Matthew Kurth
East Patchogue
Summary
Accomplished researcher specializing in system failure analysis for low noise and low temperature silicon sensor and readout electronics. Led teams in high-energy physics projects, ensuring quality assurance and driving innovative solutions in complex research environments.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Postdoctoral Research
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)
Upton
09.2023 - Current
- Coordinated Inner Tracker (ITk) strip production stave loading and testing for CERN's ATLAS project.
- Oversaw silicon sensor module loading and testing as ITk strip activity coordinator for 6 international sites.
- Led stave assembly and testing locally at BNL
- Designed and built cold metrology testing to analyze sensor fracturing under load.
- Supervised ATLAS qualification tasks focused on module deformation assessment.
- Conducted R&D on irradiated low gain avalanche diodes to evaluate single event burnout effects from high intensity proton and ion beams.
Postdoctoral Research
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL)
Didcot
09.2021 - 08.2023
- Led RAL ITk strip module site qualification and pre-production building effort
- Trained and directed 3 technicians, 2 engineers, and 2 Physics PhD students in module assembly, laser and optical metrology, electrical testing, and database interactions to ensure high-quality assembly processes
- Led magnetic field protection studies for ITk strip collaboration to enhance system reliability and performance under 2 Tesla magnetic fields
- Led investigations into cold noise in the UK and China cluster
- Conducted R&D for CERN RD50 investigation of silicon Schottky diodes with neutron irradiation up to 1E16, performing charge collection, IV, and CV measurements to validate TCAD simulations
Doctoral Research
Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP)
Beijing
09.2016 - 06.2021
- Conducted data analysis in high energy physics using machine learning to explore fundamental particle interactions.
- Conducted helicity partial wave analysis on ψ(3686) → 𝑝 𝑘 − Λ̅ from electron-positron collisions to investigate 15 intermediate meson and baryon excited states, enhancing understanding of particle interactions.
- Coordinated pre-production preparation for assembly and metrology of ATLAS ITk strips at IHEP and RAL, ensuring readiness for experimental deployment.
Master’s Research
University of Texas at Dallas
01.2015 - 06.2016
- Conducted R&D to develop effective wire bond protection solutions for ATLAS ITk pixel project.
- Qualified polyurethane coatings for optimal pixel wire bond protection in High Luminosity LHC operational environment at temperatures down to -50C.
Education
PhD - Particle Physics
University of The Chinese Academy of Sciences
Beijing, China06-2021
MS - Physics
University of Texas At Dallas
Richardson, TX05-2016
BS - Physics
University of Texas At Dallas
Richardson, TX12-2013
Skills
- Research and production coordination
- Effective technical communication
- Problem solving
- Collaboration
- Complex circuit tests
- Data analysis
- Low noise measurements
- Test automation
- Experiment design
- Product specification management
- Metrology and Vibrometry
Awards
ATLAS Outstanding Achievement Award (CERN), For outstanding contributions to the identification of the vibrational source of cold noise on ITk Strip modules, June 2024
Selected Published Papers
- How the discovery of Cold Noise delayed the production of ATLAS ITk strip tracker modules by a year, Journal of Instrumentation, 19, 2024
- Design, fabrication and testing of Al/p-Si Schottky and pn junctions for radiation studies, Journal of Instrumentation, 19, 2024
- First stave results towards mitigating sensor fracturing with interposers in the ATLAS ITk strips, Journal of Instrumentation, 20, 2025
Selected Presentations
- Sensor Fracturing, U.S. ATLAS HL-LHC Upgrade Project DOE Independent Project Review, BNL March 2025
- Impact of high deposited energy on Single Event Burnout in LGAD sensors, 2nd DRD3 week on Solid State Detectors R&D, CERN Dec. 2024
- Mechanical aspects of stave module loading, ATLAS ITk Strip Final Design Review, CERN 12/01/24
- High Voltage Breakdown Task Force Update, ATLAS Upgrade Week, CERN Nov. 2024
- How the discovery of Cold Noise delayed the production of ATLAS ITk strip tracker, Topical Workshop on Electronics for Particle Physics (TWEPP) Sardinia – Plenary session Oct. 2023
- Tests of modules in magnetic fields, Production Readiness Review for ITk Barrel modules, CERN Oct. 2023
- Update on Radiation damage investigation of epitaxial P-type Silicon using Schottky diodes, 40th RD50 workshop, CERN June 2022
Timeline
Postdoctoral Research
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)
09.2023 - Current
Postdoctoral Research
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL)
09.2021 - 08.2023
Doctoral Research
Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP)
09.2016 - 06.2021
Master’s Research
University of Texas at Dallas
01.2015 - 06.2016
PhD - Particle Physics
University of The Chinese Academy of Sciences
MS - Physics
University of Texas At Dallas
BS - Physics
University of Texas At Dallas