Juan Pedro Ochoa-Ricoux

Biography

Juan Pedro Ochoa-Ricoux is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. He obtained his Ph.D. in Physics from the California Institute of Technology in 2009, following his M.S. in Physics from the same institution in 2007. Ochoa-Ricoux completed his undergraduate studies with a B.S. in Physics from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in 2003. Prior to his current role, he held positions at the Catholic University of Chile and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Ochoa-Ricoux’s research primarily focuses on neutrino physics, contributing significantly to experiments such as Daya Bay, JUNO, and DUNE. He has been involved in pioneering neutrino detection technologies and has served on several executive and analysis committees within these collaborations. His work in the Daya Bay experiment led to his participation in the team that received the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics in 2016. His research has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.

At UCI, Professor Ochoa-Ricoux teaches courses in physics and astronomy, including introductory and advanced classes in experimental physics. He has received multiple teaching awards, such as the Dean’s Honoree Teaching Award and the Outstanding Faculty Award for Undergraduate Teaching. In addition to his teaching duties, he mentors doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and participates actively in university and departmental committees, contributing to the academic and professional development of his students and colleagues.

Education

• PhD in Physics, California Institute of Technology, 2009
• MS in Physics, California Institute of Technology, 2007
• BS in Physics, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey - ITESM, 2003

Distinctions

• Dean’s Honoree Teaching Award (School of Physical Sciences, University of California at Irvine), 2023
• Outstanding Faculty Award for Undergraduate Teaching (Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of California at Irvine), 2022
• International Partnership Prize for Young Scientists (Chinese Academy of Sciences, China), 2021
• Selected as a Young Scientist of 2018 (World Economic Forum, Switzerland), 2018
• “Inspiring Professor Award” voted best professor in “General” Category (Center of Engineering Students, Catholic University of Chile, Chile), 2018
• “Excellence in Teaching Recognition Award” (Catholic University of Chile, Chile), 2017
• “Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics 2016” for contributions to the Daya Bay Reactor Antineutrino Experiment, 2016
• “Most Promising Engineer or Scientist at the Doctoral Level” (Great Minds in STEM, USA), 2012
• Selected to speak at the 62nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (Siemens Corporation and Scientific Review Panel of the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, Germany), 2012
• “Springer Thesis Award”, publication of PhD thesis (Springer Publishing Company, Germany), 2010