Each workshop will consist of around six 30 min invited presentations, with workshops being held on the morning of 17 October 2025 and the afternoon of 20 October 2025. The agenda for each workshop is given in the DNP Epitome.
Workshops: 9:00 am — 12:30 pm 17 October 2025
- Advanced Sensors for Nuclear Decay Experiments
Organizers: Joe Formaggio (MIT), Kyle Leach (CO School of Mines), Dave Moore (Yale), and Joel Ullom (NIST)
This workshop will explore cutting-edge sensor technologies that are revolutionizing precision measurements in nuclear decay studies. Topics will include advancements in superconducting and other cryogenic devices, optomechanical sensors, and Cyclotron Radiation Emission Spectroscopy (CRES), highlighting their role in probing fundamental physics beyond the Standard Model. This workshop aims to foster collaboration across many disciplines to drive innovation in next-generation detection techniques for rare isotope studies, weak interaction measurements, and new physics searches. - Aspects of Weak Binding Effects in Nuclear Structure and Reactions
Organizers: Heather Crawford (LBNL) and Augusto Macchiavelli (ORNL)
This workshop will focus on the impacts of weak binding on nuclear structure and reactions. Studies of near-dripline, dripline and beyond-the-dripline nuclei will be presented and discussed across a range of experimental techniques and observables. Theoretical advances to describe these systems and their dynamics will also be discussed. - Baryon Number Transport in Hadronic and Photon-induced Collisions
Organizers: Rongrong Ma (BNL), Prithwish Tribedy (BNL), and Zhangbu Xu (Kent State)
In this workshop, we will bring together leading experts in theory and experiment to discuss the current understanding of what carries the baryon number and the baryon number transport mechanism in nuclear collisions, and provide guidance on future directions of exploration. - Data Science for Nuclear Physicists
Organizers: Julie Butler (Mount Union) and Cristano Fanelli (W&M)
As data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly important tools for performing research, this workshop aims to introduce machine learning and artificial intelligence approaches in the context of solving nuclear physics problems. The workshop will start with an introduction to machine learning and neural networks and will also cover convolutional neural networks, graph neural networks, and generative AI for fast simulations. - Fundamental Symmetry Tests and BSM Searches at η-η' Factories
Organizers: Liping Gan (UNCW) and Alexander Somov (JLab)
There is growing interest in testing fundamental symmetries and probing BSM physics via η/ηꞌ decays. This workshop will focus on recent theoretical developments, discuss new experimental opportunities, and identify future research needs for η/ηꞌ physics. - Gravitational Form Factors of Hadrons: Current Status & Future Plans
Organizers: Zein-Eddine Meziani (Argonne) and Feng Yuan (LBNL)
Gravitational form factors of hadrons play a crucial role in revealing their intrinsic structure, including the distribution of mass. In recent years, this field has gained significant momentum, drawing increasing interest from both experimental and theoretical communities. Rapid progress across multiple fronts calls for a comprehensive update and deeper discussion. This workshop serves as a timely platform to assess the current state of research, identify key challenges and future directions, and engage the broader DNP community with the exciting physics of hadronic structure. - Next Generation of Jet Studies in Heavy-Ion Collisions
Organizers: Helen Caines (Yale), Laura Havener (Yale), Isaac Mooney (BNL/Yale), and Zoltan Varga (Yale)
This workshop will focus on recent advancements in using jets to probe the Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP), especially with new data from RHIC's sPHENIX and upgraded STAR detector, as well as the enhanced statistics from the LHC Run 3. The discussion will center on how the improved precision of the data, along with enhanced jet tools and advances in theory, will provide new insights into the QGP's properties and parton interactions. - Nuclear Science for Defense Applications
Organizers: Zach Meisel (Air Force Institute of Technology) and Nick Scielzo (LLNL)
This workshop will highlight recent nuclear-science developments that address pressing issues in security and defense applications. By bringing together researchers in both applied and fundamental nuclear science, the interconnection between these topics and their associated approaches will be discussed, with a focus on the benefits to security and defense applications. - Professional Development for Early-Career Scientists
Organizers: Agnieszka Sorensen (for DNP Education Committee)
A successful career in nuclear physics involves progressing through several stages: from graduate school and research training to postdoctoral work and professional roles in academia, national labs, or industry. At each stage, quality professional advice can help set priorities, navigate challenges, and make informed decisions. This workshop series, organized by the DNP Education Committee, connects early-career researchers with insights from experienced colleagues across the field. This edition features two panels: "Careers Beyond Academia" will bring together professionals from diverse careers in nuclear physics outside of academia, while "Thriving as a Physics Graduate Student" will feature experienced mentors from the nuclear physics community. Each 1-hour panel will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A. - Systematic and Model Uncertainties in Nuclear Experiment and Theory: new tools, techniques, and opportunities for collaboration
Organizers: Ron Soltz (LLNL) and Daniel Phillips (Ohio)
The quantification, estimation, and interpretation of uncertainties is a topic of increasing importance across the entire range of topics in Nuclear Physics. The last few years have seen new developments in both experiment and theory with regard to estimating and working with uncertainties in models and data, and these developments have produced new collaborations across the various sub-disciplines of nuclear physics and with scientists in other fields such as statistics and data science. In this workshop we will review recent developments and discuss new directions and new opportunities for collaboration. - The Interior of the Nucleon: Bridging Theory and Imaging with TMDs
Organizers: Markus Diefenthaler (JLab) and Ted Rogers (ODU/JLab)
This workshop will explore the theoretical and experimental study of Transverse Momentum Distributions (TMDs) to advance our understanding of quark and gluon dynamics. The program will cover TMD theory, experimental results from CEBAF12 and RHIC, future opportunities at the EIC, and initiatives bridging experiment and theory, while also engaging participants in discussions on key challenges and future directions in the field.
Workshops: 2:00 pm — 5:30 pm 20 October 2025
- AI in Nuclear Physics Experiment
Organizers: Aobo Li (UCSD) and Jin Huang (BNL)
Following the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics, it is evident that artificial intelligence (AI) has tremendous power to change the landscape of physics. From neutrino detectors to heavy ion colliders and nuclear astrophysics, AI offers unprecedented opportunities for experimental nuclear physics to maximize scientific insights and guarantee result delivery. However, the AI/ML and experimental nuclear physics communities often speak different languages, creating barriers that prevent nuclear physicists from fully harnessing AI's capabilities. This workshop will: 1) highlight successful AI implementations by nuclear experimentalists, including their challenges and achievements, and 2) feature presentations from core ML researchers on cutting-edge research in the AI community. This bidirectional approach aims to bridge the communication gap between AI and nuclear physics communities to catalyze innovative collaborations. - Current Applications of Machine Learning in Nuclear Physics
Organizers: Nicole Vassh (TRIUMF), Kyle Godbey (FRIB), and Matt Mumpower (LANL)
This workshop explores the intersection of machine learning and nuclear physics, highlighting how advanced computational techniques can enhance research and discovery in the field. The workshop aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration across a broad thrust of topics including those in computational sciences, nuclear experiment, nuclear theory, and nuclear astrophysics. - FDSi Physics: Recent Results and Future Plans
Organizers: Robert Grzywacz (UTK), Miguel Madurga (UTK), and Mitch Allmond (ORNL)
The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) will provide unprecedented access to exotic nuclei; approximately 80% of the isotopes predicted to exist up to uranium (Z = 92) will be produced. The FRIB Decay Station Initiator (FDSi), led by the FDSi Coordination Committee and supported by the FDSi Group and Working Groups, is the initial stage of the FRIB Decay Station (FDS). An overview of the FDSi community, recent results, Phase 2 implementation, and future plans will be given and discussed. - Frontiers in TMD Physics: Integrating Theory, Lattice, and Phenomenology
Organizers: Patrick Barry (Argonne), Chiara Bissolotti (Argonne), and Yong Zhao (Argonne)
This workshop aims to bring together experts from theoretical, lattice, and phenomenological communities to explore the rich landscape of TMD physics. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, the event will provide a platform to discuss recent advancements, highlight outstanding challenges, and develop collaborative research strategies. - Nuclear Masses for Nuclear Astrophysics: Present and Future
Organizers: Sam Porter (Notre Dame) and Adrian Valverde (Argonne)
Nuclear masses have a massive impact on our understanding of the production mechanisms of exotic nuclei and the astrophysical conditions at which they occur. This workshop will highlight the advancements made regarding astrophysically-relevant nuclear masses in both the theoretical and experimental regime, with an added goal of highlighting and promoting their cross-cutting, multi-disciplinary and collaborative nature. In particular, as the community looks to the future of nuclear masses within nuclear astrophysics, this workshop will provide a ripe space to continue conversation on the direction of the field, guided by recent and forthcoming innovation and advancement. - Polarized Ion Beams at the EIC
Organizers: Zein-Eddine Meziani (Argonne) and Richard Milner (MIT)
Polarized ion beams are essential to a successful realization of the EIC scientific program. The workshop will describe scientific highlights, current polarized ion source developments, and considerations of hadron polarimetry and spin manipulation. The workshop can provide an important focus as the international spin community organizes to begin a decade-long effort to prepare for the EIC. The DNP forum serves as an ideal platform for the broader dissemination of this effort, inspiring the next generation to join this effort and contribute to the workforce in the EIC era. - Proton-Oxygen and Oxygen-Oxygen Collisions at RHIC and LHC
Organizers: Jaki Noronha-Hostler (UIUC) and Dennis Perepelitsa (CU Boulder)
Oxygen-oxygen (O+O) and proton-oxygen (p+O) collisions at ultra-relativistic energies provide a variety of exciting experimental and theoretical physics opportunities, including the exploration of final-state QGP effects in intermediate-sized systems, the precision determination of how flow is related to nucleon- and sub-nucleonic structure, and the unique benchmarking of air-shower MC models for cosmic-ray astro-particle physics. RHIC delivered O+O collisions in 2021, with a number of recent early experimental results, and the LHC is scheduled to deliver p+O and O+O collisions with appreciable luminosities in summer 2025. This DNP workshop provides a critical first look at the latest experimental results and their theoretical context and interpretation.
Workshop Infomation and Proposals
A key component of DNP meetings is the morning workshops on the first day. For DNP 2025 we are now soliciting proposals for these workshops, which may also be held on the last day. Approximately 24 in-person workshops will be held at the DNP 2025 venue on 1) 17 October 2025, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, including a 30-minute coffee break at 10:30am, and 2) 20 October 2025, from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm, including a 30-minute coffee break at 3:30pm.
To apply to host a workshop, please complete the short proposal template found at:
Meeting Workshop Proposal Template
and send to Ramona Vogt (DNP Secretary/Treasurer, [email protected]) and Ian Cloët (LOC, [email protected]). The deadline for proposals is 24 February 2025 and any down selection will be completed by end of March.
Thank you for taking the time to help make this part of DNP 2025 a great success, and we look forward to receiving your meeting workshop proposals.
