Chatura Kuruppu, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Associate @ New Mexico State University | PhD, High Energy Physics | Data Analysis

Batavia, Illinois, United States

About

A postdoctoral research associate who passionately works on SpinQuest experiment at Fermi National Laboratory, designed to explore a very particular aspect of proton and neutron structure: Are the sea quarks orbiting around the spin axis of the nucleon? I have a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of South Carolina and I worked on the NOvA experiment at Fermilab, USA. I also have years of experience in data analysis using statistical techniques and software tools such as Pandas and ROOT. I am passionate about advancing the frontiers of science and inspiring the next generation of physicists.

Experience

  • Fermilab (7 yrs 10 mos)
    • Visiting postdoctoral researcher
      Jan 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 6 mos

      Run Coordinator – SpinQuest Experiment (September 2024 - Present) As the Run Coordinator for the SpinQuest experiment at Fermilab, I manage the daily operations and communication between experiment teams and Fermilab's support departments (e.g., Accelerator Division, Radiation Safety, and ESH). Key responsibilities include leading the daily work planning meetings, reporting experimental progress at FNAL's Accelerator Division meetings, and ensuring smooth coordination between beam, target, and spectrometer teams. Additionally, I maintain operational documentation for future coordinators and address logistical needs to support our experimental goals.

    • Visiting Research Scholar
      Sep 2018 - Jan 2024 · 5 yrs 5 mos

      - Data Acquisition On-Call Expert for NOvA (NuMI Off-axis νe Appearance) Experiment - Contributing to NOvA Data Quality Group and maintaining Good-Runs Scripts - Working on NOvA Test Beam project. - Filling scintillator fluid to the NOvA Test Beam Detector. - Data Acquisition On-Call Expert for NOvA test beam project. - Working on Charged Current Coherent Pion production cross-section analysis with NOvA Near Detector Physics group.

  • Postdoctoral Research Associate at New Mexico State University
    Dec 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 7 mos

  • Adjunct Faculty at Governors State University
    Aug 2023 - Dec 2023 · 5 mos

  • University of South Carolina (United States)
    • Graduate Research Assistant
      Jul 2017 - Aug 2023 · 6 yrs 2 mos

    • Graduate Teaching Assistant
      Jul 2014 - Aug 2017 · 3 yrs 2 mos

  • Mentor at St.Joseph's College, Colombo
    Feb 2014 - Jun 2014 · 5 mos