Priscilla Cushman

Associate Professor of Physics, University of Minnesota, 1993-2000; Professor of Physics, University of Minnesota, 2000- present; Director of Undergraduate Studies, University of Minnesota 2000-2005; Manager of the Low Background Counting Facility, Soudan 2004-present

High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (DOE 2007-2009). Nat. Sciences and Eng. Research Council of Canada - Review of SNOLab DEAP/CLEAN collab (2008).Convenor: Radiopurity Planning for the NSF DUSEL S4 Solicitation (2007-8). University of Wisconsin (Madison) High Energy Physics Review (2007). Argonne Lab DOE Review (2006). PI of Counting Facilities Working Group, for NSF DUSEL Solicitation 1 (2004-2006).NSF Division of Particle and Nuclear Astrophysics Review panel (2005).NSF-DOE SAGENAP (Scientific Assessment Group for Exp. in Non-Accelerator Physics) (2002). Stanford Linear Collider Review (2001). Brookhaven User’s Executive Committee (1997- 1999). APS Member-at-large: Topical Group on Fundamental Constants (1996-98). Principle Investigator: QuarkNet: Summer conferences for HS teachers, development of a network for HEP-related special ed materials for HS. Outreach coordinator for CDMS at Soudan, new internship for teaching program at Soudan, in coordination with RET (NSF grant). Performed numerous reviews of University Physics Departments via site visits (2000-2006). APS Committee on the Status of Women in Physics. Developed new LibEd curriculum. Wrote text: Energy and the Environment: Physics Principles and Applications, P.Cushman, ISBN 0-7872-5391-X, Kendall/Hunt Publishers (1998). Science Editor (pro bona) Carolrhoda Books (division of Lerner) - Biographies of scientists and inventors for Middle School readers: Einstein, Farnsworth, etc. “Science Works!” a MPLS public schools systematic reform effort in K-8 science (NSF + Medtronics) Partnership Teaching program, Science Kit Training Sessions for Elementary Teachers.

Exploration into the building blocks of matter through complementary approaches: (1) the most sensitive search for a direct signal from the dark matter halo surrounding our galaxy (the CDMS experiment in the Soudan Underground Laboratory in northern Minnesota), (2) the highest energy accelerator (The CMS experiment at the future Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland), and (3) the most precise measurement of the magnetic moment of the muon (g-2 at Brookhaven Lab in New York).

Development of novel detectors for particle physics takes place in our on-site photodetector test facility and a new Low Background Counting Facility has been established at the Soudan Mine.