Kathryn M. Zurek

Kathryn M. Zurek is a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the California Institute of Technology, part of the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy. She has been a faculty member at Caltech since 2019.

Her educational background includes:

• B.S. from Bethel University (2001)
• Ph.D. from University of Washington (2006)

Professor Zurek's research focuses on fundamental questions at the intersection of particle physics and cosmology. She is particularly known for her work on dark matter theories and detection methods, exploring the possibility that dark matter may reside in low-energy hidden sectors rather than requiring high-energy accelerator approaches. Her innovative research includes developing techniques to detect dark matter using collective excitations in quantum materials. She also investigates cosmological structure formation and the quantum nature of gravity, studying spacetime fluctuations that could provide experimental signatures of quantum gravity effects. Her work bridges theoretical physics with potential experimental verification through novel detection methodologies.

Professor Zurek maintains an active research program exploring the fundamental nature of the universe, with particular emphasis on understanding dark matter and its implications for both particle physics and cosmology. Her theoretical frameworks aim to connect abstract concepts with observable phenomena that could be tested through current or near-future experimental approaches.