Tomi Sebastian Koivisto

Tomi Sebastian Koivisto is a Visiting Professor at the University of Tartu, Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Physics. His distinguished career includes previous appointments as Associate Professor (2021-2023), Senior Research Fellow (2019-2020), and Assistant Professor at Nordita - Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics (2013-2019), with postdoctoral experience at leading institutions including the University of Oslo, University of Utrecht, and University of Heidelberg.

Dr. Koivisto earned his PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Helsinki in 2006 with his dissertation 'Formation of structure in dark energy cosmologies' supervised by Hannu Kurki-Suonio and Finn Ravndal. His academic credentials include the title of Adjunct Professor (Docent) in Physics at the University of Helsinki (2015).

His research focuses on the geometrical foundations of gravitational physics, with groundbreaking work in teleparallel gravity, metric-affine gravity, and the geometrical trinity of gravity. Koivisto investigates how modifications to general relativity can address cosmological tensions and explain dark energy phenomena. His theoretical framework explores the connections between gauge theories and gravity, with applications ranging from black hole physics to cosmological evolution. His approach combines rigorous mathematical formalism with observational implications, making significant contributions to both theoretical foundations and potential experimental tests of alternative gravity theories.

Dr. Koivisto has received notable recognition including the Estonian National Research Award in exact sciences (2023, shared with Luca Marzola) for his contributions to theoretical physics. His current research is supported by substantial funding, including the 'Space-Time-Matter' project (PRG2608, 2025-2029) with 270,000 EUR from the Estonian Research Council and his role as principal investigator on the 'Foundations of the Universe' project (2024-2030) with 636,363 EUR funding.

He has supervised six postdoctoral researchers and currently advises three doctoral students, establishing a productive research group focused on advancing gravitational theory. His supervision record includes notable researchers such as Miguel Zumalacarregui, now a prominent cosmologist, and current doctoral candidates Luxi Zheng, Ernest Michael Priidik Gallagher, and Roald Heinrich Ivask working on unification theories, gauge gravity, and spacetime thermodynamics respectively.

At the University of Tartu, Koivisto leads a research team within the Institute of Physics that collaborates extensively with Nordita and other European theoretical physics centers. His group specializes in developing mathematical frameworks for modified gravity theories while maintaining connections to observational cosmology and potential experimental signatures. The team participates in international collaborations addressing fundamental questions about the nature of spacetime, dark energy, and the early universe.