Professor Mairi Sakellariadou gained her Bachelor Degree (B.Sc.) in Mathematics from the University of Athens. She then studied Astrophysics at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge. She then continued her studies at Tufts University, in Massachusetts (USA). She obtained a Master in Sciences and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Physics. Since completing her Ph.D, Professor Sakellariadou has held research positions at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Université de Tours, Université Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris VI), Universität Zürich, Université de Genève, and CERN. She was Associate Professor at the University of Athens, before joining King’s in 2005 as a reader. She was appointed Professor of Theoretical Physics in 2011.
Professor Mairi Sakellariadou’s field of research is theoretical physics and cosmology, with emphasis on the physics of the early universe. Her research stands at the interface between cosmology, theoretical particle physics and gravitational theories, testing the most advanced theories against the plethora of astrophysical, cosmological and high energy physics data. Her research activity spans over the following directions:
- Noncommutative Spectral Geometry;
- String/M-theory Cosmology;
- Loop Quantum Cosmology;
- Group Field Theory;
- Gravitational Waves;
- Cosmic (super)strings
Her aim is to keep contributing to the collective scientific effort to uncover the early stages of the evolution of our universe and provide the means to test fundamental theories, using the early universe as our (unique) laboratory.
Professor Sebastian Szybka is a physicist and cosmologist, Doctor of Science in Physics, Professor at Jagiellonian University, Head of the Department of Relativistic Astrophysics and Cosmology. He frequently collaborates with the Copernicus Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies. His research specialisation is Einstein’s theory of gravity.