Ziqi spent his childhood in Wuhan, China, before moving to Nanjing in 2008 to study astronomy at Nanjing University. In 2012, he moved to the University of California at Berkeley in the United States to study theoretical physics. He completed his PhD on Lifshitz quantum field theory under the supervision of Prof. Petr Hořava in 2017. He then joined the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Canada as a postdoc, where he worked on nonrelativistic string theory with Prof. Jaume Gomis. In 2020, he moved to Stockholm as a Nordita Fellow. In 2022, he became a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at Nordita with Prof. Niels Obers. In 2024, he started his new position at Nordita as a senior researcher funded by the Olle Engkvist Foundation. During the recent years, he has been focusing on string dualities and different approaches to M-theory.
What will you focus on now that you have secured financing for the coming years?
I will focus on some of the foundational questions in string theory, one of the leading paradigms for unifying Einstein’s theory of gravity and quantum mechanics. In the framework of string theory, our universe is thought to be made up of vibrating strings at a fundamental level. Even though we understand fairly well how to formulate string theory when the strings are weakly coupled, our knowledge of the strongly coupled regime where the strings become non-perturbative, is still limited. I have been studying various non-perturbative corners of string theory, where the strings are so strongly coupled with each other that the dynamics is captured by higher-dimensional branes instead of strings. These corners are important for deepening our understanding of non-perturbative aspects of string theory, which may shed new light on the formulation of M-theory, a framework that supposedly unifies different string theories. This study is closely related to the matrix quantum mechanical formulation of M-theory, where gravity emerges from a relatively simple quantum mechanical system. I am particularly interested in approaching these questions from the novel perspective of non-Lorentzian geometry, where space and time are treated on different footings. This perspective provides a new angle on M-theory and its implications for holography and cosmology.
How can Nordita help you realise your ambitions?
Nordita provides an international platform for me to interact with theorists from diverse backgrounds. It also creates an open and stimulating atmosphere that encourages independent explorations of new ideas. As one of the most important Nordic centers for international conferences, and through its prestigious visiting programs, Nordita consistently inspires exciting scientific discussions.
How do you plan to contribute to Nordita’s interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment?
My research is closely connected to other projects being carried out at Nordita, including string theory, amplitudes, quantum field theory, quantum gravity, holography, and cosmology, creating abundant opportunities for collaborations. I also intend to involve students in some of my projects. Moreover, I will use my international collaboration network to further contribute to Nordita’s collaborative research environment.
