Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Mathematisch-Naturwissen­schaft­liche Fakultät - Experimentelle Elementarteilchenphysik

AG Worm

 

Prof. Dr. Steve Worm

I'm Steve Worm, a particle physicist based at the School of Physics and Astronomy. My research is focused on the exploration of new particles, with a special emphasis on unraveling the mysteries of dark matter. Over the years, I've conducted pioneering studies in collider-based searches for dark matter, contributing to over a thousand research papers and authoring some of the most highly-cited papers from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

I have a deep passion for advancing silicon sensor technology, and much of my career has been dedicated to this pursuit. From my early days contributing to experiments like CDF and CMS to leading R&D collaborations, I've been at the forefront of developing silicon-based particle detection technologies. Currently, I'm heavily involved in ATLAS tracking detector construction and pushing the boundaries of highly pixellated silicon sensors, including fully depleted monolithic active pixel sensors (DMAPS).

Beyond my research interests, I'm committed to fostering collaboration between academia and industry. I've played a pivotal role in establishing partnerships that have led to the creation of research centers such as the Hartree Centre and the ESA Space Science Centre. Additionally, I've been involved in initiatives focused on Imaging, Materials, and Detector Systems, aiming to broaden the impact of scientific exploration beyond traditional academic boundaries.

 

 

Professional Experience

  • Honorarprofessur
    Department of Physics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany
    2020– Present

  • Senior Scientist
    Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Germany
    2019– Present

  • Reader (Professor Extraordinarius)
    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, UK
    2016–2019

  • Senior Scientist and Group Leader
    Particle Physics Department, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK
    2004–2016

  • EU Intra-European Fellow (Marie Curie)
    European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Genève, Switzerland
    2011–2013

  • Assistant Research Professor
    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
    2001–2004

  • Research Associate Staff III
    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
    1995–2001

  • Department of Education Fellow, Assistant Instructor, and Research Assistant
    Department of Physics, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
    1989–1995

Academic Leadership

  • Head, Astroparticle Detector R&D
    Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)

  • Chair, International Organizing Committee
    Dark Matter @ LHC

  • Analysis Team Leader & Editor
    Monojet BSM searches in ATLAS and CMS

  • Convener
    CMS Exotica Physics Group, 2012–2013

  • Working Group Leader
    CLIC Vertex detector subgroup, 2010–2013

  • Editor
    CLIC Conceptual Design Report (CDR), Vertex section, 2012

  • Convener
    CMS Long-Lived Particles Subgroup, 2011

  • Project Manager, Budget Holder, and Group Leader
    LCFI Collaboration, 2004–2008

  • Ph.D. Advisor for students on ATLAS, CMS, ILC, and CDF experiments
    2001–present

  • Spokesman
    Fermilab Testbeam Experiments T936 and T932, 2001–2004

  • Convener
    CDF Exotic Physics Group, 2000–2002

  • Silicon Detector Sensor Subgroup Leader
    CDF Collaboration SVXII, 1997–2001

 

Academic Citizenship and Outreach

  • Executive Board Member
    Coordinating Panel for Advanced Detectors (CPAD)

  • Habilitation and Thesis Examiner
    Université Pierre et Marie Curie and Birmingham

  • Particle Physics Outreach Speaker
    Local schools and “CERN@school”

  • Lead Developer
    ATLAScraft, a re-creation of CERN in Minecraft

  • Board/Panel Member
    UK Experimental Particle Physics Grants Panel, STFC’s Micro & Nano Technology Centre Steering Board, Science and Innovation “Campus Project” Team, IT and Estates Blueprint Workstreams, Imaging Solutions Centre Advisory Panel, Detector Systems Project Group, and Linear Collider UK Senior Council Representative

Research and Current Research Interests

  • Coordinator & WP Lead
    CMOS sensor testing for the EU AIDA-2020 programme

  • Convener
    CMS Exotica Physics Group and Long-Lived Particles Subgroup

  • Working Group Leader
    CLIC Vertex detector subgroup

  • Project Manager, Budget Holder, and Group Leader
    LCFI Collaboration

  • Spokesman
    Fermilab Testbeam Experiments T936 and T932

  • Convener
    CDF Exotic Physics Group

  • Silicon Sensor Group Lead
    CDF Collaboration SVXII

  • Expertise in Silicon Sensors and Detector Construction

  • Searches for New Particles, especially dark matter and dark energy

  • Leading Collaborations connecting science to industry, medical, and other academic sectors