Kohsaku Tobioka is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Florida State University. He joined the faculty in 2018 after postdoctoral appointments at Stony Brook University (2017-2018), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) in Japan (2014), and a joint position at Tel Aviv University and Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel (2014-2017). Education: Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Tokyo (2014) His research focuses on theoretical particle physics, particularly exploring physics beyond the Standard Model through phenomena like supersymmetry, extra dimensions, dark matter, and axions. He integrates cosmology and astroparticle physics with experimental approaches at high-intensity facilities such as B/K meson factories. Scientific Recognition: JSPS Research Fellow for Young Scientists (2014-2016) Tobioka actively engages in outreach through programs like Saturday Morning Physics at Florida State University and is open to speaking engagements at local schools.
Takemichi Okui is a Professor of Physics at Florida State University (FSU), part of the Department of Physics within the College of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley (2003), and a B.Sc. from Hokkaido University, Japan (1998). His research focuses on High Energy Theory, with expertise in particle physics, cosmology, and quantum field theory. Okui has been recognized with awards such as the FSU Developing Scholar Award (2017) and University Teaching Award (2016). He has mentored multiple graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Okui's academic roles include serving on FSU's Graduate Affairs Committee and organizing events like the Dirac Lectures. He has taught advanced courses in high energy physics, quantum field theory, and relativity. His research has been supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Japan's JSPS, totaling over $10 million in funding. Key research interests include neutrino physics, dark matter, and axion models. Recent work explores primordial black holes and B-meson decays at the Belle II experiment. Okui actively contributes to professional services, reviewing grants for NSF/DOE and refereeing top journals like Physical Review Letters.
Prof. Dr. Dominik Schwarz is a faculty member at the Faculty of Physics , Bielefeld University. His research focuses on Cosmology and Particle Physics , particularly in the areas of Dark Energy , Dark Matter , Cosmological Inflation , and Large-Scale Structure Formation . He contributes to projects like the International LOFAR Telescope Consortium and the SFB-TRR 211 on strongly interacting matter. APART Fellow of Austrian Academy of Sciences Humboldt Fellow CERN Fellow His recent work explores the cosmic dipole anisotropy , axion density perturbations , and multi-wavelength cosmic web mapping . He also advances data science infrastructure through the PUNCH4NFDI consortium.
David Schuster is an Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Chicago. His primary research focuses on experimental condensed matter physics, with a particular emphasis on circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED), superconducting qubits, and quantum information science. He leads the Schuster Lab, which explores quantum systems, hybrid quantum technologies, and topological materials. Education: Ph.D. in Physics from Yale University (2007), advised by Robert Schoelkopf. His doctoral work pioneered advancements in circuit QED, demonstrating strong coupling between superconducting qubits and microwave resonators. Research Interests: The lab investigates superconducting quantum circuits, topological photonics, quantum sensors for dark matter, and scalable quantum computing architectures. Projects include developing fluxonium qubits, autonomous error correction, and hybrid systems involving trapped electrons on helium. Key Contributions: Published in Nature , Science , and Physical Review Letters on topics like topological circuits, photon blockade, and dark matter detection using superconducting cavities. Collaborates with groups at Stanford, Purdue, and other institutions on quantum technologies. Students and Collaborators: Advises numerous graduate and undergraduate students, including prominent alumni who have transitioned to postdocs and industry roles. Lab members present at major conferences like the APS March Meeting. Labs: Schuster Lab at the University of Chicago, with access to state-of-the-art facilities like the Pritzker NanoFabrication Facility. Collaborates with the Awschalom, Cleland, and Houck groups on hybrid quantum systems and materials science.
Sean Carroll serves as the Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University and holds External Faculty status at the Santa Fe Institute. His research bridges cosmology, quantum mechanics, and philosophy, focusing on foundational questions about spacetime emergence, quantum interpretation, and complexity across cosmic scales. Carroll earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1993. His academic trajectory reflects deep engagement with theoretical physics and philosophical inquiry, culminating in his current named professorship at Johns Hopkins. Carroll's research centers on the intersection of physics and philosophy, with significant contributions to quantum foundations, cosmology, and the nature of emergence. He is a leading proponent of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics and has pioneered work on the thermodynamic arrow of time, quantum decoherence, and the fine-tuning of initial cosmic conditions. His recent investigations explore discretized quantum systems, holographic principles in gravity, and the philosophical implications of quantum gravity. Analysis of his 2022-2025 publications reveals a pronounced shift toward computational approaches in quantum gravity, with increasing emphasis on finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces and GPU-accelerated modeling. His work consistently integrates quantum information theory with cosmological questions, particularly examining how spacetime geometry emerges from quantum entanglement and how complexity evolves in closed systems. Carroll's scientific recognition includes: National Science Foundation Fellowship NASA Fellowship Sloan Research Fellowship Packard Fellowship Fellow of the American Physical Society American Institute of Physics Award Fellow of the Royal Society Guggenheim Fellowship Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science His research has been sustained through major fellowships from NSF, NASA, Sloan, and Packard foundations, enabling interdisciplinary collaborations across physics and philosophy. Carroll actively mentors graduate students at Johns Hopkins and contributes to public discourse through his popular science books (including the Biggest Ideas in the Universe series) and the weekly Mindscape podcast. As Fractal Faculty at the Santa Fe Institute, Carroll participates in cross-disciplinary research on complex systems, exploring how emergent phenomena arise from fundamental physical laws. His work bridges theoretical physics with broader questions about complexity in biological, cognitive, and social systems.
Gavin Brennen is a Professor in Quantum Information Science (Core) at Macquarie University's School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. He leads the Macquarie Centre for Quantum Engineering (MQCQE) and serves as a Chief Investigator at the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS). He is also an Executive Board Member of the Sydney Quantum Academy (SQA). His research focuses on quantum computing, quantum sensing, and atomic physics, with a particular emphasis on quantum error correction and quantum LDPC codes. Key roles and affiliations include directorship of MQCQE, leadership in ARC EQUS, and SQA board membership. He has secured funding for multiple research projects, including Sydney Quantum Academy scholarships (e.g., Brennen/Gharat and Brennen/Vedl) and the Engineered Quantum Matter initiative. His work addresses quantum technologies' applications in sensing, computing, and communication. Research interests span quantum computing architectures, quantum error correction protocols, and atomic systems. Notable projects include high-rate quantum LDPC codes for neutral atom registers, cavity-based quantum gates, and quantum internet protocols. His contributions to quantum crypto-economics and blockchain security further highlight his interdisciplinary impact. He has advised on projects such as the Australian Dark Matter Detector for High-Mass Axions and collaborates internationally. Current efforts prioritize scalable quantum systems, fault-tolerant protocols, and quantum networking. His lab and teams drive innovation in quantum hardware and theoretical frameworks for emerging technologies.
Mark Hertzberg is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Tufts University, located within the School of Arts and Sciences. He holds a PhD from MIT (2010), following degrees from the University of Sydney. His research focuses on theoretical physics at the intersection of cosmology, particle physics, and astrophysics, with a particular emphasis on dark matter (e.g., axions), cosmological inflation, gravitation theory, and quantum phenomena. He has been Director of the Institute of Cosmology at Tufts since 2023. Education: PhD Physics, MIT, 2010 MSc Physics, University of Sydney, 2004 BSc Physics & Mathematics, University of Sydney, 2002 Research Interests: Dark matter structure and axion physics Cosmological inflation and post-inflationary dynamics Gravitational theory and quantum gravity constraints Large-scale structure and cosmic microwave background analysis Grants: Multiple NSF awards including 'Cosmology and Fundamental Physics' (2024-2026) and 'Constraining Physics Beyond the Standard Model with Cosmological Observations' (2023-2026). Teaching: Courses include General Relativity, Cosmology, Quantum Field Theory, and graduate research supervision.
Leonid Glazman is the Donner Professor of Physics and Professor of Applied Physics at Yale University. His research focuses on condensed matter physics, particularly in mesoscopic systems, superconductivity, and topological materials. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and recipient of the Humboldt Research Award. His work explores quantum fluctuations in low-dimensional systems, nonlinear Luttinger liquids, and superconducting qubits such as fluxonium. Collaborations with experimentalists like Rob Schoelkopf and Michel Devoret have led to breakthroughs in quantum technologies. Key research areas include topological insulators, helical edge states, and the dynamics of quantum phase slips. His theoretical contributions span Coulomb blockade effects, Kondo physics in quantum dots, and vortex lattice dynamics in layered superconductors. Recent studies address quantum interference in superconducting circuits and the development of high-coherence qubit architectures. Awards: Humboldt Research Award, APS Fellowship Grants: Supported by the Simons Foundation and National Science Foundation Labs/Teams: Collaborates with Yale Quantum Institute and experimental groups on superconducting devices His publications include seminal reviews on nonlinear Luttinger liquids and articles in Nature , Science , and Physical Review Letters . Current research emphasizes topological superconductivity, Majorana fermions, and quantum noise suppression in qubits.
Prof. Zheshen Zhang is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan College of Engineering . He leads the Quantum Engineering Lab , focusing on harnessing quantum mechanical resources like entanglement to advance sensing, communication, and computing systems. Academic Rank: Professor Institution: University of Michigan School: College of Engineering Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering Research Interests: His work spans quantum engineering, emphasizing: Quantum computing architectures using continuous-variable cluster states Quantum communication via entanglement-assisted protocols Quantum sensing for precision metrology and dark matter detection Hybrid photonic circuits with Scandium Aluminum Nitride and Silicon Nitride Application of machine learning to quantum information processing Publications Trends: Recent articles highlight: Advances in integrated photonics for scalable quantum devices Development of entanglement-enhanced sensors for covert and precision applications Exploration of exceptional points in optical cavities for metrology Quantum network prototypes enabling open-access quantum computing Machine learning integration with quantum data acquisition
Benjamin Safdi is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with the Berkeley Center for Theoretical Physics. He holds a PhD from Princeton University (2014), a Master of Advanced Study from Cambridge University (as a Churchill Scholar), and an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Prior to UC Berkeley, he was a Pappalardo Fellow at MIT (2014–2017), an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan (2017–2020), and part of LBNL before joining Berkeley in 2021. Research Focus: Dr. Safdi specializes in dark matter physics, particularly axion dark matter detection via novel laboratory experiments and astrophysical probes. His work integrates high-performance computing simulations, data analysis techniques for astrophysical datasets, and collaborations with experimental facilities like the Fermi gamma-ray telescope and the Green Bank radio telescope. He co-founded the ABRACADABRA axion dark matter experiment. Awards: Department of Energy Early Career Award (2018) IUPAP C11 Young Scientist Prize (2020) His research bridges theoretical particle physics and observational astrophysics, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to uncovering dark matter's microscopic nature.
Professor Jean Alexandre is a Professor of Physics at King's College London, affiliated with the Department of Physics within the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences. His research focuses on non-perturbative quantum field theory, tunnelling phenomena, exact renormalization methods, and Lorentz symmetry violation. He has held positions including a Leverhulme Trust postdoc and temporary lectureship before his current role. Education: Doctor of Science in Theoretical Physics from University Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg (1998) Master of Physics in Theoretical Physics from École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (1994) Research Interests: Non-perturbative effects in QFT (dynamical mass generation, exact functional methods) Lorentz symmetry violation in particle physics and modified gravity Tunnelling mechanisms, cosmic bounce models, and null energy condition studies Non-Hermitian extensions of the Standard Model and PT-symmetric field theories Key contributions include work on magnetic monopole searches with the MoEDAL experiment at the LHC, finite volume effects in quantum field theory, and dynamical mass generation mechanisms. His recent articles explore topics like scalar high-electric-charge objects, vacuum decay rates, and cosmic bounce scenarios. He has supervised PhD theses on topics such as Lifshitz-type theories and gravitino condensation. Grants and Collaborations: Principal Investigator on Leverhulme Trust project 'Saving the Universe with finite volume effects in Quantum Field Theory' Co-Investigator on EPSRC and STFC-funded projects in particle physics and cosmology Labs/Teams: Active collaborator in the MoEDAL experiment and the Theoretical Particle Physics & Cosmology group at King's College London.
Jesse Liu is an Assistant Professor of Physics at the New York University College of Arts & Science , joining in Spring 2025. He collaborates with the ATLAS Experiment at CERN and leads the NYU Experimental Particle Physics group. Research Interests: Liu's work bridges fundamental particle physics and detector innovation. He investigates Tau-lepton electromagnetic dipoles via photon collisions at the LHC High-luminosity LHC silicon tracker upgrades Dark matter searches through collider experiments and the BREAD axion detection project Cosmic ray physics using ATLAS data Recent Publications focus on tau magnetic moment measurements, detector thermal stress mitigation, and cosmic ray signature analysis. His work has been featured in Phys. Rev. D , Phys. Rev. Lett. , and JINST . Outreach & Mentorship: Liu actively engages in public science communication through Pint of Science talks The Conversation articles School visits to CERN First-gen student mentorship at NYU CU*iP Contact: Office at 726 Broadway, Room 852, New York City. Email: jesse.liu2@nyu.edu
James Unwin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He holds a DPhil in Physics from the University of Oxford (2013) and has held postdoctoral positions at the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on theoretical particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology, particularly exploring physics beyond the Standard Model, dark matter models, and interdisciplinary applied mathematics. Current interests include dark matter interactions, primordial black holes, and novel experimental approaches like Coulomb explosion imaging. Research Interests: Dark Matter Models: Including freeze-in mechanisms, annihilation signatures, and cosmological constraints Particle Astrophysics: Supersymmetry, LHC searches, and Grand Unified Theories Interdisciplinary Work: Applications of mathematics to epidemiology (e.g., COVID-19 forecasts via stock market indicators) and social dynamics Recent publications emphasize ultrafast molecular dynamics, XUV spectroscopy, and cosmological impacts of primordial black holes. He has advised PhD students Prolay Chanda and Qingyun Wang, both advanced to candidacy in 2021. Professional activities include visiting roles at UC Berkeley (2022–2023) and a Distinguished Academic Visitor appointment at Queen’s College, Oxford (2023). Affiliations: UIC Department of Physics Adjunct roles at UC Berkeley and University of Oxford Collaborations with institutions like Fermilab and CERN
K.S. Babu, Ph.D. , is a Regents Professor in the Department of Physics at Oklahoma State University . His research focuses on theoretical physics beyond the Standard Model, particularly in neutrino mass models, grand unification, and baryon/lepton number violation. Email: kaladi.babu@okstate.edu Contact: 405-744-5810 | 232 Physical Sciences, OSU Dr. Babu's work spans several key areas: Grand Unified Theories (GUTs): Studies of SO(10), SU(5), and E6 unification frameworks. Neutrino Physics: Development of models like the Zee-Babu mechanism for neutrino masses and research on oscillations. Dark Matter & Cosmology: Proposals for dark matter candidates and connections to inflation and baryogenesis. CP Violation & Leptogenesis: Mechanisms for generating matter-antimatter asymmetry. His recent publications highlight advancements in: Spontaneous CP violation in SO(10) (2025) Left-right symmetric models for leptogenesis (2025) Ultraviolet-completed two-loop neutrino mass models (2025) Probing baryon number violation at IceCube and LHC (2024) Accidental Peccei-Quinn symmetry for axion models (2024) Dr. Babu actively collaborates on international initiatives such as the Center for Theoretical Underground Physics (CETUP) and contributed to the Snowmass 2013 Community Planning Study. His lab has mentored numerous graduate and postdoctoral researchers, including Kirtiman Ghosh, Sudip Jana, and Shaikh Saad.
Didar Dobur is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy , Faculty of Sciences , Ghent University . His research focuses on Experimental Particle Physics , particularly High-Energy Physics and Collider Studies . He leads projects at the CERN Large Hadron Collider using the CMS detector , investigating New Physics Beyond the Standard Model , including axion-like particles, supersymmetry, and Higgs-top couplings. Current projects: AxiTop , FLAMENCO , Unlocking the charm-Higgs coupling Grants: Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) , Special Research Fund His recent publications (2023-2025) analyze top quark interactions , Higgs boson decays , and long-lived particle signatures using LHC data. Key subfields include Effective Field Theory , Muon Radiography , and Neutrino Experiments . As a PhD supervisor and promotor , he has guided researchers like Bob Oeyen and Luka Lambrecht in studies of CERN experiments and detector development . Current lab collaborations involve CMS Phase-2 Upgrade and SHiP experiment R&D.
