Jessie Micallef

About

Dr. Jessie Micallef (they/she) is a postdoc fellow at IAIFI, where they use machine learning to help uncover more information about neutrino particle properties. She is part of various neutrino experiments, including DUNE and MicroBooNE, and previously IceCube. Jessie enjoys mentoring students and empowering a diverse group of next generation researchers in STEM through chairing and running events to support women and gender minorities in physics, creating unique LGBTQ+ workshops and social media campaigns, and establishing new networking programs. Outside academia, they enjoy creative writing, practicing jiu jitsu, cuddling her cat Ahsoka, and attending comic cons and indie/rock concerts.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlmicallef/

Jessie with DUNE collaborators bowling in Geneva, Switzerland

Current Roles

  • Postdoc Fellow at the NSF AI Institute for AI and Fundamental Physics (www.iaifi.org)
  • Convener of Oscillations and Low Energy Excess group on MicroBooNE
  • Coordinator of DUNE Buddy System
  • Member of American Women in Science, American Physical Society
  • Member of DUNE collaboration
  • Member of MicroBooNE collaboration

Education

  • Dual PhD in Physics and Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering from Michigan State University (2022)
  • Masters in Physics from Michigan State University (2019)
  • Bachelors in Science in Physics and Screen Arts and Cultures, minor in Chemistry, at the Residential College at University of Michigan (2016)

Fellowships and Funding

  • University Research Alliance Visting Scholars Porgram at Fermilab National Lab: March 2023 - June 2024
  • NSF AI Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Physics Postdoctoral Fellowship: Sept 2022 - Aug 2025
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship: Sept 2017 - Sept 2022
  • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Special Interest Group on High Performance Computing (SIGHPC) and Intel Computational Science Fellowship: July 2017 - July 2021
  • Otto F. and Jenny H. Krauss Charitable Foundation Distinguished Fellowship at Michgan State University: Summer 2016

Jessie standing with other IceCube collaborators holding the IceCube impact award

Recognition

  • MicroBooNE Impact Award for Data Release Validation (MicroBooNE Collaboration): May 2025
  • DUNE Impact Award for the 2x2 Core Operations Team (DUNE Collaboration): January 2025
  • Best Plot for MicroBooNE Analysis Workshop (MicroBooNE Physics Conveeners): November 2022
  • IceCube Collaboration Impact Award (IceCube Collaboration): May 2022
  • Rising Stars in Experimental Particle Physics Symposium (University of Chicago): Sept 2021
  • Best Lightning Talk (Neutrino Physics and Machine Learning Lightning Talks): July 2020
  • Diversity Equity Inclusion Training Award (IceCube Collaboration): Jan 2020
  • Women in Computing Award (Microsoft Windows Insider Program): Oct 2019
  • Outreach Award (Michigan State University’s Physics & Astronomy Department): May 2019
  • William L. Williams Thesis Award (University of Michigan): Apr 2016
  • Outstanding Achievement in Physics Award (University of Michigan): May 2015
  • Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honor Society (University of Michigan): Inducted Feb 2015
  • Best Research Presentation (Conference for Undergrad Women in Physics, Univeristy of Michigan): Jan 2015
  • 1000 Pitches Technology and Hardware Winner (University of Michigan): Dec 2011
  • Provisional Patent (No. 61/409,855 ) for Radio Jammer Device: Filed 3 Nov 2010

Jessie inside one of the protoDUNE detectors at CERN

Last updated on 5/16/2025