Matthew Osbiston
Fourth year PhD student in elementary particle physics at University of Warwick
I'm pleased to announce that on Monday 3rd August 2026, I passed my PhD thesis viva with minor corrections!
Research Interests
I am a PhD student in the Physics Department at University of Warwick under the supervision of Dr John Marshall. My research is centred on one of three main physics goals of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment.
"DUNE will look for the gigantic streams of neutrinos emitted by exploding stars to watch the formation of black holes and neutron stars in real time, to learn more about these mysterious objects in space."
DUNE is a next generation neutrino experiment in the design and construction phase, with plans to install large liquid argon detectors at Fermilab, Chicago and SURF, South Dakota. Fermilab is the second largest accelerator-beam complex in the world, with the ability to create neutrinos of energy in the GeV scale. DUNE plans to use this beam line for it's neutrino experiment, using state-of-the-art Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPC) in an effort to improve our understanding of neutrino oscillations (in particular making precision measurements of delta CP) and CP violation in the lepton sector.
Furthermore, my developments and work will form part of the UK's contributions to distributed computing and reconstruction software. In particular, I will be using simulation of background decays and particle interaction from a set of models. This is a multisite process of particle generation, particle propagation and detector effect simulation. For my work, the low energy regime is important and so I make use of the particle generator, MARLEY. I will use these simulations to refine a multi-algorithm pattern recognition software named Pandora for reconstruction of low energy supernova neutrinos. I will employ deep learning and neural networks in several algorithms for a chain of reconstruction tasks such as identifying interaction vertices and cluster creation, splitting and merging decisions. Overall, the aim is to improve Pandora's efficiency for particle reconstruction in DUNE's far detector.
Pandora algorithms provide an automated reconstruction of neutrino interactions in the Liquid Argon Time Projection Chambers (LArTPC) being operated and developed for the short- and long-baseline neutrino physics programmes.
You can learn more about DUNE here: https://www.dunescience.org
An interesting paper which gives background on Pandora:
Additional PhD Experience
- Developing Python and C++ reconstruction software for the international DUNE collaboration.
- Producing and analysing Monte Carlo simulations of low-energy neutrino interactions using MARLEY, Geant4 and the DUNE software framework.
- Developing machine-learning and pattern-recognition techniques, including convolutional neural networks and boosted decision trees, for particle and interaction reconstruction.
- Undertaking a research attachment at CERN in summer 2024, contributing to ProtoDUNE Vertical Drift detector operations and live data-taking shifts.
- Presenting research at international DUNE collaboration and working-group meetings, including meetings at CERN and Fermilab.
- Serving as Young DUNE Co-chair and DUNE Co-Spokesperson Liaison from September 2023 to October 2024, representing approximately 800 early-career researchers.
- Serving on the DUNE Authorship and Publication Board as part of my Young DUNE responsibilities.
- Presenting a research poster at the STFC High Energy Physics Summer School in Oxford, where my poster was shortlisted for the best-poster award.
- Teaching and supporting undergraduate physics through seminars, laboratory teaching, assessment and examination invigilation.
- Completing training in higher-education teaching and gaining Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).
- Completing specialist doctoral training in areas including C++, particle physics and research methods.
2024/25 Research Highlights
During the third year of my PhD, I have continued to develop reconstruction techniques for low-energy supernova neutrino interactions in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). My work combines Monte Carlo simulation, automated pattern recognition and machine-learning techniques, including convolutional neural networks and boosted decision trees, with the aim of improving DUNE's reconstruction of low-energy particle interactions.
In July and August 2024, I undertook a research attachment at CERN, where I contributed to the operation of the ProtoDUNE Vertical Drift detector. This included participating in detector data-taking shifts, monitoring beam and detector conditions and gaining first-hand experience of the operation and commissioning of a large-scale liquid-argon detector.
I also completed my term as Young DUNE Co-chair and DUNE Co-Spokesperson Liaison, which I held from September 2023 to October 2024. In this role, I represented approximately 800 early-career members of the DUNE collaboration and contributed to collaboration-level activities, including serving on the Authorship and Publication Board.
Throughout the year I continued to present my research at DUNE and particle-physics meetings, building experience communicating technical work to specialist international audiences.
Teaching
I currently run seminars under PX161Link opens in a new Tutorial which covers subjects such as Classical Mechanics, Special Relativity, Electromagnetism, and Quantum phenomena. I mark students work and give feedback during their seminars.
External Interests
I have been part of the University of Warwick Chamber Choir since October 2021 and attend weekly rehearsals. I have performed in a variety of concerts at venues including Warwick Arts Centre, All Saints' Church in Leamington Spa and St Nicholas' Church in Kenilworth. I have also sung at a number of University degree ceremonies, which I have particularly enjoyed, especially having had the privilege of singing at my own graduation in July 2022. You can find some videos of our performances hereLink opens in a new window.
Additionally, I have sung with the University of Warwick Chorus on a number of occasions.
I have been a member of Warwick A Cappella Society since October 2018 and have performed in groups covering a variety of styles, including classical, pop, barbershop and musical theatre. Alongside performing, I have held several committee and leadership roles within the society, including Secretary, Vice-President, Events and Workshops Manager, and President during the 2024/25 academic year. These roles have given me experience in organising events, working with committees and helping to coordinate one of Warwick's large performance societies. You can find videos from Warwick A Cappella hereLink opens in a new window.
I have also been a member of Warwick A Cappella's flagship competition group, The Leamingtones, since October 2019. I have performed with the group across the country and competed in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, reaching the UK Final in Wimbledon, London in 2023. We have recorded an album featuring a variety of songs and perform repertoire spanning a range of musical styles and languages.
During the 2023/24 academic year, I served as Group Manager of The Leamingtones, working alongside the Musical Director to help organise the group, performances and competitions. You can find performances by The Leamingtones hereLink opens in a new window.
Outside music, I enjoy fitness activities including long-distance running and regularly attending the gym. I am also an avid photographer.
Write to:
Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL
Contact Details:
Office: PS0.14
Supervisor: Dr John Marshall
E-Mail: matthew.osbiston@warwick.ac.uk
Links:
The homepageLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new windowhomepage of the Pandora pattern-recognition project
Extra-curricular:
The homepageLink opens in a new window of the Warwick A Cappella Society
