American Physical Society recognizes Fermilab scientists

The American Physical Society recently honored six researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory with awards for their outstanding contributions to their scientific fields. Founded in 1899, APS is a professional organization representing more than 50,000 members worldwide and is dedicated to advancing physics research, science policy, education and public engagement. Each year, APS bestows a broad range of prizes, awards and medals to recognize exceptional achievements across the physics community — from early-career scientists to leading established researchers. APS honors at Fermilab were awarded to: Joel Butler — W.K.H. Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics Joel Butler, a distinguished scientist at Fermilab and former spokesperson for the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, has received the American Physical Society’s 2026 Panofsky Prize in Experimental Particle Physics.

The Panofsky Prize, awarded annually, recognizes and encourages outstanding achievements in experimental particle physics, and nominations are open to scientists worldwide. According to APS, Butler received the prize for wide-ranging scientific, technical and strategic contributions to particle physics; exceptional leadership in fixed-target quark-flavor experiments at Fermilab; and his contributions to collider physics at the Large Hadron Collider. Elena Pinetti — Henry Primakoff Award for Early-Career Particle Physics Elena Pinetti, a postdoctoral researcher at Fermilab, has received the APS 2026 Henry Primakoff Award for Early-Career Particle Physics for “original ideas and innovative research in the study of particle dark matter, compact astrophysical objects, high-energy astrophysical sources and cosmic radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum.” Pinetti’s research focuses on searching for dark matter in the universe using a multimessenger approach. APS Fellows Four Fermilab scientists were named 2025 APS Fellows. Fellowship is an elite distinction awarded each year to no more than one-half of 1% of current APS members. The APS Fellowship program recognizes members who have made advances in physics through original research and publication or made significant, innovative contributions in the application of physics to science and technology. The full listing of fellows may be viewed on the APS website. Anadi Canepa — Division of Particles and Fields Fellowship “For pioneering roles in searches for supersymmetric particles; for outstanding leadership at TRIUMF and Fermilab and on the CDF, ATLAS and CMS collaborations, including the CMS tracker upgrade for the High-Luminosity LHC and future collider opportunities; and for broad public engagement.” Victor Daniel Elvira — Forum on International Physics Fellowship “For work on understanding and using jet final states, exploring quantum chromodynamics and physics beyond the Standard Model; for software processes — especially in GEANT4 and AI and machine learning — that aids global high-energy physics research; and for fostering international software and computing collaborations …” Matthew Toups — Division of Particles and Fields Fellowship “For wide-ranging and significant contributions to the MicroBooNE experiment, from construction and commissioning of the detector through to the publication of a large body of first-of-their-kind neutrino physics results with liquid-argon time projection chambers.” Herman White — Forum on Physics and Society Fellowship “For inspiring leadership and advocacy for physics, science education and communication with policy makers, governments and the public; and for outstanding contributions to several areas of high-energy physics.” Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is America’s premier national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research.

Fermi Forward Discovery Group manages Fermilab for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. Visit Fermilab’s website at www.fnal.gov and follow us on social media. Recommended reading View all news Fermilab’s accomplishments highlight discovery and innovation in 2025 December 17, 2025 AIdark energyemerging technologiesLBNF/DUNELHC AUPMAGIS-100MagnesMicroBooNEMu2eMuon g-2neutrinoNOvAPIP-IIQICKquantumSQMSU.S. CMSFermilab feature Throughout this year, Fermilab’s dedicated scientists, engineers, technicians and operations staff came together to drive discoveries, advance American innovation and prepare the lab for a bright future. MicroBooNE celebrates tenth anniversary at Fermilab December 12, 2025 liquid argonMicroBooNEneutrinosparticle physicsFermilab feature The experiment demonstrated the power of liquid-argon time projection chamber technology for neutrino research, and to date, the collaboration has published more than 80 scientific papers, helping lay the foundation for Fermilab’s neutrino research program. MicroBooNE finds no evidence for a sterile neutrino December 3, 2025 MicroBooNEsterile neutrinoPress release Scientists on the MicroBooNE experiment further ruled out the possibility of one sterile neutrino as an explanation for results from previous experiments. In the latest MicroBooNE result, the collaboration used one detector and two beams to study neutrino behavior, ruling out the single sterile neutrino model with 95% certainty.