Yael Avni
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Chicago
Talk Title: Statistical Physics of Multicomponent Systems with Non-reciprocal Interactions
Bio: Yael is a postdoctoral fellow at the James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, working under the guidance of Prof. Vincenzo Vitelli.
Research Interests: Yael's research focuses on developing statistical mechanical models to understand many-body systems out of thermodynamic equilibrium, drawing inspiration from complex and living matter such as macromolecules, cells, and humans. Her recent work introduced a minimal model for non-reciprocal interactions in many-body systems: an Ising model with two spin species having opposing goals. The study demonstrated the existence of stable, time-dependent states induced by non-reciprocity in three dimensions, and provided insights into the phase transitions associated with these states.
Yael received her PhD from Tel Aviv University where she studied theory of charged soft matter such as colloids, gels, and ionic solutions. In one of her works, she calculated the conductivity of concentrated electrolytes using stochastic density functional theory. Prior to that, she completed her MSc in Physics at the Weizmann Institute in Israel.
Oriana Diessel
ITAMP Postdoctoral Fellow
Harvard University
Talk Title: Stabilization of long-range order in low-dimensional O(N) models via non-equilibrium non-markovianity
Bio: Oriana earned her Ph.D. in 2023 from the Max-Planck-Institute of Quantum Optics in Germany under the supervision of Richard Schmidt, focusing on quantum many-body physics. Her work explored mobile impurities (polarons) in ultracold atoms and transition metal dichalcogenides, as well as driven-dissipative systems, using field-theoretical and variational methods. As of September 2023, she has been an ITAMP postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University.
Research Interests: Oriana's research focuses on two main areas: first, investigating how impurities in non-trivial quantum many-body systems serve as probes of quantum states, with potential applications in quantum sensing and the discovery of novel states of matter; and second, exploring phase transitions and universality in non-equilibrium systems, where the interplay between dissipative and coherent processes can give rise to phenomena like long-range order in low dimensions, challenging equilibrium principles. Through this work, she aims to uncover new quantum states and advance our understanding of non-equilibrium physics.
Lisa Drummond
Burke Institute Postdoctoral Fellow
California Institute of Technology
Talk Title: The Small and the Supermassive: Unlocking the potential of Extreme Mass Ratio Inspirals
Bio: Lisa is a theoretical physicist specializing in gravitational wave astronomy and the astrophysics of compact objects. Her primary research focuses on modeling gravitational waves emitted by extreme mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs)—unique systems where a stellar-mass compact object orbits a supermassive black hole. These signals, detectable by the future gravitational-wave observatory LISA, provide an unprecedented laboratory for testing general relativity in the strong-field regime, measuring black hole properties with extraordinary accuracy, and probing supermassive black hole evolution and environments.
Research Interests: Lisa's research interests are gravitational-wave astronomy is poised to address fundamental questions, such as: (1) How can gravitational waves reveal deviations from general relativity through precise measurements of black hole multipolar structure and the dynamics of strong-field spacetimes? (2) How do astrophysical environments, such as accretion disks, influence gravitational-wave signals, and how can we disentangle these effects to ensure accurate data interpretation? (3) How can we develop computationally efficient and accurate waveform models to maximize the scientific return from future detectors? These questions drive my research, which aims to advance precision modeling of gravitational-wave sources and their astrophysical contexts. The answers will directly shape our ability to unlock the full scientific potential of LISA and other next-generation gravitational-wave observatories. I have developed models for extreme mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) with spin by applying perturbation theory to create efficient mathematical and computational frameworks, enabling precise waveform generation critical for gravitational-wave data analysis. My work also extends to the physics of neutron star interiors, providing insights into superfluid vortex mechanisms underlying pulsar glitches. My interdisciplinary research integrates perturbation theory, numerical simulations, and statistical inference to develop models that capture both relativistic and astrophysical effects, bridging theory and observation. I am also deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists, advancing equity and inclusion within the physics community, and sharing the excitement of gravitational-wave discoveries through public outreach.
Yi-Hsien (Sherry) Du
Simons Ultra-Quantum Matter Postdoctoral Fellow
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Talk Title: Nonlinear Bosonization of (Non-)Fermi Liquids
Bio: Yi-Hsien Du is a Postdoctoral Fellow of the Simons Collaboration on Ultra-Quantum Matter at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She earned her Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from the University of Chicago in 2024. Yi-Hsien has also received both the KITP Graduate Fellowship in 2022 and the Plotnick Physics Fellowship in 2021.
Research Interests: I have a broad interest in quantum condensed matter physics. My research primarily focuses on applying quantum field theory to strongly interacting many body systems, bridging profound theoretical insights with tangible physical phenomena, such as (non-)Fermi liquids, quantum Hall effect, and moiré materials. This approach intersects significantly with quantum information theory, high-energy physics, and theoretical/mathematical physics. I am particularly drawn to constructing models that foster physical intuition, enabling the understanding of intricate phenomena and abstract theoretical concepts. While much of my work is theoretical in nature, I am equally interested in exploring questions that are closely tied to experiments and quantum computation.
Katherine Fraser
Miller Postdoctoral Fellow
UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Talk Title: Discovering Lepton Flavor Violation at a Future Muon Collider
Bio: Katherine is a high energy theorist whose work focuses on searching for physics beyond the Standard Model using a variety of theoretical and computational tools. She completed her education at Harvard University, concurrently obtaining both her A.B. Summa Cum Laude in physics and mathematics and her A.M. in physics in 2018, and earning her Ph.D. in 2024 under the supervision of Prof. Matthew Reece. She is currently a Miller Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Research Interests: After the remarkably successful Higgs boson discovery by the Large Hadron Collider, there are many exciting open questions suggesting undiscovered subatomic particles, but we no longer know exactly where to look for physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM). Effectively searching for new physics necessitates revamping both theoretical and data-driven tools to simultaneously explore the varied possibilities. My research focuses on designing this broad set of tools; I have worked in a wide array of areas including dark matter and axion physics, flavor and electroweak physics at colliders, and applications of machine learning to jet physics.
Currently, I am especially excited about developing tools for axion physics and collider physics. Axions are unique because of their broad impact on research from table top experiments to cosmology to theories of quantum gravity; my work with axions focuses on how the periodic nature of axions generates unique and interesting observable effects, including through their interaction with topological defects. My work on colliders includes both designing machine learning tools that can be used to comprehensively search existing data, together with investigating new physics discovery and precision measurement potential at prospective future colliders (specifically, a high energy muon collider or a wakefield machine).
Rikki Garner
Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellow
Harvard Medical School
Talk Title: The embryo as an active self-organizing machine
Bio: Dr. Garner is currently a Helen Hay Whitney postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School, working with Sean Megason. She previously earned her Ph.D. in Biophysics at Stanford University in the lab of Julie Theriot, supported by NSF GRFP and Stanford Lieberman fellowships, and obtained her B.S. in Physics at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Garner has harnessed her unique background in physics and quantitative cell and developmental biology to reveal principles of biological self-organization across diverse contexts including macromolecular transport, cell migration, and tissue patterning.
Research Interests: Dr. Garner’s research investigates one of the most extraordinary and distinctive features of biological systems: their remarkable ability to self-organize across scales. She seeks to understand the mechanisms by which millions of macromolecules act in concert to build the cell, how cells in turn arrange into beautiful and complex structures that enable multicellular life, and how biological noise is suppressed at all scales to give rise to robust form and function. To address this fundamental unsolved problem, Dr. Garner employs quantitative microscopy of experimental models of biological self-organization spanning the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organismal scales – with a particular emphasis on cell migration and embryonic development. Combining quantitative experimental measurements with first-principles biophysical modeling, Dr. Garner aims to forge an integrated understanding of how physics and biology come together to shape and pattern life.