Mu-Chun Chen

About Mu-Chun

I am a theoretical particle physicist studying the properties of elementary particles, which are the fundamental building blocks of the universe. Among all the elementary particles, neutrino, one of the most abundant ones in the universe, is my muse, as it provides a window into what happened in the early universe a fraction of a second right after the Big Bang.

I educate and mentor students, both through teaching and research, to help them reach their full potential. I also work to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion both in my university campus and in the broader community. 

My work has been driven by the quest to understand how the Universe works at the most fundamental level and my belief that we are all equal and that the community can prosper only when everyone of its members has equal access to education and opportunities.

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Honors

2020 - UC Irvine Inclusive Excellence Spirit Award

2019 - Department of Physics and Astronomy Undergraduate Teaching Award, UC Irvine (Selected by the graduating class of Physics and Astronomy students as the faculty member who most inspired them in their undergraduate studies)

2019 - School of Physical Sciences Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education, UC Irvine

2019 - UC Irvine Dr. De Gallow Professor of the Year Award nominee

2015 - Carl Friedrich von Siemens Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

2015 - Humboldt Research Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

2012 - School of Physical Sciences Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education, UC Irvine

2010 - Faculty Career Development Award, UC Irvine

2009 - Erice Fellowship, Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture

2008 - Most Valuable Referee for Physics Letters B, Elsevier

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Education

Postdoc

Theoretical High Energy Physics, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratoy, 09/2005 - 10/2006

Theoretical High Energy Physics, Brookhaven National Laboratory, 09/2002 - 08/2005

Ph.D.

Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, 06/2002

Master's

University of Colorado Boulder

Bachelor's

Physics, National Taiwan University, 06/1996