CAREER: Accelerating Neutrino Physics into the Precision Era

CAREER: Precision Theory for Interpreting Neutrino Experiments Neutrinos are among the most abundant particles in the universe, yet many of their fundamental properties remain unknown. Answering basic questions—such as whether neutrinos violate fundamental symmetries or reveal new particles beyond our current knowledge—requires a new level of precision in how neutrino experiments are interpreted. Over the next decade, major U.S.-led experiments will collect unprecedented data, but fully realizing their discovery potential requires reducing theoretical uncertainties in how neutrinos are produced, propagate, and interact with matter. This CAREER project aims to remove these barriers by developing precision theoretical tools that enable neutrino measurements to be interpreted with the same rigor as the data themselves. By combining modern computational methods with first-principles modeling, the research will enable more reliable tests of fundamental symmetries, sharpen searches for new physics, and maximize the scientific return of national investments in neutrino experiments. At the same time, the PI will develop immersive virtual-reality tools for public engagement, build quantum information science training opportunities that strengthen the STEM workforce, and create undergraduate-accessible research experiences that broaden participation in fundamental physics. By integrating theory with education and outreach, this CAREER project advances both scientific discovery and STEM workforce development. The research program focuses on three interconnected challenges in precision neutrino physics. First, it develops machine-learning–based frameworks to reduce dominant theoretical uncertainties in neutrino–nucleus interaction modeling, a critical limitation for long-baseline experiments searching for leptonic charge-parity violation. Second, it establishes first-principles calculations of quantum decoherence effects in neutrino oscillations, enabling robust predictions of standard physics signals while preventing these effects from mimicking or obscuring new phenomena. Third, it constructs theoretically controlled observables for neutrinos from a future galactic supernova, with quantified uncertainties for probing neutrino properties and physics beyond the Standard Model. Together, these efforts establish a unified precision framework that connects neutrino sources, propagation, and detection. This unified approach enables precision tests of neutrino properties while strengthening the reliability of searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2544442 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Shirley Li | Institution: University of California-Irvine, IRVINE, CA | Award Amount: $400,000 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2544442 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2544442.html