Dr. Sayak Chatterjee | Experimental High Energy Nuclear Physics | Best Researcher Award
Dr. Sayak Chatterjee | University of Massachusetts | United States
Dr. Sayak Chatterjee is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, working on the MOLLER experiment at Jefferson Lab to make a precision measurement of the electroweak mixing angle. He earned his Ph.D. in Experimental High Energy Nuclear Physics from the University of Calcutta and Bose Institute, where he developed and characterized Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors for the CBM experiment at FAIR, Germany, contributing to studies of quark-gluon plasma and muon detection. His expertise spans gaseous detectors, simulation studies with GEANT4, and detector optimization. He has received multiple awards, including best oral and poster presentations, an Ernest Rutherford Best Researcher Award (2022), and recognition as the only Indian student to deliver a highlight talk at a CBM Collaboration Meeting.
Early Academic Pursuits
Dr. Sayak Chatterjee began his academic journey in Physics with a consistent record of excellence. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Physics Honours at the University of Calcutta, St. Paul’s Cathedral Mission College, securing 2nd rank in the University in 2016 with first-class distinction. He pursued his Master of Science in Physics at the University of Calcutta, Bose Institute, where he graduated in 2018 with distinction. His strong academic foundation paved the way for doctoral research at Bose Institute under the supervision of Dr. Saikat Biswas, where he submitted his thesis titled “Performance studies of Gas Electron Multiplier detector for the Muon Chamber of high rate CBM experiment at FAIR” in 2022 and was awarded a Ph.D. in Physics (Experimental) in 2023. His academic trajectory demonstrates his deep-rooted passion and excellence in Experimental High Energy Nuclear Physics.
Professional Endeavors
Dr. Chatterjee advanced his career internationally by joining the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA. He first served as a Research Associate (2022–2023) in the MOLLER collaboration under the mentorship of Prof. Krishna Kumar. Later, in November 2023, he was appointed as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the same collaboration. His work is now focused on detector characterisation, GEANT4-based simulation studies, data acquisition system development, and analysis framework design for the MOLLER experiment. His professional endeavors reflect his strong dedication to the advancement of Experimental High Energy Nuclear Physics.
Contributions and Research Focus
Dr. Chatterjee’s research contributions are centered on detector development and simulation for high-energy nuclear physics experiments. During his Ph.D., he investigated Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors for the CBM experiment at GSI, Germany, including their long-term stability, aging, charging-up effects, and spark probability. He also studied Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC), Straw Tubes, and plastic scintillators. His Monte Carlo simulation studies using GEANT4 optimized the Muon Chamber (MuCh) geometry for di-muon detection, particularly targeting Low Mass Vector Mesons (LMVM) and the charmonium state J/ψ, a key probe for Quark-Gluon Plasma. Presently, in the MOLLER experiment, he is engaged in precision electroweak measurements, especially involving Cherenkov detectors for scattered electron flux measurements. His focused contributions significantly advance the scope of Experimental High Energy Nuclear Physics.
Impact and Influence
The impact of Dr. Chatterjee’s research is evidenced by his strong recognition within the global high-energy physics community. He has been nominated to present the MOLLER overview at the Jefferson Lab Hall A collaboration meeting (2024) and has delivered highlight talks at prestigious CBM Collaboration meetings, where he represented India as the only student speaker. His experimental and simulation studies have influenced detector design and physics feasibility studies at FAIR and Jefferson Lab. Furthermore, his involvement in international schools, workshops, and collaborations has extended his influence across Europe, the USA, and India, strengthening the collaborative fabric of high-energy nuclear physics research.
Academic Cites
Dr. Chatterjee’s publications, presentations, and simulation studies have received citations in prominent journals and conference proceedings, validating the relevance of his contributions. His work on detector performance and phenomenological predictions of Cold Nuclear Matter effects on J/ψ yields has been acknowledged in the broader research community. His consistent presence in international conferences, including QM2022 and Pisa Detector Meetings, further highlights his academic visibility and scholarly contributions.
Legacy and Future Contributions
The legacy of Dr. Sayak Chatterjee lies in his pioneering detector studies and his role in shaping future experiments at FAIR and Jefferson Lab. His expertise in gaseous detectors, simulation studies, and precision electroweak measurements ensures that his contributions will remain impactful for decades. Looking forward, his research is expected to play a crucial role in the advancement of detector technology, high-rate data acquisition systems, and theoretical validation in nuclear and particle physics. His mentorship of younger researchers and active collaboration in global experiments will further cement his long-term legacy in Experimental High Energy Nuclear Physics.
Notable Publications
Stability study of gain and energy resolution for GEM detector
Authors: S. Roy, S. Rudra, S. Shaw, S. Chatterjee, S. Chakraborty, R.P. Adak, S. Biswas, ...
Journal: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Year: 2019
Citations: 19
Study of charging-up effect for a single mask triple GEM detector
Authors: S. Chatterjee, A. Sen, S. Das, S.K. Ghosh, S. Biswas
Journal: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Year: 2021
Citations: 11
Study of uniformity of characteristics over the surface for triple GEM detector
Authors: S. Chatterjee, S. Chakraborty, S. Roy, S. Biswas, S. Das, S.K. Ghosh, ...
Journal: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Year: 2019
Citations: 11
Long term stability study of triple GEM detector using different Argon based gas mixtures: an update
Authors: S. Chatterjee, S. Roy, A. Sen, S. Chakraborty, S. Biswas, S. Das, S.K. Ghosh, ...
Journal: Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Year: 2020
Citations: 7
Plastic scintillator detector array for detection of cosmic ray air shower
Authors: S. Roy, S. Chakraborty, S. Chatterjee, S. Biswas, S. Das, S.K. Ghosh, A. Maulik, ...
Journal: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Year: 2019
Citations: 7
Charging-up effect and uniformity study of a single mask triple GEM detector
Authors: S. Chatterjee, A. Sen, S. Das, S. Biswas
Journal: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Year: 2023
Citations: 6
A new technique of linseed oil coating in bakelite RPC and the first test results
Authors: A. Sen, S. Chatterjee, S. Das, S.K. Ghosh, S. Biswas
Journal: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Year: 2022
Citations: 6
Commissioning and testing of pre-series triple GEM prototypes for CBM-MuCh in the mCBM experiment at the SIS18 facility of GSI
Authors: A. Kumar, A. Agarwal, S. Chatterjee, S. Chattopadhyay, A.K. Dubey, C. Ghosh, ...
Journal: Journal of Instrumentation
Year: 2021
Citations: 6
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dr. Sayak Chatterjee exemplifies academic excellence, professional dedication, and global recognition in the domain of Experimental High Energy Nuclear Physics. From his early achievements in India to his current postdoctoral research in the USA, his contributions span detector development, simulation studies, and precision measurements. His work continues to impact experimental collaborations worldwide, and his future promises innovative advancements that will push the boundaries of high-energy nuclear physics.