String Theory as a bridge between Gauge Theories and Quantum Gravity

This proposal aims at exploiting string theory to connect gauge theories, quantum gravity, and phenomenology in innovative and multidisciplinary ways. The common denominator is the duality between open and closed strings that is remarkably embodied by D-branes. Bound-states of D-branes and strings play a crucial role in the fuzzball proposal for black holes, as defects in theories with (broken) superconformal symmetry and, together with orientifold planes, as pillars of phenomenologically viable models of particle physics beyond the Standard Model. We will try to uncover phenomenological implications of strong-field corrections to General Relativity which are potentially observable by gravitational-wave detectors in extreme events such as black-hole mergers, to analyse defects and localisation in strongly-coupled supersymmetric gauge theories, and to understand infrared dualities and constraints on the stability of dynamical supersymmetry breaking in models with unoriented strings.