Purdue University Northwest professor Neeti Parashar was elected as a fellow of the American Physical Society.
The society recognized Parashar for her teaching, leadership and research. Over the past two decades, she has created educational opportunities for minority students and young physicists from many nations. Parashar also contributed to the Compact Muon Solenoid program and its pixel detector at the Large Hadron Collider.
“This is one of the highest honors a U.S. physicist can earn, so it’s very gratifying to know that I am recognized for my work and included in the top tier group of physicists worldwide,” Parashar said in a press release.
PNW Chancellor Kenneth Holford said the university is celebrating Parashar’s achievement.
“She is an accomplished researcher and passionate educator that has dedicated her career to advancing science and serving our community,” Holford said.
The American Physical Society recognizes society members who have made advances in the field of physics. It recognizes members for research, innovative advancements in teaching and exemplary service. Each year, no more than half of a percent of the society’s membership is elected as fellows.
Parashar specializes in high energy physics. She was part of the research team, comprised of several thousand scientists, who in 2012 discovered the Higgs boson particle at CERN. The scientists’ discovery helped Peter Higgs and Francois Englert earn the 2013 Nobel Prize in physics.
Parashar has been a faculty member at PNW since 2005. She earned her Ph.D. in high energy physics from the University of Delhi. She has authored or co-authored over 1,900 research articles.
Recognition as a fellow by the professional society that you are part of is something professors strive for in the sciences and engineering said Bruce Berdanier, PNW dean of the College of Engineering and Sciences.
“This recognition really is considered one of the pinnacles of a career in teaching, research and service, and Dr. Parashar has greatly accomplished that in her work in high energy physics throughout the world and with students here at PNW,” Berdanier said.
