Cosmic Microwave Background. Image by Planck Collaboration.

Mauricio Gamonal

Graduate Student
Mauricio Gamonal.
Mauricio
Gamonal
Graduate Student
External Affiliations
Interests
Quantum Gravity
Physics of the Early Universe and Cosmology
Field theory
Address
Website
Mauricio's Website
Biography

Research Interests

My research lies at the interface of quantum gravity and cosmology, focusing primarily on how classical spacetime emerges from quantum geometry and how this process can leave observable imprints in the primordial Universe. I am particularly interested in pursuing three distinct but complementary directions:

– Characterizing quantum gravity: Which structural and dynamical features distinguish quantum gravity from other quantum field theories, and how do quantum-gravitational processes manifest in settings such as very early Universe or black holes?

– Emergence and effective dynamics: How can we derive controlled effective descriptions from microscopic theories, such as loop quantum gravity and spinfoams, and relate them to effective frameworks, including LQC, modified gravity, and effective field theory?

– Links to testable predictions: To what extent can these effective descriptions be confronted with data, for example via CMB anisotropies and non-Gaussianities, primordial black holes, and primordial GWs, and what would constitute a genuine signature of quantum gravity? 

During my time at Penn State I have worked under the supervision of Prof. Eugenio Bianchi. 

 

Education 

  • B.Sc. in Physics - Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (2018)
  • M.Sc. in Theoretical Physics - Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (2021)
  • Ph.D. in Physics - Pennsylvania State University (2021-Present) 

 

Honors & Awards

  • Troxell Scholarship in Physics - Eberly College of Science, Penn State  (2026)
  • W. Donald Miller Fellowship - Eberly College of Science, Penn State (2026)
  • David Duncan Graduate Fellowship - Eberly College of Science, Penn State (2026)
  • Excellence in Physics Prize - American Physical Society & Forum on International Physics (2025)
  • W. Donald Miller Fellowship - Eberly College of Science, Penn State (2025)
  • David Duncan Graduate Fellowship - Eberly College of Science, Penn State (2025)
  • Tri-Alpha Eta Psi Chapter inductee: First-generation Honor Society (2024)
  • LQG Summer School - Blaumann Grant (2024)
  • DGRAV Travel Award - American Physical Society (2023)
  • Blaumann Research Grant - Fondazione Blaumann (2022)
  • Homer F. Braddock Fellowship - Eberly College of Science, Penn State (2022)
  • David H. Rank Memorial Physics Award - Eberly College of Science, Penn State (2022)
  • Fulbright Fellowship - Foreign Student Program (2021-2025)
  • Beca Igualdad de Oportunidades - ANID (2019-2025)
  • Beca Bicentenario - MINEDUC (2014-2018)

 


 

Teaching Assistantships 

  • PHYS 213: General Physics: Fluids and Thermal Physics (PSU, 2022)
  • PHYS 214: General Physics: Wave Motion and Quantum Physics (PSU, 2022/2025)
  • PHYS 250: Introductory Physics I (PSU,2022-2023)
  • PHYS 561: Quantum Mechanics I, Summer (PSU, 2025)
  • FIZ 0211: Thermodynamics (PUC, 2020)
  • FIZ 0311: Modern Physics (PUC, 2018-2019)
  • FIZ 3150: General Relativity (PUC, 2018)


Other professional activities

 

Websites 

 

Publications