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We congratulate our member Alicia Castro on receiving funding through the Olympia Morata Programme of Heidelberg University, following a competitive selection process.
Dr. Alicia Castro is a postdoctoral researcher at STRUCTURES and a member of the STRUCTURES Young Researchers Convent (YRC). Her research at the Institute for Theoretical Physics explores the fundamental structure of spacetime at the smallest scales, where familiar notions such as distance, volume and dimension break down. Using methods from random geometry, her work examines how these classical properties emerge in the context of quantum gravity and how they fluctuate.
In this approach, quantum spacetime is modelled as a collection of many possible geometries rather than a single fixed one. This makes it possible to capture microscopic fluctuations of spacetime expected in quantum gravity, and lays the foundation for more detailed studies of the microscopic structure of the universe. “I aim to connect the mathematical ideas of random geometry with the physical behaviour of spacetime, offering a clearer picture of how the universe behaves under extreme conditions,” Alicia Castro says.
“With the support of the Olympia Morata Programme, I will establish the foundations of an independent research agenda that positions me to apply for grants to start my own group,” she adds.
The Olympia Morata Programme supports excellent postdoctoral researchers with outstanding qualification projects, as they work toward higher academic qualifications (e.g. habilitation or equivalent achievements). The programme targets female and gender-diverse researchers, aimed at supporting their academic career progression as part of Heidelberg University's commitment to promoting equitable opportunities in academic careers. As part of the programme, recipients are appointed to two-year fixed-term positions and benefit from additional training and career development opportunities. The programme is named after Olympia Fulvia Morata, a 16th-century humanist scholar who taught in Heidelberg.
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