Robert Myers

Robert Myers profile picture
Director Emeritus
BMO Financial Group Isaac Newton Chair in Theoretical Physics
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Research Faculty
Perimeter Research Chair
Areas of research:
Quantum Fields and Strings
(519) 569-7600 x8531

I am a member of the Quantum Fields and Strings group at Perimeter. While I have broad interests in theoretical physics, my research has primarily focused on gravitational aspects of string theory. Much of my recent work has involved developing applications of a set of theoretical tools that has emerged from string theory, known as the AdS/CFT correspondence or more broadly as gauge/gravity duality. Currently, I am also very interested in studying the connections between quantum gravity and quantum information theory.

  • Executive Director, Theoretical Physics, Perimeter Institute, 2019-present
  • Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2017
  • Acting Director, Perimeter Institute, 2017
  • Acting Director, Perimeter Institute, 2015
  • Faculty Chair, Perimeter Institute, 2010-2018
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Physics, University of Waterloo, 2008-2026
  • Interim Scientific Director, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, 2007-2008
  • Visiting Physicist, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2006-2007
  • Visiting Physicist, Centre de Physique Theorique, Ecole Polytechnique, 2006
  • Visiting Physicist, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2004
  • Full Professor, Department of Physics, University of Waterloo, 2003-2008
  • Visiting Physicist, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2003-2008
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Physics, University of Waterloo, 2001-2003
  • Senior Faculty, Perimeter Institute, 2001-present
  • Full Professor, Department of Physics, McGill University, 2000-2003
  • Visiting Physicist, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1999
  • Visiting Physicist, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1997-1998
  • Associate Professor, Department of Physics, McGill University, 1994-1999
  • Visiting Physicist, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1993
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, McGill University, 1989-1994
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1986-1989
  • CAP Fellow, Canadian Association of Physicists, 2024
  • Ranked Among Best Scientists for 2024, Research.com, 2024
  • Ranked Among Best Scientists for 2023, Research.com, 2023
  • 2023 CAP Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Physics, Canadian Asssociation of Physicists, 2023
  • Highly Cited Researcher, Clarivate Analytics, 2021
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Waterloo, 2018
  • Highly Cited Researcher, Clarivate Analytics, 2017
  • Highly Cited Researcher, Clarivate Analytics, 2016
  • World's Most Infuential Scientific Minds, Thomson Reuters, 2015
  • World's Most Influential Scientific Minds, Thomson Reuters, 2014
  • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Governor General of Canada, 2013
  • Vogt Medal, Canadian Association of Physicists and TRIUMF, 2012
  • Elected Fellow, Royal Society of Canada, 2006
  • Prize in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, CAP-CRM, 2005
  • Herzberg Medal, Canadian Association of Physicists, 1999
  • Bernamonti, A., Galli, F., Myers, R. C., & Reyes, I. A. (n.d.). Rényi second laws for black holes. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2024(10), 177. doi:10.1007/jhep10(2024)177
  • Caminiti, J., Friedman-Shaw, B., May, A., Myers, R. C., & Papadoulaki, O. (n.d.). Holographic scattering and non-minimal RT surfaces. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2024(10), 119. doi:10.1007/jhep10(2024)119
  • Myers, R., & Ruan, S. -M. (2024). Complexity Equals (Almost) Anything. In Gravity, Strings and Fields: A Conference in Honour of Gordon Semenoff. Montreal. Retrieved from arxiv:2403.17475
  • Myers, R. C., Ruan, S. -M., & Ugajin, T. (n.d.). Double holography of entangled universes. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2024(7), 35. doi:10.1007/jhep07(2024)035
  • Bernamonti, A., Galli, F., Myers, R. C., & Reyes, I. A. (2024). Rényi second laws for black holes. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2407.01753
  • Chen, H. Z., Myers, R., & Raclariu, A. -M. (2024). Entanglement, soft modes, and celestial holography. Physical Review D, 109(12), l121702. doi:10.1103/physrevd.109.l121702
  • Caminiti, J., Friedman-Shaw, B., May, A., Myers, R. C., & Papadoulaki, O. (2024). Holographic scattering and non-minimal RT surfaces. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2404.15400
  • Myers, R. C., & Ruan, S. -M. (2024). Complexity Equals (Almost) Anything. arxiv:2403.17475v1
  • Myers, R. C., Ruan, S. -M., & Ugajin, T. (2024). Double Holography of Entangled Universes. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2403.17483
  • Chen, H. Z., Myers, R., & Raclariu, A. -M. (2024). Entanglement, Soft Modes, and Celestial CFT. arxiv:2403.13913v1
  • Abajian, J., Aprile, F., Myers, R. C., & Vieira, P. (n.d.). Correlation functions of huge operators in AdS3/CFT2: domes, doors and book pages. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2024(3), 118. doi:10.1007/jhep03(2024)118
  • Abajian, J., Aprile, F., Myers, R. C., & Vieira, P. (n.d.). Holography and correlation functions of huge operators: spacetime bananas. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2023(12), 58. doi:10.1007/jhep12(2023)058
  • Jørstad, E., Myers, R. C., & Ruan, S. -M. (n.d.). Complexity=anything: singularity probes. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2023(7), 223. doi:10.1007/jhep07(2023)223
  • Baiguera, S., Berman, R., Chapman, S., & Myers, R. C. (n.d.). The cosmological switchback effect. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2023(7), 162. doi:10.1007/jhep07(2023)162
  • Abajian, J., Aprile, F., Myers, R. C., & Vieira, P. (2023). Holography and Correlation Functions of Huge Operators: Spacetime Bananas. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2306.15105
  • Belin, A., Myers, R. C., Ruan, S. -M., Sárosi, G., & Speranza, A. J. (n.d.). Complexity equals anything II. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2023(1), 154. doi:10.1007/jhep01(2023)154
  • Jørstad, E., Myers, R. C., & Ruan, S. -M. (n.d.). Holographic complexity in dSd+1. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2022(5), 119. doi:10.1007/jhep05(2022)119
  • Grimaldi, G., Hernandez, J., & Myers, R. C. (2022). Quantum extremal islands made easy. Part IV. Massive black holes on the brane. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2022(3), 136. doi:10.1007/jhep03(2022)136
  • Belin, A., Myers, R. C., Ruan, S. -M., Sárosi, G., & Speranza, A. J. (2022). Does Complexity Equal Anything?. Physical Review Letters, 128(8), 081602. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.128.081602
  • Hernandez, J., Myers, R. C., & Ruan, S. -M. (n.d.). Quantum extremal islands made easy. Part III. Complexity on the brane. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2021(2), 173. doi:10.1007/jhep02(2021)173
  • Chen, H. Z., Fisher, Z., Hernandez, J., Myers, R. C., & Ruan, S. -M. (n.d.). Evaporating black holes coupled to a thermal bath. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2021(1), 65. doi:10.1007/jhep01(2021)065
  • Scanning New Horizons: Gravity & Holography, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy, 2024/05/28
  • Holographic Scattering & Non-Minimal RT Surfaces, International School for Advanced Studies SISSA, Trieste, Italy; Trieste, Italy, 2024/05/05
  • "Complexity = (almost) anything", KITP UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United States, 2024/02/11
  • Entanglement, Soft Modes & Celestial Holography, Simons Celestial Holography Collaboration Kick-off Meeting, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States, 2023/10/14
  • Why We Explore?, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany, 2023/09/28
  • Complexity = (Almost) Anythnig, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany, 2023/09/25
  • "Complexity = (almost) anything", Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics (YITP), Kyoto, Japan, 2023/09/12
  • Complexity = (almost) anything, It from Qubit 2023, 2023/08/01, PIRSA:23080005
  • Complexity = (Almost) Anything, Gravity, Strings and Fields: A Conference in Honour of Gordon Semenoff, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada, 2023/06/26
  • Scanning New Horizons: Information, Holography and Gravity, 2023 CAP Congress, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada, 2023/06/21
  • Complexity = (Almost) Anything, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Brazil, 2023/06/17
  • Complexity = Anything, APS April Meeting 2023 Minneapolis, Minnesota (Apr 15-18), American Physical Society, College Park, United States, 2023/04/15
  • Complexity = Anything, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg; Am Hubland, Würzburg, 97074, Germany, 2023/03/27
  • Complexity Equals Anything, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, United States, 2023/01/27
  • Introducing Perimeter's Strategic EDI Plan, Colloquium, 2022/11/09, PIRSA:22110051
  • Complexity=Anything, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2022/07/15
  • How can we use information in quantum gravity?, Quantum Information Structure of Spacetime conference, Western University, London, ON, 2022/06/09
  • Complexity=Anything^2, Informational Architecture of Spacetime Workshop, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan (online conference), 2022/05/29
  • Complexity=Anything^2, HoloTube seminar series (online), 2022/05/17
  • Complexity=Anything^2, Joint Israeli High-Energy-Theory Seminar series (online), 2022/04/26
  • Complexity=Anything^2, Gravity, Quantum Fields and Information AEI-Ghent University-Warsaw String Theory seminar series (online), 2022/01/25
  • Complexity=Anything^2, Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India (online), 2022/01/10