Constraints on the initial state of heavy ion collisions at the LHC using electroweak bosons

Electroweak bosons are color-neutral particles and are therefore not expected to be significantly modified by the presence of the hot, dense quark-gluon plasma created in high-energy heavy ion collisions. By leveraging this property, recent data on the yields and azimuthal anisotropies of electroweak bosons, gathered by the experiments at the LHC during Run 2, have enabled a more precise examination of the initial state of heavy ion collisions. In this talk, I will review the progress made constraining nuclear parton distribution functions using these new data. In addition, a puzzle regarding an apparent violation of Glauber scaling seen in peripheral collisions will be discussed. Future prospects for these measurements in the LHC Run 3 and beyond will also be presented.