An optimized signal selection for a $\theta_{13}$ search in the MINOS experiment

MINOS is a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment situated along Fermilab's high-intensity NuMI neutrino beam. MINOS is capable of conducting a search for muon neutrino to electron neutrino transitions. Observation of this signal would indicate a nonzero value for the neutrino mixing angle $\theta_{13}$. A new analysis will incorporate several improvements to the selection of electron neutrino events in the detector. In particular, the talk will discuss a novel pattern recognition technique for signal selection and the subsequent gains in sensitivity for a measurement of $\theta_{13}$.