CAREER: Confronting fundamental theories with observations in cosmology

随着弦理论和圈量子引力的出现，对引力量子理论的探索取得了进展，但两者都缺乏与实验的直接联系。PI提出了一个五年计划，通过开发标准模型和量子引力之外的新模型，有可能解决宇宙学和粒子物理学中的基本问题。此外，他还提出了新的观测方案来测试这些模型。PI在未来五年的长期研究计划集中在两个主题上。一个是在粒子物理学和宇宙学的接口，他希望在那里看到他的新模型，统一重力与电弱力的LHC物理学的后果。 他还将研究这个模型的超对称扩展的现象学后果。 第二个领域涉及宇宙学奇点的性质。PI提出了几个基于修正引力的新理论，并将考虑这些模型的实验结果。 该职业计划的推广部分将包括PI提供为期两周的音乐和宇宙课程，这将是对声音和乐器物理学的实际演示。这些讲座将通过宾夕法尼亚州立大学的“向上的夏季科学”项目向城市高中学生介绍。PI还将每年为两名少数民族本科生担任研究和长期职业导师，通过该奖项在他的团队中创建两个夏季研究职位。

The search for a quantum theory of gravity has seen progress with the advent of string theory and loop quantum gravity, but both lack direct contact with experiment. The PI proposes a five-year plan that can potentially resolve fundamental problems in cosmology and particle physics by developing new models that arise from theories beyond the standard model and quantum gravity. Additionally, he proposes new observational schemes to test these models. The PI's long-term research plans over the next five years focus on two themes. One is at the Interface of Particle Physics and Cosmology where he hopes to look at the consequences for LHC physics of his new model that unifies gravity with the electroweak force. He will also investigate the phenomenological consequences of a Supersymmetric extension of this model. The second area concerns the nature of the cosmological singularity. The PI has proposed several novel theories based on modifying gravity and will also consider the experimental consequences of these models. The outreach part of this Career program will consist of the PI giving a two-week course on Music and the Cosmos, which will be hands on presentation on the physics of sound and musical instruments. These lectures will be presented to urban high school students through the Upward Bound Summer Science program at Penn State. The PI will also serve as both a research and long-term career mentor for two minority undergraduate students each year, by creating two summer research positions in his group through this award.