U of R student receives prestigious Vanier scholarship for work in subatomic physics

In 1831, a politician's inquiry into the practical applications of Michael Faraday's newly discovered "electricity" was met with Faraday's prescient yet humble response: "I do not know, but I bet that one day your government will tax it."

This exchange underscores the often-unpredictable nature of fundamental research—a sentiment shared by University of Regina PhD candidate Alicia Postuma (she/her and they/them). Postuma was awarded the prestigious Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Vanier Scholarship for her fundamental research into subatomic physics.

"While I don’t know what will come of my work, or what technology will rely upon it in the future, I know it will be used for something that’s good for humanity. And that’s why these fundamental research programs are so important,” says Postuma. Working with U of R physics professor Dr. Garth Huber, Postuma’s research aims expand our understanding of the components of our universe, contributing to broader scientific knowledge in the field of physics.

“Alicia is great to work with. She is academically very gifted, pursues her research with passion, and is a natural leader,” says Huber, her graduate supervisor. “She did a great job mentoring our undergraduate research student last summer and has already taken major roles in organizing several national conferences held at the U of R. Alicia is a worthy recipient of the prestigious Vanier scholarship, and we are very proud of her accomplishments.”

Postuma’s research delves into the behavior of subatomic particles and the fundamental forces that govern their interactions. She is using data from a particle accelerator, which involves accelerating electrons and then using an electron beam to smash them into protons. This collision causes the proton to explode into even smaller pieces, revealing its internal structure.

“After the explosion, we look at the pieces to help determine the speed they were traveling at and the direction they were heading. We then work backwards to see how that proton would have looked before the collision,” Postuma says. She likens this process to throwing tennis balls at a covered sculpture and using the angles at which the balls bounce back to deduce the sculpture’s shape.

Postuma says that most of these accelerator experiments knock out a small piece of the proton structure, with that small piece hurtling forward, while a bigger piece stays behind. The researchers then study the smaller piece.

Her innovative approach focuses on the larger pieces of the proton structure.

“The bigger piece will be moved forward by the accelerator, while the little piece stays behind. This new angle hasn't really been explored before, so we see a new part of the proton structure, giving a more complete picture overall,” she says.

Beyond her research, Postuma is dedicated to science communication and outreach. She is actively working to bring science beyond the confines of academia, engaging with high school students and the broader community to demystify quantum physics, and science in general, and inspire future scientists.

They are also committed to making the field more inclusive, promoting science to girls and leading initiatives, such as chairing a recent 2SLBTQ+ STEM conference, which celebrated diversity and highlighted contributions from the 2SLBTQ+ community in science.

“This work is really rewarding for me because I had no queer role models growing up. And I don’t want someone else to be in that same situation. I want there to be visibility.”

The Vanier scholarship, valued at $50,000 per year for three years, recognizes doctoral students who demonstrate academic excellence, research potential, leadership, and the ability to contribute to society. Postuma’s achievement highlights her significant potential in advancing subatomic physics and her commitment to fostering an inclusive and informed scientific community.

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