The Building Blocks of the Universe

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My research investigates the main building blocks of the universe and the structure of space-time itself using tools from particle physics and string theory. The majority of my research aims to discover the composition of the modern universe, specifically uncovering the nature of dark matter, yet-to-be-discovered particles known only by their influence on gravity. We are in an era of rapid discovery, with multiple experiments to detect dark matter and highly sensitive astrophysical observatories now active. I am especially interested in anomalies in astroparticle physics which may be caused by dark matter and therefore give us insight into dark matter's underlying nature. I also discern the possible impact of these models for terrestrial detection experiments and even potential discoveries of new physics at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, keeping Canada at the forefront of this exciting research area. The other theme of my research program is answering fundamental questions regarding dark energy, which is responsible for the accelerated expansion of our universe, and more broadly about the structure of space-time in quantum gravity. I work in the context of string theory, the only known theory unifying particle physics with gravity. Specifically, I study the potential energy that stabilizes the size and shape of extra dimensions in string theory. Using quantum mechanical and uniquely stringy ingredients, I will build the explicit extra-dimensional model within string theory with a four-dimensional cosmological constant. But the origin of dark energy is not its only mystery; many scientists have suggested that understanding the magnitude of dark energy may require insights about the ultimate nature of quantum gravity. Therefore, I will also study the formation of black holes in string theory with a negative cosmological constant. This work may offer hints about the behavior of space-time in quantum gravity, and it will demonstrate the interplay between different aspects of gravity, including the cosmological constant. Most of the content of the universe -- dark matter and dark energy -- remain mysterious. My research puts Canada in a leading role uncovering the nature of these building blocks of the universe.