Rate My Professor Elliott Cheu

Elliott Cheu is a University Distinguished Professor of Physics at The University of Arizona and the institution's Chief Information Officer. He earned his B.S. in Physics from Stanford University, where he participated in the construction of a vertex detector used at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Cheu obtained his Ph.D. in Physics from Cornell University in 1991, with an emphasis on high-energy physics. Following graduate school, he conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago on the KTeV experiment at Fermilab, contributing to the first observation of direct CP violation in neutral kaon decays, which demonstrated fundamental asymmetries between matter and antimatter. In 1996, Cheu joined The University of Arizona as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, advancing to full Professor and receiving University Distinguished Professor designation in 2016.

Cheu's research in experimental high-energy physics centers on searches for supersymmetry, dark matter, and physics beyond the Standard Model using the ATLAS detector at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. Key publications include "CPT Tests in the Neutral Kaon System" (Physical Review Letters, 1994), "Observation of Direct CP Violation in KS,L → ππ Decays" (Physical Review Letters, 1999), "Final Results from the KTeV Experiment on the Decay KL → π0γγ" (Physical Review D, 2008), "Search for supersymmetry in events with three leptons and missing transverse momentum" (Physical Review Letters, 2012), and "A particle consistent with the Higgs Boson observed with the ATLAS Detector at the Large Hadron Collider" (Science, 2012). Throughout his career, he has held significant administrative roles, including Associate Dean for the College of Science from 2008 to 2019, Interim Dean of the Honors College in 2017, Interim Dean of the College of Science from 2019 to 2021, co-chair of the 2018 University Strategic Planning process, and Interim Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation from 2023 to 2024. His honors include the UA Team Award for Excellence (2017), Galileo Circle Dean's Award (2013), Blitzer Award (2010), AAFSAA Outstanding Faculty Award (2010), College of Science Distinguished Advising Award (2008), and Arthur Compton Lecturer (1993).