Brian Nord

About Brian Nord

Physic and Statistics - I have studied the evolution of the universe on its largest scales from its earliest moments to its latest epochs – from inflation to dark energy. During the pursuit of these mysteries, I’ve learned how to design instruments, operate telescopes, collaboratively write clean code, and lead large teams of researchers- Computation and Artificial Intelligence - Data-driven science and large-scale computation are amazing problem-solving tools and research areas in their own right. I’ve found the most joy in developing uncertainty quantification approaches for AI models, especially for simulation-based inference and large cosmological datasets. I initiated AI research at Fermilab in the Cosmology sector at Fermilab in Astronomy and Astrophysics at UChicago, paving the way for its current efforts in classification, inference, survey operations, and instrument design- Team-building and Mentoring - I co-founded the Deep Skies Community in 2017. We provide a space for researchers and thinkers from high school students to senior scientists to discuss advancements in AI, science, and society. Deep Skies has also been the home base of my research group for nearly a decade. I helped junior colleagues navigate academia and professional science, advising them on how to navigate research spaces and career opportunities with a priority on health and ethics- Education - For several years, I led the Space Explorers Research Education Program at UChicago’s KICP. We helped high school students learn how to learn, how to ask and answer complex questions across a variety of science and engineering topics. In this program, we focused on working with students from underresourced communities- Equity and justice - I have been fighting for equity and justice in research spaces for over a decade. I advocate for minoritized and underrepresented groups, mental health prioritization, and the ethical use of AI and other scientific approaches. I co-led the Academic Strike 4 Black Lives and the ChangeNow effort to effect change in research.

Experience

1. Scientist i

   Fermilab

   Oct 2020 — Present · Batavia, IL, US

Education

• University of Michigan

  PhD

  2004 — 2010

Skills

• Scientific Computing
• Deep Learning
• Statistics
• Mathematica
• Science
• Numerical Analysis
• Data Analysis
• Mathematical Modeling
• Nanotechnology
• Research
• Experimentation
• Fortran
• Public Speaking
• Spectroscopy
• Labview
• Latex
• Physics
• Matlab
• Teaching
• Astrophysics
• Data Science