Three teams of University of Chicago and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory researchers recently received $225,000, collectively, in Strategic Collaborative Initiative (SCI) seed grants following a rigorous competition managed by Fermilab and the University.
The SCI program, begun in 2005 when the University renewed its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage Argonne, encourages intellectual synergies that support the strategic objectives of both institutions. The program funds not only collaborative research projects, but also strategic joint appointments, and joint institutes. The University extended the program to Fermilab when it became co-manager of the laboratory in 2006.
The 2011 Fermilab-University recipients include:
Title: Simulating the Universe with Realistic Physics
University of Chicago Investigator: Andrey Kravtsov, Associate Professor, Astronomy and Astrophysics
Fermilab Investigator: Nickolay Gnedin, Scientist I, Theoretical Astrophysics Group
Title: Understanding Ultrahigh Quality Factor Accelerator Cavities in the Quantum Regime
University of Chicago Investigator: David Schuster, Assistant Professor, Physics
Fermilab Investigator: Lance Cooley, Scientist, Superconducting Materials Department
Title: A New Photodetection System for PET Imaging Using Silicon Photomultipliers
University of Chicago Investigator: Chin-Tu Chen, Associate Professor, Radiology
Fermilab Investigator: Erik Ramberg, Scientist II, Particle Physics Division
The University is an active research partner with both Fermilab and Argonne. Fermilab and the University have approximately 13 joint appointments and affiliations. More than 120 faculty members, other academic personnel, and staff members have joint appointments between the University and Argonne.