I focus on studying the properties of strongly interacting (QCD) matter at high temperatures and/or densities.

My research activities include the modeling of the equilibrium thermodynamics, the determination of transport coefficients and the dynamical simulation of heavy-ion collisions, in particular, in the context of exploring the QCD phase diagram. In recent years I was looking for deeper connections between different strongly coupled quantum fluids such as the Quark-Gluon Plasma and ultra-cold atomic gases near unitarity.

My research activities aim at the understanding of the equilibrium and transport properties of hot and dense strongly interacting matter as can be created in the collision of (ultra)relativistic nuclei. 

In the past years my interest has been focused on the theoretical understanding of fluctuations in these highly dynamical environments. In my group we are currently working on the development of an event-by-event fluctuating fluid dynamical description of observables near the conjectured critical point of QCD.

Research focus: Standard Model and Beyond-Standard Model physics. Fundamental symmetries. Hadron and nuclear structure and interactions. Lattice QCD. Machine learning and algorithms.

Prof. Surman’s research program focuses on neutrino physics and nuclear physics aspects of heavy element nucleosynthesis in core-collapse supernovae, neutron star mergers, and black hole accretion disks.

Research focus: Gravitational-wave astrophysics and fundamental physics. Populations of astrophysical and primordial black holes with current and future detectors. Methods for gravitational-wave data analysis.