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Hi, I’m Joseph Tooby-Smith

Postdoctoral researcher in computer science at Reykjavik University

_contact me at: joseph s at ru dot is

My research explores the connection between computer science and physics, and how we can improve the quality and storage of results from the physical sciences. In particular, I am interested in how proof assistants like Lean 4 can be used effectively in the physical sciences.

To this end, I have developed a program called HepLean. I’d love more people to get involved in this program - so please get in touch if you are interested!

Academic career
  • ...
    Reykjavik University

    Postdoctoral researcher in CS

  • ...
    Cornell University

    Postdoctoral researcher in physics

  • ...
    Cambridge University

    PhD in theoretical physics

  • ...
    Oxford University

    Integrated Masters in mathematical and theoretical physics

A list of my publications.

Formalization of physics index notation in Lean 4
Nov 2024
J. Tooby-Smith

arXiv-2411.07667 [cs.LO]

CS

Phys

HepLean: Digitalising high energy physics
May 2024
J. Tooby-Smith

Comput.Phys.Commun. 308 (2025), 109457 (arXiv-2405.08863 [hep-ph])

CS

Phys

Smooth generalized symmetries of quantum field theories
Oct 2023
B. Gripaios, O. Randal-Williams, J. Tooby-Smith

J.Geom.Phys. 201 (2024), 105212 (arXiv-2310.16090 [hep-th])

Phys

Math

Semisimple unifications of any gauge theory
Jun 2023
A. Gomes, M. Ruhdorfer, J. Tooby-Smith

Phys.Rev.D 108 (2023) 7, 075001 (arXiv-2306.16439 [hep-ph])

CS

Phys

The Higgs squared
Oct 2022
C. Csaki, A. Ismail, M. Ruhdorfer, J. Tooby-Smith

JHEP 04 (2023), 082 (arXiv-2210.02456 [hep-ph])

Phys

Generalized symmetries of topological field theories
Sep 2022
B. Gripaios, O. Randal-Williams, J. Tooby-Smith

JHEP 03 (2023), 087 (arXiv-2209.13524 [hep-th])

Phys

Math

Flatland: abelian extensions of the Standard Model with semi-simple completions
Jun 2022
J. Davighi, J. Tooby-Smith

JHEP 09 (2022), 159 (arXiv-2206.11271 [hep-ph])

CS

Phys

Electroweak flavour unification
Jan 2022
J. Davighi, J. Tooby-Smith

JHEP 09 (2022), 193 (arXiv-2201.07245 [hep-ph])

Phys

A ν supersymmetric anomaly-free atlas
Jul 2021
B.C. Allanach, M. Madigan, J. Tooby-Smith

JHEP 02 (2022), 144 (arXiv-2107.07926 [hep-ph])

CS

Phys

Thesis: Arithmetical, geometrical, and categorical forays into particle physics
May 2021
J. Tooby-Smith

PhD thesis, Cambridge U.

CS

Phys

Math

Semisimple extensions of the Standard Model gauge algebra
Apr 2021
B.C. Allanach, B. Gripaios, J. Tooby-Smith

Phys.Rev.D 104 (2021) 3, 035035 (arXiv-2104.14555 [hep-th])

CS

Phys

Math

Inverse Higgs phenomena as duals of holonomic constraints
Mar 2021
B. Gripaios, J. Tooby-Smith

J.Phys.A 55 (2022) 9, 095401 (arXiv-2103.08923 [hep-th])

Phys

Math

Undulating Dark Matter
Jul 2020
J. Davighi, M. McCullough, J. Tooby-Smith

JHEP 11 (2020), 120 (arXiv-2007.03662 [hep-ph])

Phys

Anomaly cancellation with an extra gauge boson
Jun 2020
B.C. Allanach, B. Gripaios, J. Tooby-Smith

Phys.Rev.Lett. 125 (2020) 16, 161601 (arXiv-2006.03588 [hep-th])

Phys

Math

Supersoft top squarks
Feb 2020
T. Cohen, N. Craig, S. Koren, M. McCullough, J. Tooby-Smith

Phys.Rev.Lett. 125 (2020) 15, 151801 (arXiv-2002.12630 [hep-ph])

Phys

Solving local anomaly equations in gauge-rank extensions of the Standard Model
Dec 2019
B.C. Allanach, B. Gripaios, J. Tooby-Smith

Phys.Rev.D 101 (2020) 7, 075015 (arXiv-1912.10022 [hep-th])

Phys

Math

Geometric general solution to the U(1) anomaly equations
Dec 2019
B.C. Allanach, B. Gripaios, J. Tooby-Smith

JHEP 05 (2020), 065 (arXiv-1912.04804 [hep-th])

Phys

Math

Quantum mechanics in magnetic backgrounds with manifest symmetry and locality
May 2019
J. Davighi, B. Gripaios, J. Tooby-Smith

J.Phys.A 53 (2020) 14, 145302 (arXiv-1905.11999 [hep-th])

Phys

Math

My teaching portfolio.

Introduction to proof assistants
TA

Fall 2024 : Reykjavik University

CS

Symmetries, Fields and Particles
TA

2020 : Cambridge University

Phys

Quantum Field Theory
TA

2019 : Cambridge University

Phys

Gauge Field Theory
TA

2019 & 2020 : Cambridge University

Phys

Theoretical Physics Part I
TA

2018 & 2020 : Cambridge University

Phys

Teaching in schools
Participant

2016 : Oxford University

An elective module about teaching in schools I took during my undergraduate.

Phys

Awards and honors I have received.

Hooke Prize
Christ Church College Oxford

2017/2018

'This prize is awarded to the most outstanding undergraduate Member of the House [Christ Church College] who achieves the highest mark in the following Honour Schools collectively: Mathematics, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Chemistry, Engineering, Physics and Materials Science.'

Clifford Smith Prize
Christ Church College Oxford

2016/2017 (awarded 2018)

The Scott Prize for performance in the Physics Part A examination
University of Oxford

2015/2016

Link
Honorary Vice-Chancellor's Award
University of Cambridge

2018

Link
The Scott Prize for best performance in the MPhys Part B examination
University of Oxford

2016/2017

Link
Scholarships
Christ Church College Oxford

2014/2015-2016/2017

Roach Prize
Christ Church College Oxford

2017/2018

'This prize is awarded to the most outstanding undergraduate across the following branches of Science: Mathematics, Biochemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Physics, Materials Science and Biological Science. The most outstanding undergraduate will normally be the person placed proportionately highest in an appropriate Honour School (including in a joint School with Philosophy).'

Prize for the Best Results on the Oxford MMathPhys
Oxford University

2017/2018

Collections Prize
Christ Church College Oxford

2016

Principal's Prize
York College

2014

Link

Talks I have given.

Physics and Lean
Lean Together 2025

17/01/2025

🎥
Lean and the physical sciences
Reykjavik University

02/10/2024

HepLean: Lean and high energy physics
Cornell-Syracuse joint high energy physics conference

March 20204

🎥
Smooth Generalized Symmetries of Quantum Field Theories
Texas Tech

19/04/2023

🎥
Symmetries of field theories
Cornell

19/04/2023

🎥
Gauge extensions of the Standard Model
Carleton

03/04/2023

Symmetries of field theories
Chicago

30/11/2022

🎥
Electroweak flavour unification and anomaly free gauge groups
Program on New Directions in Particle Physics ICTP-SAIFR

13/09/2022

🎥
Semisimple extensions of the Standard Model
Pheno 2022

10/05/2022

A study of GUTs
NYU

30/03/2022

🎥
Inverse Higgs 'Constraints'
Cornell

25/03/2021

🎥
A voyage through undulating dark matter and the GUTs of u(48)
Perimeter

15/12/2020

Supersoft Stops
Bonn

13/05/2022

Solving the anomaly equations
BSM Pandmeic

02/10/2020

🎥
Local anomalies in Z' models
Edinburgh

29/04/2020

Local anomalies in Z' models
Cambridge

16/01/2020

Outreach I have done (not up-to-date).

Cornell’s Centre for Materials Research
Volunteer at two events

2022

Cambridge HEP master classes
Volunteer

2019

Cambridge Science Festival
Volunteer

2019

Stargazing Oxford
Volunteer

2017

Link
Oxford Physics department and Christ Church college open days
Volunteer

2017-2018

Oxfords Hands on Science (OxHOS)
Volunteer & Committee Member (2017)

2016-2018

Link

Conferences I have attended (not up-to-date).

Lean Together 2025

Jan 2025

CS

Higher Structures in Functorial Field Theory

Aug 2023

Math

Topological Festival Cornell

May 2023

Math

Program on New Directions in Particle Physics ICTP-SAIFR

Sep 2022

Phys

Phenomenology 2022 Symposium: From Virtual to Real

May 2022

Phys

Cavendish Laboratory Graduate Student Conference

Dec 2019

On Organising Committee and a convener.

Phys

NExT PhD Workshop

Jul 2019

Phys

Young Experimentalists & Theorists Institute

Jan 2019

Phys

YTF 11

Dec 2018

Phys

Annual Theory Meeting

Dec 2018

Phys

British Universities Summer School in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics (BUSSTEPP)

Aug 2018

Phys

I use to run competitively. Here is a list of my persona bests (PBs) and other achievements.

PB 800m

1:59.4

PB 1500m

3:59.40

PB 3000m

8:39.6

PB 3000m Steeple chase

9:59.49

PB 5000m

15:08.92

PB 10k

30:01

National 6-stage road relays with Cambridge and Coleridge AC

3rd Team

2019

National Cross Country relays with Cambridge and Coleridge AC

2nd Team

2019

Oxford Town and Gown 10k

1st Overall

2019

Cambridge Town and Gown 10k

1st Overall

2019

Represented Cambridgeshire in track-and-field

2019

Oxford Vs Cambridge Blues varsity cross country (representing Cambridge)

2nd Indivdual, team win.

2019

National Cross Country Championships

30th Overall

2020