Quantum field theory (QFT) describes our Nature at the tiniest distances and time scales. It also shares many of its gears with statistical mechanics, a discipline describing media and materials that we see around us. My general interest is the mathematical machinery behind QFTs, especially those with conformal symmetry, and behind statistical mechanics systems. This connects to the domains of special functions, representation theory, number theory and operator algebras. I’m also exploring links of QFT to string theory and quantum gravity that often arise not just by pure physical arguments, but also via similarity of mathematical structures.