Elizabeth H. Simmons   

Education: BA, Harvard University; MPhil, Cambridge University; MA, PhD Harvard University

Field of Research: Theoretical Particle Physics

Research Statement:

Much of my research explores the origin of the masses of the elementary particles.I am studying  the possible causes of electroweak symmetry breaking (responsible for the masses of the W and Z bosons that transmit the weak nuclear force) and of flavor symmetry breaking (responsible for giving the various fermionic matter particles different masses).  Currently, I am focusing on what can be learned from the heaviest known (and most recently discovered) elementary particle, the top quark.