Rate My Professor Paul Aspinwall

Aspinwall's research specializes in string theory, leveraging algebraic geometry to examine higher-dimensional spaces and their compactification to four-dimensional spacetimes that model the physical universe in string theory frameworks. Key areas include compactification of extra dimensions, supersymmetric physics, string dualities such as mirror symmetry linking distinct string theories, the geometry of compactified spaces pertinent to real-world physics, and nonperturbative string theory elements that interconnect mathematics and physics. As Principal Investigator, he has led National Science Foundation grants: "Moduli Spaces & String Theory" (2012-2017), "Geometry and Mathematical Physics of D-Branes" (2009-2014), and "Algebraic Geometry and Quantum Field Theory of D-Branes" (2006-2011). His publications feature "String moduli spaces and parabolic factorizations" (Journal of High Energy Physics, 2025), "Mirror Symmetry and Discriminants" (2017), "General mirror pairs for gauged linear sigma models" (Journal of High Energy Physics, 2015), "Exoflops in two dimensions" (2015), "Rational curves and (0,2)-deformations" (Journal of Geometry and Physics, 2015), and "A McKay-like correspondence for (0,2)-deformations" (Advances in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, 2014). Aspinwall instructs courses like Multivariable Calculus (Math 219), Representation Theory (Math 603/Physics 603), Algebraic Geometry (Math 627), and General Relativity (Math 527/Physics 622), and is linked to Duke's Center for Geometry and Theoretical Physics.