Our Team
Faculty
John Estes
Assistant Professor of Physics
He works on string theory and its applications to cosmology and condensed matter physics. Despite our incredible understanding of the universe, there are still many unanswered questions. Why is our universe accelerating? Is our universe a hologram? What happens at a boundary of space-time? String theory and quantum field theory provide a framework to address many of these questions. Currently he is investigating boundaries, defects and their applications to topological insulators and other exotic systems
Natural Science Building 207
Matthew Lippert
Associate Professor of Physics and Visiting Researcher at the EIC Theory Institute at Brookhaven National Lab
He is a string theorist using holography to study strongly interacting systems in nuclear and condensed matter physics. He also investigates high-energy and strongly gravitating astrophysical systems in order to learn about fundamental physics. His recent research projects focus on spherical electronic systems, the dynamical origin of proton spin, magnetically charged black holes, and interactions between cosmic strings and black holes.
Natural Science Building 241
Andy O'Bannon
Assistant Professor of Physics
He is a theoretical physicist whose research is focused on strongly-interacting materials with unusual properties, some of which have potentially revolutionary applications. Examples include: graphene, which could provide the basis for a new generation of electronics, topological insulators, which could provide the basis for quantum computing, and high-temperature superconductors, which could provide the basis for energy-efficient power transport. He takes a radical new approach, based on a combination of two methods, called defect conformal field theory and holography. His current research is focused on graphene, as well as various systems in nuclear and particle physics.
Natural Science Building 215
Mike Kavic
Assistant Provost
He pioneered a line of research investigating astrophysical tests of extra dimensional models and has worked extensively on foundational issues in quantum gravity with a focus on the problem of time. He is currently investigating astronomical sources of radio transients with a particular emphasis on sources related to quantum gravitational models, and was part of a worldwide effort that led to the first detection of the merger of a neutron star binary.
Campus Center H-413
Students
Gabriella Anzalone
LEAP-UP trainee and Physics major ('25)
She is working on radio astronomy with Mike Kavic, and plans to become a medical physicist.
Brandon Imhof
LEAP-UP trainee and Physics/Biochemistry double major ('25)
He is working on observing dark matter using pulsar timing with Matt Lippert.
Eishan Singh
LEAP-UP trainee and Physics/Public Health double major ('25)
He is working on radio astrophysics with Mike Kavic.
Adrian Taveras
LEAP-UP trainee and Physics major ('25)
Asad Imam
LEAP-UP trainee and Physics/Mathematics Double major ('25)
Former Members
Mohammad Mian
Undergraduate Researcher and Physics minor, '22
He worked on cosmic strings and black holes with Sameer Ahmed and Matt Lippert. He was the winner of the 2022 SUNY Chancelor's Award for Excelence and is now a medical student at New York Institute of Technology.
Sameer Ahmed
Undergraduate Researcher and Physics minor, '22
He worked on cosmic strings and black holes with Matt Lippert.