Our research seeks a unified cosmological model that explains both the origin and evolution of the Universe, anchored by a handful of fundamental constants—such as the Hubble parameter, the densities of baryonic matter, radiation, dark matter, and dark energy, and the parameters governing inflation—that together dictate how space, time, and structure emerge and evolve. We probe the nature of the invisible components of our cosmos: dark matter, whose gravitational pull seeds the formation of galaxies, and dark energy, whose repulsive effect drives the accelerating expansion of space. By tracing the first billion years after the Big Bang, we explore when and how the first atoms and molecules formed, how tiny density fluctuations gave rise to the earliest stars, black holes, and galaxies, and how these pioneers enriched the cosmos with heavy elements through nuclear fusion and supernova explosions.
From these foundations, we investigate the processes by which planetary systems coalesce from protoplanetary disks of gas and dust, and how, under the right conditions, prebiotic chemistry may spark the emergence of life. Our observational programs span radio‑cosmology, infrared and optical spectroscopy of the earliest galaxies, high‑precision radial‑velocity and transit surveys of exoplanets, and laboratory astrochemistry experiments. Together, they chart a continuous narrative: from the Universe’s first moments and its dark and dawn epochs, through the growth and transformation of stars and galaxies, to the formation of planets and the tantalizing question of life’s origin and prevalence in the cosmos.
If you are interested in doing research in any of the areas described, find out a little more using the links on the left and then visit our Graduate Research Opportunities web pages.