My research is in string theory, which is a theory that combines quantum field theory and gravity in a consistent framework. I am interested in using string theory to understand the early universe, and in developing compactifications of string theory that lead to realistic four-dimensional physics.

Recent observations have yielded striking evidence for an inflationary epoch, or something very similar, in the early universe. To date, however, there is no compelling theoretical underpinning for inflation.
String theory can provide a robust framework for studying the early universe and for addressing some long-standing puzzles in inflation. If we are fortunate, the interface between string theory and inflationary cosmology may also bring string theory into contact with cosmological observations. This is arguably the most promising route to a test of string theory.