and working on an international project exposed me to
people all over the world. That last year was really busy but it's all
over now.

So, after graduating I realized that this would be the first time since
I was five years old that I would no longer be a student! I figured the
best way to prolong the inevitable of starting a real life was to do a
postdoc. I wanted to stay in the field of High Energy Accelerator
Physics and I had several options, including Cornell, CERN, Oxford and
Stanford (SLAC). The Oxford position was appealing because it was
emphasized to me that it could turn into a faculty position. But
ultimately, I chose SLAC since I love the area and SLAC has experts in
virtually every aspect of the field -- a real chance to further my
development. It's also a great working environment (unlike the
bureaucracy you'll get at a place like CERN).

My main project is on the LHC collimation system. Phase I is being
installed right now but in order to get up to full current, the system
must be upgraded and the SLAC collimator design is the prime candidate.
Needless to say, it's going to require plenty of travel to CERN. I'm
also nominally continuing a bit of my time on ILC design.

I must say that after spending 6 years at Cornell, I think I chose well
to attend a small liberal art college for my undergrad. The personal
education you get is invaluable. At large institutions, the undergrads
are basically pushed to the periphery. The emphasis is on the grad
students. I sometimes wonder if I would have gotten where I am today if
I had chosen to attend a large university for my undergrad!

I really do hope to get back to Knox some day. I travel home to Chicago
every winter but it's when classes are not in session so I don't bother
to trek over. I'll be sure to let you know when I get a chance.