Ryan B. Patterson
Ryan B. Patterson
Professor of Physics
B.S., Caltech, 2000; Ph.D., Princeton University, 2007. Assistant Professor, Caltech, 2010-17; Professor, 2017-.
Research Interests: Experimental Particle Physics; Neutrino Physics; Physics Beyond the Standard Model; Data Analysis and Detector Development
Overview
Ryan Patterson is an experimental physicist studying the fundamental particles and forces of nature. His work includes large-scale experiments investigating the properties of neutrinos, their connections to the evolution of the universe, the dynamics of supernovae, and possible new physics beyond the Standard Model.
Selected Awards
- ASCIT Teaching Award, 2026
- Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow, 2013 – 2015
- Department of Energy, Office of Science, Early Career Research Award, 2011 – 2016
- Caltech ARC Teaching Award, 2011
- Mitsuyoshi Tanaka Dissertation Award in Experimental Particle Physics, American Physical Society, 2009
- University Research Association Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award, 2008
- Richard C. Tolman Postdoctoral Prize Fellowship, Caltech, 2007 – 2010
Selected Awards
- ASCIT Teaching Award, 2026
- Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow, 2013 – 2015
- Department of Energy, Office of Science, Early Career Research Award, 2011 – 2016
- Caltech ARC Teaching Award, 2011
- Mitsuyoshi Tanaka Dissertation Award in Experimental Particle Physics, American Physical Society, 2009
- University Research Association Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award, 2008
- Richard C. Tolman Postdoctoral Prize Fellowship, Caltech, 2007 – 2010
Caltech Affiliations
- Graduate Option Representative, Physics
- Caltech Faculty Board, Elected Member
Caltech Affiliations
- Graduate Option Representative, Physics
- Caltech Faculty Board, Elected Member
Public Outreach Activities
- Featured guest on Mindscape podcast discussing the physics of neutrinos, 2025
- Interview and public discussion, Sanford Lab, 2020
- Public lecture and discussion, Beatrice and Sai-Wai Fu Physics Salon, 2016
- Public lecture and discussion, Santa Barbara Caltech Alumni Association dinner, 2014
- Public lecture, AAAS Annual Meeting, 2013
- Featured articles describing research results in Fermilab Today and CERN Courier 2012, 2016
- Public lecture, Caltech Seminar Day, 2011
- Ask-A-Scientist live Q&A and discussion session, Fermilab, 2003
Public Outreach Activities
- Featured guest on Mindscape podcast discussing the physics of neutrinos, 2025
- Interview and public discussion, Sanford Lab, 2020
- Public lecture and discussion, Beatrice and Sai-Wai Fu Physics Salon, 2016
- Public lecture and discussion, Santa Barbara Caltech Alumni Association dinner, 2014
- Public lecture, AAAS Annual Meeting, 2013
- Featured articles describing research results in Fermilab Today and CERN Courier 2012, 2016
- Public lecture, Caltech Seminar Day, 2011
- Ask-A-Scientist live Q&A and discussion session, Fermilab, 2003
Current courses
- Ph 1bc - Special Relativity and Electromagnetism
Select recent courses
- Ph 1a - Classical Mechanics
- Ph 12c - Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
- Ph 50 - Caltech Physics League
- Ph 139 - Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics
- Ph 242 - Graduate Physics Seminar