EPIC: Exploring particle Physics Integrated with Computing

America/Chicago
Breese Quinn (University of Mississippi), Gavin Davies (University of Mississippi), Jake Bennett (University of Mississippi)
Description

The EPIC summer program will introduce students to research at the intersection of physics,ย scientific software, and computing. Participants will work with mentors on a focused project connected to modernย experimental physics workflows, gaining experience with data analysis, reproducible research, and collaborativeย problem-solving. The program is intended to provide an accessibleย entry point for students who may not yet have prior research experience.

Participants should expect to:

  • Attend an introductory orientation covering the scientific context, project goals, and computing environment
  • Complete guided tutorials in Python, data analysis, version control, and research documentation
  • Work on a defined EPIC research or software task with regular mentor support
  • Participate in daily meetings to discuss progress, troubleshoot issues, and learn about related career paths
  • Maintain a short project log and prepare a final presentation or poster summarizing their work

ย 

Participants will receive a stipend to cover the cost of living while attending the one-week program. Additional support for travel expenses is available on an as-needed basis.

To apply for the program, click the registration link on the left side of the page and complete the necessary forms. Applicants who are admitted to the program will receive additional details later.

Sessions will be held in CSTI 135/137: https://map.olemiss.edu/?id=562#!m/13272802?share

Registration
EPIC 2026 registration
    • 1
      Welcome and introduction
      Speakers: Gavin Davies (University of Mississippi), Jake Bennett (University of Mississippi)
    • 2
      Particle physics: the big picture
      Speaker: Jake Bennett (University of Mississippi)
    • 10:00
      Coffee
    • 3
      Tools of the trade: the unix command line
      Speaker: Logan Benninghoff (University of Mississippi)
    • 4
      Tools of the trade: git

      Git and GitHub

      Hands-on material

      Please go to the following link where you can find all the necessary material for this practical session.

      Speaker: Johan A. Colorado Caicedo (The University of Mississippi)
    • 5
      Make your own github account/repo

      Git and GitHub

      Hands-on material

      Please go to the following link where you can find all the necessary material for this practical session.

      Speaker: Johan A. Colorado Caicedo (The University of Mississippi)
    • 11:30
      Lunch
    • 6
      Particle physics: the big picture
      Speaker: Gavin Davies (University of Mississippi)
    • 14:15
      Coffee
    • 7
      Tools of the trade: python and jupyter
      Speakers: Gavin Davies (University of Mississippi), Paul Gebeline
    • 8
      Review/game
      Speakers: Gavin Davies (University of Mississippi), Jake Bennett (University of Mississippi)
    • 9
      Recap and questions
    • 10
      Hadronic physics, Belle II, and matter-antimatter asymmetry
      Speaker: Jake Bennett (University of Mississippi)
    • 11
      Belle II detector subsystems
      Speaker: Logan Benninghoff (University of Mississippi)
    • 10:15
      Coffee
    • 12
      Belle II analysis tutorial
      Speakers: Jake Bennett (University of Mississippi), Paul Gebeline
    • 13
      Team formation and project assignment
      Speaker: Jake Bennett (University of Mississippi)
    • 11:30
      Lunch
    • 14
      Team project work: data, questions, and first plots
    • 15
      Team check-in and wrap-up
    • 16
      Recap and questions
      Speaker: Jake Bennett (University of Mississippi)
    • 17
      What is a neutrino, and why is it hard to detect?
      Speaker: Gavin Davies (University of Mississippi)
    • 10:00
      Coffee
    • 18
      Neutrino oscillation tutorial: flavor change, baselines, and energy
      Speaker: Gavin Davies (University of Mississippi)
    • 11:30
      Lunch
    • 19
      Team project work: refine analysis, make plots, document results
    • 20
      Team check-in and wrap-up
    • 21
      Recap and project status check
      Speaker: Jake Bennett (University of Mississippi)
    • 22
      Science communication: building a clear poster story
      Speaker: Dr Jeremy Scott
    • 10:30
      Coffee
    • 23
      Science communication: explaining your research to a non-expert
      Speaker: Gavin Davies (University of Mississippi)
    • 24
      Discussion/questions
    • 11:30
      Lunch
    • 25
      Science communication: science advocacy
    • 26
      Team project work: wrap-up analysis and prepare poster
    • 27
      Final poster checklist
    • 28
      QuarkNet: welcome, coffee, conversation
    • 29
      QuarkNet: where is Higgs?
    • 30
      QuarkNet: Higgs, what have we learned
    • 11:30
      Lunch
    • 31
      QuarkNet: masterclass
    • 32
      EPIC graduate school panel discussion
    • 33
      EPIC photo and farewells