9322591 Nair Research in theoretical particle physics involves three major topics in the standard model description of the basic interactions of matter. The first concerns the interactions among quarks at high temperatures. Such interactions play a significant role in the early universe. The second deals with objects that can be formed in theories like the standard model, which have unusual properties at macroscopic distances. These objects could underpin significant phenomena such as superconductivity at high temperatures. And finally, the third topic concerns the properties of scattering processes involving many particles. These processes are quite important in high energy collisions. ***