Prof. John Wilkerson

Education

• University of North Carolina, B.S., May 1977
• University of North Carolina, Ph.D., December 1982

Positions

• John R. and Louise S. Parker Distinguished Professor, UNC at Chapel Hill, 2008 – present
• Affiliate Professor, University of Washington, 2009 – present
• Professor, University of Washington, 1994 – 2008
• Associate Vice Provost for Research, University of Washington, 2003 – 2008
• Staff Member, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1985-1994
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1982-1985

Why neutrinos matter

The recent discoveries in neutrino physics have revolutionized our understanding of neutrinos, while also bringing forth an intriguing set of intertwined questions concerning fundamental symmetries, the basic interactions of subatomic particles, and the role neutrinos play in the cosmos.

Research in the coming decade promises the opportunity to explore a series of outstanding questions: Is lepton number, one of nature’s most fundamental symmetries, conserved?Are neutrinos their own antiparticle?What are the absolute masses of neutrinos? How have neutrinos shaped the evolution of the universe? Might neutrinos explain the observed matter-to-antimatter asymmetry?

Research Opportunities in Nuclear and Particle Astrophysics

Our Experimental Nuclear and Particle Astrophysics group is actively engaged in experiments that will probe neutrino properties. We have labs here at UNC, nearby at TUNL, as well as underground at the Kimballton mine in Virginia. We are involved in major international efforts to search for neutrinoess double beta-decay (MAJORANA) and directly measure the mass of the neutrino (KATRIN).