We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Daniela Bortoletto, Principal Investigator at WPI-QUP and the Head of Particle Physics at the University of Oxford. In January 2024, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of her services to particle physics and gender equality.

Professor Bortoletto, an experimental particle physicist, plays an active role in the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, Switzerland. She was an integral part of the team that discovered the Higgs Boson in 2012. At QUP, she develops new "eyes" to study the Higgs bosons by spearheading the development of machine learning algorithms for enabling the exploration of the Higgs properties, including the search for Higgs decay to the charm quarks and the study of the Higgs self-coupling. Additionally, she leads efforts in the creation of new radiation-hard detectors.

Professor Bortoletto's contributions extend beyond her scientific achievements. She has been a beacon of change in promoting gender equality within the field of physics. As the lead organizer of the Conference for UK Undergraduate Women in Physics, she has not only fostered an inclusive environment but also empowered future generations of women physicists. Her efforts have paved the way for a more diverse and equal future in our field.

Professor Bortoletto said: “I am profoundly humbled and honored to receive this recognition. I am committed to furthering both scientific progress in particle physics and the cause of equality in the physical sciences.”

Photo: QUP PI Daniela Bortoletto received her medal at the OBE ceremony in Windsor Castle on March 18th, 2024.