Mary Bishai, a distinguished experimental neutrino physicist at Brookhaven National Laboratory, has carved out a career in the realm of big science, where she gets to geek out on a broad set of technical and scientific challenges. Her journey began in Egypt, where she was born and raised, before she moved to the United States to study physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. After completing her master's and PhD at Purdue University, she embarked on a post-doctoral fellowship at Fermilab, where she has since made significant contributions to various particle-physics projects.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Bishai's work is her ability to connect the dots between physics goals and technical and engineering disciplines. She finds joy in brainstorming with colleagues from diverse backgrounds, even if it's not directly related to her own problem. This approach helps her overcome mental blocks and fosters a sense of community and collaboration. Bishai also emphasizes the importance of playing devil's advocate with herself and her colleagues, which helps her stay critical and innovative.
Bishai's current project, the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), is a prime example of her multidisciplinary approach. As part of DUNE, she has been working on the infrastructure for the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility, which will send the world's most powerful beam of neutrinos to a detector in an underground lab in South Dakota. In any given week, she might be discussing mechanical engineering, civil engineering, hydrogeology, focusing magnets, or high-energy particle interactions in materials. She also collaborates with AI experts to improve the search for neutrinos from supernovae using their detectors.
However, Bishai's work is not without its challenges. She acknowledges that dealing with large international collaborations of scientists and engineers over long time scales can be emotionally taxing and requires a lot of stamina and patience. Burnout and despondency are real risks, and keeping herself and her team motivated is a constant struggle. Despite these challenges, Bishai remains committed to her work and believes in the importance of being honest to the science.
In her own words, Bishai advises aspiring scientists to always be honest to the science and not be afraid to challenge established dogma and groupthink. She encourages them to drop dead-end projects and embrace new intellectual challenges. Most importantly, she emphasizes the importance of taking breaks and slowing down when needed. Bishai's advice is a testament to her resilience and commitment to her work, and it serves as a reminder that success in science requires a combination of technical expertise, collaboration, and emotional resilience.
