The project aims to explore physics beyond the standard model using data from the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It uses a Python-based software package developed at UCL, to enable advanced analysis and visualisation of collider data. This project is very productive in terms of scientific results and publications. It sits between theoretical and experimental physics, making direct funding challenging, that is why it is great to get an intern/ PhD student, it helps, so that I don’t have to do all the work myself.
Professor Jonathan Butterworth
Jon, can you tell me about the project, and what are the benefits of having an intern?
There are multiple benefits of having different people with different levels of experience coming in, looking at the software development project point of view, it helps make the package more usable from a science point of view, it’s really contributing to publications. This work is embedded in CERN’s multinational research ecosystem.
What were Norman’s goals?
Norman worked closely with PhD students and other interns, contributing to both technical development and data analysis. His work involved updating the software interface, generating plots, and checking results with myself and the team.
Norman undertook model analysis: investigating the Inert Doublet Model, a theoretical framework with limited sensitivity in current analyses, and determined the maximum allowed contribution beyond its predicted values. Norman also worked on software improvements: implemented contour visualisation for signal fitting—a recently introduced functionality—to improve the understanding of exclusion limits.
Norman Fediv
Norman, what challenges did you come across during your internship?
I realised as I was reading thousands of lines of code, that I had never done something like that before. I got stuck reading and reading all these code documents, but over time it clicked, and I was able to see the way the code fitted, which was rewarding.
I am most interested in computational physics, and this project has been great for me. There were some challenges working with software. I had worked on coding projects on my own previously, but when you are working with a team on software that involves multiple people that have been contributing over a long period of time, is very different from when you have written every piece of code yourself. Initially, I was thrown in at the deep end, as a week into the internship I was asked to add a feature which meant I had to tinker with the code.
How did you find independent working/ learning?
It built my confidence and resilience. It was a good experience, I found people won’t fault you if you get something wrong, but you will need to come up with a solution, everyone wants to see you succeed if you put the effort in first.
What are your next steps?
I am going into my 4th year, where I will be undertaking a research project. This research internship has been a big influence on the outcome of what I will do going forward, it has given me the clarity that a career in research is what I want to pursue.