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Nicole Crumpler – Michelle & Julian Francis Scholar
1st Year Scholar, PhD candidate

Physics and Astronomy
Johns Hopkins University

Research: 
My research combines theoretical physics and observational astronomy to explore unknown physics, such as dark matter and quantum gravity, by using black hole mergers and white dwarf stars to search for new signals.

How Will Your Research Benefit Society?
Modern technology hinges on our understanding of the fundamental “stuff” that makes up our Earth and the universe — particles and the forces through which they interact. This understanding is captured by a framework known as the Standard Model of particle physics. However, we know from astrophysical observations that this model is incomplete: most of the matter in the universe, so-called dark matter, does not fit within the Standard Model. My current research focuses on uncovering the nature of this missing mass.

Understanding dark matter is not just one of the biggest open questions in theoretical physics; it has concrete implications. Throughout history, many technologies we now take for granted, from GPS and medical imaging to semiconductors and the internet, emerged from fundamental physics research that initially seemed purely theoretical. By pushing the boundaries of our knowledge of the universe’s building blocks, we pave the way for potential future technologies that we cannot yet imagine.

How Will an ARCS Award Benefit Your Research?
While I am fortunate to receive some funding through the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, this support primarily covers my basic stipend and tuition. However, there are many other costs associated with research beyond this basic support. In particular, my advisor has very limited funding to cover the costs of publishing papers (my last paper cost ~$3,000 to publish) and the cost of attending conferences. An ARCS award would directly enable me to publish my upcoming papers and to participate in conferences that are critical for refining my research through expert feedback and collaboration.

Career Objectives: 
Looking ahead, I’m excited to transition from academic research to a career in industry where I can apply my technical expertise – using advanced data science techniques to manage, analyze, and interpret data – to real-world problems. In particular, I’m drawn to sectors like finance, where large, complex datasets are the norm and where predictive modeling can offer tangible, high-impact insights. I’m especially interested in roles that allow me to build models that anticipate trends, detect anomalies, or optimize decision-making processes, whether in banking, fintech, or adjacent fields. 

Ultimately, my goal is to bridge the rigor and creativity of scientific research with the practical, fast-paced environment of industry, bringing an analytical perspective shaped by years of working with challenging datasets.