Grant: Subatomic Physics Envelope - Individual

String theory is presently at an important stage of its development. The rapid improvement in our understanding of the theory made string theory a useful toolkit in our investigations of the structures underlying the workings of nature. Those fundamental applications of string theory techniques to particle physics, gravitation and cosmology are the main mandate of string theorists, and our best opportunity to make connection with experimental data. However, increasingly and perhaps surprisingly, methods originating from string theory, especially as a theory of quantum gravity and quantum black holes, have found applications in many diverse areas of physics and mathematics. Such applications have the added effect of contributing to a deeper understanding of string theory itself, as it confronts a variety of physical situations. The research proposed has therefore the dual purpose of developing further the structure of string theory, while also applying it to a variety interesting contexts.In this proposal I detail some questions in string theory and its applications, and avenues I propose to approach them, including some concrete examples of projects to be completed in the next year or two. The proposal also includes detailed plan of providing training for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, which is an integral part of the proposed research.