2025 Michelson Postdoctoral Prize Brings Top Physics Researcher to Campus
Ben Lehmann’s work focuses on probing and connecting dark matter particle physics to novel observational and experimental and tools, including cosmological surveys, gravitational waves, and condensed matter systems.
Lehmann is the recipient of the 2025 Michelson Postdoctoral Prize, an annual international award presented by the Department of Physics to an outstanding postdoctoral researcher in any subfield of physics. The award includes a $3,000 prize and one-week residency at Case Western Reserve University. He is the 27th recipient of the distinguished prize.
This week, Lehmann shares his research in a series of lectures and a colloquium:
MPPL Lecture #1Â (Monday, April 13, 12:45-2pm, Rockefeller 221)
Broadening Direct Searches for Light Dark Matter
MPPL Lecture #2Â (Tuesday, April 14, 11:30am-12:45pm, Rockefeller 221)
Compact Objects as Dark Matter: Endgame
Michelson Postdoctoral Prize Colloquium (Thursday, April 16, 4-5:30pm, Rockefeller 301)
Testing the Particle Dark Matter Paradigm
At the Thursday colloquium, Lehmann and top NE Ohio high school science and engineering research students in attendance who are finalists the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) also will receive proclamations from the Cuyahoga County Executive Office celebrating their achievements, the Michelson-Morley Experiment, and ‘Science in Cleveland’ in general.
About Dr. Lehmann’s Research
 Lehmann’s research using a combination of techniques from particle physics, astrophysics, cosmology, and black hole physics is dedicated to understanding the nature and properties of dark matter. His ultimate goal is to understand dark matter in the same way that we understand ordinary matter, with predictive particle physics models.
About the Michelson Postdoctoral PrizeÂ
The Michelson Postdoctoral Prize was named after Albert Michelson, professor of physics at the Case School of Applied Science from 1882 to 1889. Michelson and his colleague Edward Morley, professor of chemistry at Western Reserve University from 1869 to 1906, are best known for their experiment that provided decisive empirical evidence for the future theory of relativity. Michelson won the first science Nobel Prize awarded to an American in 1907.