Pantic Lab Safety Award Winner

Dr. Emilija Pantic's Lab is this year's winner for the College of Letters and Science

The Pantic Lab develops and tests ultra-clean, low-radiation detector components that will become part of a fifty-ton liquid argon detector used to observe extremely rare particle interactions. In order to detect these interactions, every source of interference must be removed, ranging from dust and fingerprints to trace amounts of radioactivity, “much like cleaning a lens to sharpen a view of the universe,” says Dr. Pantic.

Dr. Emilija Pantic and her lab group stand in front of machinery and smile. — Dr. Emilija Pantic (center right) with lab members Dr. Ludovico Luzzi (left), PhD student Dylon Fleming (center left) and Dr. Tyler Erjavec (right).

The lab is part of the DarkSide-20k experiment, an international effort across universities and labs to detect dark matter through particle interactions. By observing direct interactions, such as particles bouncing off the detector, we can better understand the nature and behavior of dark matter. The Pantic Lab’s work is therefore crucial to the advancement of this experiment.

Safety is essential due to the lab's handling of cryogenic liquids, pressurized gases and high-voltage systems. Procedures are methodical; every team member completes annual lab-specific training and all safety documentation is kept digital and accessible. The lab also uses Slack to effectively communicate in their continuously changing environment. “Because our work often involves new or evolving processes, we regularly reassess safety protocols,” Dr. Pantic explained. “We also work closely with our safety delegate, inspector and facilities team to address the challenges of working in an aging lab space.”

A man wearing glasses and a blue glove uses a screwdriver on a piece of metal machinery.

A man wearing a full face mask checks on pieces inside a vaccuum oven.

The Pantic Lab recently achieved a major success for the DarkSide-20k experiment — consistently maintaining 100,000 volts without breakdown. It’s a crucial benchmark for the DarkSide detector, which relies on high-voltage fields to detect rare particle interactions. Looking ahead, the lab hopes to build upon this success with long-term high-voltage tests. The team is also interested in the construction of a large modular enclosure that will help minimize dust during extended installations. Hands-on safety training will remain an integral part of their operations, ensuring that everyone stays proactive.

With its combination of cutting-edge physics and an unwavering commitment to safety, the Pantic Lab exemplifies the teamwork that drives scientific discovery.