From Slovenia to Ohio: ASEF Junior Fellow Luka Jože Pušlar Uses Artificial Intelligence to Study Particles of the Universe
Luka Jože Pušlar on his research visit to the University of Cincinnati in the USA.
Luka Jože Pušlar, a physics student at the University of Ljubljana and 2025 ASEF Junior Fellow, completed his research visit at the University of Cincinnati under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Jure Zupan.
He joined the efforts of the MLHad group, which applies machine learning to describe the process of hadronization in high-energy physics. As part of his contribution, he worked on high-energy physics simulations, helping to develop a more efficient parameter fitting method for the Lund string model of hadronization. He explored the model’s generalizability and contributed to the implementation of a more efficient approach. The preliminary results gathered during the visit already show great promise in terms of generalizability.
His collaboration will continue after returning home, with the aim of expanding the current results and presenting them in a future publication.
During the visit, Luka was introduced to a research environment in theoretical high-energy physics and gained valuable experience in collaborative scientific work. He expanded both his theoretical and practical knowledge and deepened his expertise in high-energy physics, machine learning, and high-performance computing. His involvement included individual research tasks, participation in weekly meetings and journal clubs, and attendance at a conference focused on phenomenology.
While in the U.S., Luka formed many meaningful friendships and connections both within and beyond the research environment. He explored the city with fellow PhD students, attended a Cincinnati Reds baseball game, enjoyed a rock festival, and was even introduced to boxing by fellow physicist Dr. Ahmed Youssef. He also spent a lot of time with his American roommates, experiencing college life firsthand, staying active at the campus gym, and engaging in lively discussions about cultural differences.
During his stay, Luka also reconnected with a Slovenian friend and met a former ASEF Junior Fellow David Turk, who had visited Slovenia in 2020. He took the opportunity to travel and explore, visiting cities such as St. Louis, Cleveland, and Chicago.
The ASEF research visit was a life-changing experience for Luka, offering him the chance to grow both professionally and personally. It reinforced his ambition to pursue a research career while staying engaged with his local community—both within and outside the world of science. It also deepened his appreciation for the exceptional quality of life in his homeland, Slovenia.
He is deeply grateful to his mentor, Prof. Dr. Jure Zupan, his project co-mentors Tony Menzo and Dr. Manuel Szewc, and all the friends who made the experience so memorable. He also expresses sincere thanks to the entire ASEF organization for making this opportunity possible.
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