Boris Jules Kayser (June 2, 1938 – April 14, 2024) was an American theoretical physicist. He specialized in the study of neutrinos. He worked at the National Science Foundation for nearly thirty years before joining the US government research facility Fermilab. He retired from Fermilab in 2012. For five years, he was the editor of the peer-reviewed journal the Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science.
Boris Kayser | |
|---|---|
 Boris Kayser at his desk at Fermilab. (Photo: Reidar Hahn) | |
| Born | June 2, 1938 |
| Died | April 14, 2024 (aged 85) |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | |
| Partner | Susan Kayser |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | Dynamical Model of the Σ (1964) |
| Doctoral advisor | Fredrik Zachariasen |
Early life and education
editKayser was born in 1938 to Saul and Dora Kayser and grew up on a chicken farm[1] in New Jersey. He had two younger sisters, twins Leah and Marsha.[2] While in high school, he was a finalist for the Westinghouse Science Talent Search in 1956.[3] He graduated from Lakewood High School in 1956 as valedictorian.[2] He attended Princeton University on full scholarship[2] for his undergraduate degree, graduating as valedictorian[2] with a degree in physics in 1960. He attended California Institute of Technology for his PhD in particle physics.[4] His PhD advisor was Fredrik Zachariasen.[5]
Career
editAfter a post-doctoral position at UC Berkeley, Kayser was an Assistant Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook from 1966 to 1969, when he joined the physics department at Northwestern University as Associate Professor. In 1972, Kayser joined the National Science Foundation, where he was the program director for theoretical physics.[6] While there, he helped establish the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at University of California, Santa Barbara.[4] He became the editor of the Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science in 2004, taking over the role from Chris Quigg.[7] He left the editor position in 2009.[8] While working at NSF, he became interested in researching neutrinos and was principal author of a book, "The Physics of Massive Neutrinos".[9] He retired from the NSF in 2001, after which he joined Fermilab as a distinguished guest scientist.[6] His work on neutrinos at Fermilab was featured on the PBS science television series Nova, episode "The Ghost Particle".[10] While at Fermilab, he served on a variety of committees, including the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (2002–2007) and the Fermilab Physics Advisory Committee (2004–2008). In 2009, he was elected the chair of the American Physical Society's Division of Particles and Fields. He officially retired from Fermilab at the end of 2012.[6]
Personal life
editBoris met Susan Kayser née Zimet in 1956 when they were both finalists for the Westinghouse Science Talent Search. They were at a house party for finalists hosted by former WSTS winner, Nobel laureate Roald Hoffman.[1] He and Susan married in 1960 at Congregation Ahavat Israel.[11]
Boris Kayser died on April 14, 2024, at the age of 85.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b Jennings, Caitlin (26 July 2010). "A Meeting of Hearts and Minds at the STS". Society for Science & The Public. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Parents of Princeton's Top Graduate Fostered Interests". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. 26 June 1960. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Westinghouse Science Talent Search 1956". Society for Science & The Public. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ a b DOE/FERMI NATIONAL ACCELERATOR LABORATORY (10 May 2002). "Charged Up - There's nothing neutral about Boris Kayser". U.S. Department of Energy Science News. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Boris Jules Kayser". Inspire HEP. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ a b c "Boris Kayser celebrates retirement". Fermilab. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Preface by Boris Kayser". Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science. 54 (1): annurev.ns. 2004. Bibcode:2004ARNPS..54...54.. doi:10.1146/annurev.ns.54.101404.100001.
- ^ "Preface by Barry R. Holstein". Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Science. 59 (1): annurev.ns. 2009. Bibcode:2009ARNPS..59...59.. doi:10.1146/annurev.ns.59.102109.100001.
- ^ "The Physics of Massive Neutrinos". World Scientific. 1989.
- ^ "The Ghost Particle". NOVA. 21 February 2006.
- ^ "Kayser-Zimet nuptials held". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. 25 June 1960. p. 4. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ Boris Jules Kayser