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Center for Fundamental Theory

Center for Fundamental Theory

The Center for Fundamental Theory (CFT) brings together a variety of perspectives to promote and communicate a better understanding of the universe, particularly its fundamental constituents and evolution. Specific questions include the nature of black holes, dark matter, and dark energy, as well as the role and potential form of quantum effects in these phenomena. Inquiries into these broad questions benefit from a deeper understanding of the philosophical and mathematical structure of physical theories.

Since these and related questions have remained open for some time, answering them may require new, fundamental theories that supersede the current framework of general relativity, quantum mechanics, and quantum field theory as we know them today. The Center for Fundamental Theory is unique in the variety of perspectives it brings together.

A primary focus of the CFT is the formulation of concrete descriptions of quantum gravity. Another is on the mathematical and structural forms of predictions made by quantum field theory, and the tools used to make such predictions in general. Related to these is an understanding of quantum systems and quantum information in non-trivial spacetimes. These studies often involve novel computational and mathematical challenges. Due to the universality of mathematical formulations, solutions can sometimes prove useful in other areas of physics and science.

Guiding and testing new fundamental theories requires data—both observational and theoretical. An example of the former is the information pouring in from neutrino and gravitational wave observatories and modern telescopes. Theoretical data includes detailed thought experiments and cutting-edge computations for real or imaginary phenomena. Members of the Center help push this data and use it to inform the pursuit of many fundamental questions.

Name Role Affiliations Email Phone Office Centers Research topics
Abhay Ashtekar Abhay Ashtekar Faculty ava1@psu.edu +1 814 863 9601 316 Whitmore Laboratory CFT, CMA, CTOC Physical Mathematics
Joseph Balsells Joseph Balsells Graduate Student Physics jzb1007@psu.edu 322 Whitmore Laboratory CFT
Zhen Bi Zhen Bi Faculty zjb5184@psu.edu +1 814 865 7533 338 Davey Laboratory CFT, IGC
Eugenio Bianchi Eugenio Bianchi Faculty Physics exb34@psu.edu +1 814 865 7533 315 Whitmore Laboratory CFT Black Holes, Loop Quantum Gravity, Mathematical Structures, Quantum Universe
Šárka Blahnik Šárka Blahnik Graduate Student Physics seb6087@psu.edu 321F Whitmore Laboratory CFT Quantum Universe
Carlos Blanco Carlos Blanco Faculty ICDS, Physics carlosblanco@psu.edu +1 814 865 7533 303K Osmond Laboratory CFT, CMA, CTOC, IGC Cosmic Rays, Dark Matter, Multimessenger Astrophysics, Neutrinos
Martin Bojowald Martin Bojowald Faculty Physics mob6@psu.edu +1 814 865 3502 304A Whitmore Laboratory CFT Loop Quantum Gravity, Mathematical Structures, Quantum Universe
Jacob Bourjaily Jacob Bourjaily Faculty Physics bourjaily@psu.edu +1 814 865 7533 321A Osmond Laboratory CFT Mathematical Structures
Jacob Canel Jacob Canel Graduate Student Math jmc8684@psu.edu 18579983102 417 McAllister CFT Loop Quantum Gravity
Jeffrey Case Jeffrey Case Faculty Math jqc5026@psu.edu +1 814 865 0326 221 McAllister McAllister CFT Mathematical Structures
Alexander Chasteen Alexander Chasteen Graduate Student Physics adc6103@psu.edu Na Desk 4 Whitmore Laboratory CFT Mathematical Structures
Tommy Chin Tommy Chin Graduate Student Physics wjc5509@psu.edu 6692331822 301D Whitmore Laboratory CFT, CTOC, IGC Quantum Universe, Dynamic Universe
Aurora Colter Aurora Colter Undergraduate Student Math, Physics agc5654@psu.edu CFT, IGC Black Holes, Gravitational Waves, Loop Quantum Gravity, Physical Mathematics, Quantum Universe
Pranav Diwakar Pranav Diwakar Graduate Student Physics pranavd@psu.edu +1 814 865 7533 204 Osmond Laboratory CFT Mathematical Structures
Zoltan Fodor Zoltan Fodor Faculty Physics zxf5098@psu.edu +1 814 865 7533 336 Davey Laboratory CFT, CMA
Mauricio Gamonal Mauricio Gamonal Graduate Student Physics mfg5767@psu.edu 322 Whitmore Laboratory CFT Loop Quantum Gravity, Mathematical Structures, Quantum Universe
Murat Gunaydin Murat Gunaydin Faculty Physics gxt@psu.edu +1 814 863 0144 303F Osmond Laboratory CFT Physical Mathematics
Dennis Hartmann Dennis Hartmann Undergraduate Student Physics dkh5453@psu.edu N/A CFT Loop Quantum Gravity
James Kennington James Kennington Graduate Student Physics jwkennington@psu.edu +1 814 865 7533 Box 66 Whitmore Laboratory CFT Black Holes, Dark Matter, Gravitational Waves, Mathematical Structures
Samarth Khandelwal Samarth Khandelwal Undergraduate Student Math, Physics smk6968@psu.edu N/A 323 Whitmore Laboratory CFT, IGC Black Holes, Loop Quantum Gravity, Mathematical Structures
Chloe Klare Chloe Klare Graduate Student chloe.klare@psu.edu 445a Davey Laboratory CFT, CMA, IGC
Rishabh Kumar Rishabh Kumar Graduate Student Physics rishabh.kumar@psu.edu 321-A Whitmore Laboratory CFT Quantum Universe
Erick Muiño García Erick Muiño García Graduate Student Physics erickmuino@psu.edu 321A Whitmore Laboratory CFT Quantum Universe
Adrian Ocneanu Adrian Ocneanu Faculty Math axo2@psu.edu +1 814 865 4061 225 McAllister CFT Mathematical Structures
Daniel Paraizo Daniel Paraizo Graduate Student Physics dep5397@psu.edu 317 Whitmore Laboratory CFT, IGC Black Holes, Loop Quantum Gravity, Quantum Universe
Michael Plesser Michael Plesser Graduate Student Math, Physics mkp5771@psu.edu 204B Osmond Laboratory CFT, IGC
Monica Rincon Ramirez Monica Rincon Ramirez Staff Physics mxr463@psu.edu 307 Whitmore Laboratory CFT, CTOC Black Holes, Loop Quantum Gravity, Physical Mathematics, Quantum Universe
Radu Roiban Radu Roiban Faculty Physics rsr10@psu.edu +1 814 863 5811 320F Osmond Laboratory CFT Mathematical Structures
Sarah Shandera Sarah Shandera Faculty Physics ses47@psu.edu +1 814 863 9595 303A Whitmore Laboratory CFT Black Holes, Cosmic Surveys, Dark Matter, Gravitational Waves, Quantum Universe
Jonathan Shu Jonathan Shu Graduate Student Physics jds7269@psu.edu Osmond Laboratory CFT Black Holes, Mathematical Structures, Quantum Universe
Fei Teng Fei Teng Postdoc fxt5075@psu.edu McAllister CFT
Philip Velie Philip Velie Graduate Student Physics pkv5088@psu.edu n/a 114 Osmond Laboratory CFT Mathematical Structures
Cristian Florentin Vergu Cristian Florentin Vergu Graduate Student Physics cfv5175@psu.edu n/a 206 Osmond Laboratory CFT, IGC
Stephanie Wissel Stephanie Wissel Faculty Astronomy, Physics wissel@psu.edu +1 814 863 9598 303B Osmond Laboratory CFT, CMA, CTOC Cosmic Rays, Multimessenger Astrophysics, Neutrinos
Ping Xu Ping Xu Faculty Math pxx2@psu.edu +1 814 865 3517 109B McAllister CFT Mathematical Structures
Yaqi Zhang Yaqi Zhang Graduate Student Physics yjz5289@psu.edu na Whitmore Laboratory CFT Mathematical Structures
Name Role Affiliations Email Phone Office Centers Research topics
Källan Berglund Källan Berglund Graduate Student Physics kmb670@psu.edu 322 Whitmore Laboratory CFT, IGC Black Holes, Gravitational Waves, Loop Quantum Gravity
Allison Colarelli Allison Colarelli Undergraduate Student Astronomy, Math atc5357@psu.edu 7175982124 N/A CFT, IGC Black Holes, Gravitational Waves, Loop Quantum Gravity, Physical Mathematics
Alejandro Corichi Alejandro Corichi Faculty arc119@psu.edu Whitmore Laboratory CFT
Kokkimidis Patatoukos Kokkimidis Patatoukos Graduate Student Physics kzp326@psu.edu 814 699 1747 005 Osmond Laboratory CFT Mathematical Structures
Adrian del Rio Vega Adrian del Rio Vega Postdoc Physics axd570@psu.edu +1 814-863-0165 307 Whitmore Laboratory CFT Black Holes, Gravitational Waves
About our wordmark
Monica Rincon Ramirez

The IGC wordmark was created by Monica Rincon Ramirez while she was a graduate student at the Institute. Monica enjoys drawing new connections between fundamental theory and observations. Her graduate work included general relativity, loop quantum gravity, and quantum fields in cosmological backgrounds; her thesis focused on effective quantum corrections to gravitational phenomena from spinfoams and applications to cosmology. She received her PhD in 2024.

The wordmark symbolizes the scope of research at the IGC. The base represents quantum gravity, evoking the quantum geometrical picture from spinfoams and loop quantum gravity — approaches studied at the Center for Fundamental Theory. The middle shows galaxies embedded in a smooth surface characteristic of spacetime in general relativity and the larger physical scales studied at the Center for Theoretical and Observational Cosmology. The top curves to an extreme representing a supermassive black hole accompanied by an energetic jet, with a binary black hole pair nearby — the high-energy phenomena studied at the Center for Multimessenger Astrophysics.