By Alvaro Castillo | April 16, 2024

The University of California announced that 27 young scientists — including three UCLA physicists — will head to Germany later this summer as part of the fifth class of UC President’s Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Fellows.

The 73rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 5, will focus on physics and bring together more than 30 Nobel laureates and around 600 young scientists, continuing a tradition of exchange between different generations, disciplines and cultures.

Monika Yadav

What does it mean to be selected for this honor?It’s a prestigious recognition of my academic achievements and potential in the field. The Lindau Meetings embody the principles of mentorship, collaboration and the promotion of scientific excellence, which fully align with my role as an accelerator physicist.

Moreover, the opportunity to interact with Nobel laureates and peers will significantly impact my career trajectory, contribute to my personal and professional growth and empower me to inspire future generations of scientists, thereby contributing to Lindau’s commitment to science education and outreach.

I’m thrilled to have received an invitation to attend the Lindau Meeting. I look forward to engaging with fellow scientists and learning more about their research.

How would you explain your research to a general audience?I’ve been researching advanced plasma phenomena at UCLA, using plasma, machine learning and laser technology. During my Ph.D., I specialized in studying betatron radiation and developed new analysis methods. My current focus is on experimental control, simulation and theoretical plasma physics, integrating machine learning for data analysis.

What was the very first moment you fell in love with science?My journey into the world of science began during high school when I developed a passion for understanding natural phenomena. This passion led me to choose science as my professional career path and led to me being awarded a CBSE scholarship, which enabled me to pursue a research career in basic sciences at Miranda House, Delhi University.