Previous Davis-Bahcall Scholar returns to Black Hills State Underground Campus at SURF
Katie Pedneau’s work at America’s Underground Lab is one of many examples that showcase the value of ongoing tech-sector economic growth in the Black Hills.
The visionaries who came together to create America’s Underground Lab more than 20 years ago realized the facility could help stem the so-called “brain-drain” in South Dakota by providing jobs for the state’s best and brightest. Today, the effort to inspire learning across generations, embedded inside the mission of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), reflects that original vision.
As a former Davis-Bahcall scholar and current Black Hills State University (BHSU) graduate in physics, Katie Pedneau is a leading example of the longstanding effort to build a tech-sector economy in the Black Hills and across South Dakota.
Pedneau completed her B.S. in physics this May, and she couldn’t decide whether to continue her studies in graduate school or enter the industry. Thanks to Dr. Brianna Mount, Pedneau was offered a post-baccalaureate position at SURF. Mount is an associate professor of physics at BHSU who also serves as the director of the Black Hills State Underground Campus (BHUC).
Pedneau was a 2022 Davis-Bahcall scholar, so the underground campus is familiar territory. She had previously worked with Dr. Brianna Mount through the Department of Energy’s Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW) grant, where she gained valuable experience working alongside other undergraduate students on maintaining low-background counting equipment inside the BHUC. Additionally, she spent the summer of 2024 at the University of Michigan working on a liquid xenon time projection chamber.
Pedneau’s work this summer includes deconstructing and rebuilding detectors and moving more than 60,000 pounds of lead bricks from the Davis Campus to the Ross Campus on the 4850 Level. For Mount, Pedneau’s role at the BHUC has been pivotal.
“Katie has been critical to this summer’s successful BHUC move. Her attention to detail, enthusiasm for research, and ability to make quick changes to the detectors’ shields have been a major contribution to the smooth transition,” she said.
Each detector inside the BHUC has an associated 3D diagram inside Google’s SketchUp program. Pedneau’s daily work includes making sure every brick and layer is in the exact right position. “Each brick is about 27 pounds, and there’s a lot in each detector—about 500 bricks. So, yeah, we’ll definitely have built some muscles by the end of this,” Pedneau said with a smile. The detectors will need almost a month to start recording background data, in the downtime Pedneau works on other tasks like data analysis, tying up loose ends, and getting things back on track for the new BHUC facility.
In addition to her work underground, she also serves as a mentor for the current and upcoming Davis-Bahcall scholars, using her previous experience to help guide young, bright minds to success. “I had the chance to meet the Davis-Bahcall scholars and introduced myself. I told them ‘if you ever need advice or support, I’m here for you.’ I want to be a mentor for them and tell them about my journey,” she said.
Pedneau emphasized Mount’s importance as a mentor in her own life and career.
“I think it’s really amazing that in the past four years of my life, I’ve grown up and entered this mentorship role. I’ll be able to show people what I did to get to this position and lead them on the right track as well,” said Pedneau. Pedneau is excited for the ongoing work at the BHUC. Her time with BHSU and SURF has provided the opportunity to build out her resume, including unique experiences like building a lab from the ground up.
“I’m looking forward to opening my mind and getting out of the school mentality and putting my hands on things and doing data analysis,” she said.
Pedneau’s success is just one of many among former Davis-Bahcall scholars. Her story spans SURF’s mission—the inspiration she gained as a student led her back to the facility where she is actively advancing world-class science today. She is still unsure whether she wants to enter the industry or graduate school in the future, but she is grateful for the insight and opportunities her time with SURF has provided.