Co-facilitators
Amin Abouibraham
Dr. Abouibrahim earned his Ph.D. in Theoretical Particle Physics from Northeastern University in Boston. His research covers areas of theoretical high energy physics (phenomenology and model building) and particle cosmology, where the focus is on studying and understanding the nature of the dark sector of the universe. This sector comprises dark matter and dark energy and potentially other new particles that can have direct or indirect interactions with the visible sector. These interactions (whether weak-scale size or feeble in nature) may impact several observables that can be searched for in current and future experiments.
His current research addresses the origins of the recent cosmological tensions between late-time and early-time measurements of some quantities, mainly, the Hubble parameter, which is a measure of the rate at which the universe is expanding. Dr. Abouibrahim’s work in cosmology consists of trying to find a field-theoretic model as an alternative to the concordance LCDM model. His research employs advanced statistical techniques, including Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations and Bayesian inference, to extract cosmological parameters based on the latest cosmological data. The use of a high-performance computing cluster is integral to his research.
Before his doctoral studies, Dr. Abouibrahim served as Chair of the Physics Department at SABIS International School in Lebanon, where he taught for nine years. With over 20 years of experience in education, he remains passionate about teaching and student success. His teaching interests span topics such as Electromagnetism, Quantum Mechanics, and Elementary Particle Physics. Students interested in getting a first-hand research experience in particle physics and cosmology are encouraged to join his research group, where they can engage in theoretical modeling, computational analysis, or both.
Regulo Stabilito
Régulo Stabilito is a Venezuelan conductor renowned for his dynamic leadership, dedication to the Latin American repertoire, and firm belief in music’s transformative power. A product of Venezuela’s acclaimed El Sistema and American academia, Stabilito began his conducting career under the mentorship of Maestro José Antonio Abreu, leading performances with major orchestras throughout Venezuela, including the Caracas Municipal Symphony Orchestra, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, and the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra.
In 2022, he was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association (ORCMA) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In this role, he leads the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra and oversees the artistic development of the Oak Ridge Chorus and Chamber Music Series.
Stabilito has appeared recently as guest and cover conductor with notable ensembles such as the Knoxville Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Washington Philharmonic, and the Caracas Municipal Symphony Orchestra. Deeply committed to his heritage, he co-founded the Latin-American Music Initiative (LAMI), which champions underrepresented Latin American composers through performance, education, and scholarship. In 2020, LAMI received the University of Michigan’s EXCEL Prize for innovation in the arts.
His previous conducting posts include leadership roles with the Ann Arbor Camerata, Spectrum Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Michigan’s Campus Orchestras. He has also served as Visiting Director of Orchestral Activities at Appalachian State University and as Artist-in-Residence and Conductor of the Lee Symphony at Lee University in Tennessee.
Equally at home in opera and ballet, Stabilito made his operatic debut in 2015 with the Primo Casale Opera Company and the Caracas Municipal Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted ballet productions with the Teresa Carreño Ballet Company and the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra. A regular guest at the Festival Latinoamericano de Música in Caracas, he has premiered numerous works across Latin America and maintains strong ties with orchestras in Venezuela and the broader region.
A passionate educator and advocate for music’s social impact, Stabilito has led youth orchestras and El Sistema-inspired programs across the Americas and Europe.
He holds doctoral and master’s degrees in conducting from the University of Michigan (DMA ’21, MM ’19), a master’s degree from Simón Bolívar University, and a law degree from Santa Maria University. His principal mentors include Alfredo Rugeles, Kenneth Kiesler, Rodolfo Saglimbeni, Carlos Riazuelo, Manuel Hernández-Silva, Giancarlo Guerrero, and Eugene Rogers.