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Catherine Ayuso
Mississippi State University
Statement
I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Mississippi State University, working on the E1039/SpinQuest experiment. I became a part of the Fermilab family in 2016 as a graduate student at the University of Michigan, while working on the predecessor experiment to SpinQuest, the E906/SeaQuest experiment. My time here was spent collaborating extensively with colleagues at all professional levels on hardware, data taking and analysis tasks but since rejoining the laboratory as a postdoc in 2020, I have wanted to become much more engaged with the greater Fermilab community. My interest in community engagement and service extends well into my undergraduate career. During this time, I joined the Learning Assistant program at Florida International University, which was and continues to be a part of a greater STEM transformation initiative, aiming to provide support, facilitate learning and promote the success of undergraduates in STEM courses, particularly underrepresented minorities in the field. As a graduate student, I was an active member of the Society of Women in Physics (SWIP) and through this group, I participated in several outreach efforts and workshops seeking to motivate student engagement in science, provide academic guidance and propel interests in STEM careers. I was also on the board of Lambda Grads, a group that provides social, education, activist, and support activities targeting the LGBTQ+ graduate and professional community at the University of Michigan. I’ve helped organized several activities led by the Physics Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee, some of which have included drafting a new, more inclusive code of conduct for the physics department along with the creation of an interactive guide to encourage faculty and students to have DEI-related discussions. I believe it is imperative to be an active participant in creating a more welcoming, inclusive and representative scientific community, where all members understand what support and advocacy resources are available to them. As a member of UEC, I would use all of my experience to serve the Fermilab Users community with mindfulness and great commitment and be a conduit for the effective expression of ideas, opinions, and concerns on behalf of all users. It would be an honor to have the opportunity to serve as a UEC member and I would like to thank you in advance for your consideration.