Kevin Pitts

Kevin Pitts
Kevin Pitts he/him/his

Primary Research Area

  • High Energy Physics
Research Professor

Education

  • Ph.D., Physics, University of Oregon, Eugene, June 1994

Biography

Kevin T. Pitts is a high energy experimentalist who has made seminal contributions to the measurement and understanding of CP violation in bottom quark decays . He received a B.A. in physics and mathematics from Anderson University (1987) and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of Oregon (1989 and 1994, respectively). After working as a research associate at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in the Collider Detector Facility (CDF) experiments, Professor Pitts joined the faculty at the University of Illinois in 1999.

Professor Pitts continues to carry out research at Fermilab, with the CDF experiment and the Muon g-2 experiment.

On CDF, Pitts served in a number of roles, including leader of the Bottom Physics Working Group, leader of the Trigger and Dataset Working Group and Physics Coordinator. He led the Illinois effort to construct the very-high-speed digital trigger system, a central component of the experiment. His research focuses on the physics of heavy quarks and the Higgs boson.

On the Muon g-2 experiment, Pitts leads the effort to develop a high precision clock and control system and is also active on the high speed data acquisition system.

His service to the high energy physics community includes Chair of the Fermilab Users Executive Committee, and member of the National User Facility Organization, the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (P5), and the Long Baseline Neutrino Commitee (LBNC). Pitts currently serves as the Chief Research Officer at Fermilab.

Professor Pitts is an engaging and gifted teacher. He has developed a number of unique courses and has been a leader in presenting science to the public. He is dedicated to undergraduate education, serving as Associate Head for Undergraduate Programs (2010-2014) and as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs in the College of Engineering (2014-2017), and the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (2017-2021). He has been a leading voice in helping physics students identify career paths and is extremely active in the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics series, serving as Chair of the National Organizing Committee in 2015.

Selected Articles in Journals

Professional Societies

  • Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (P5) 2013-2014

Honors

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow
  • University of Illinois University Scholar
  • American Physical Society Fellow
  • Universities Research Association Visiting Fellow
  • Xerox Award for Outstanding Research
  • Provost's Initiative on Teaching Advancement Award
  • Arnold O. Nordsieck Award for Excellence in Teaching
  • Engineering Council Award for Excellence in Advising
  • National Science Foundation CAREER Award
  • U.S. Department of Energy Outstanding Junior Investigator
  • Center for Advanced Study Fellow

Semesters Ranked Excellent Teacher by Students

SemesterCourseOutstanding
Fall 2013PHYS 192
Spring 2013PHYS 199
Fall 2012PHYS 192
Spring 2012PHYS 199
Spring 2011PHYS 192
Fall 2010PHYS 192
Spring 2010PHYS 192
Fall 2009PHYS 192
Spring 2009PHYS 199
Spring 2007PHYS 199
Fall 2006PHYS 199
Spring 2006PHYS 199
Fall 2004PHYS 150
Spring 2004PHYS 326
Fall 2003PHYS 225
Spring 2003PHYS 326
Fall 2002PHYS 225