Monica Valluri uses numerical calculations and simulations to probe observed galactic phenomena in order to understand the physical processes that produce them. Her current focus areas are supermassive black holes (see below) and the interactions between dark matter and luminous matter in galaxies. Her analysis of simulations of dark matter halos have shown, for example, why those with gas and stars tend to be rounder. It appears that the luminous matter serves to slightly deform dark matter particles’ box-shaped orbits, resulting in a halo that is rounder than if it were comprised solely of dark matter. The implication is that the orbits of the Milky Way’s stars might serve as a probe of its dark halo’s shape.