"The present project aims at studying the fundamental properties of matter close to the deconfinement phase transition of QCD. To do so, we explore a new theoretical development, the AdS/CFT correspondence, which allows us to study the physics of strongly coupled plasmas by string theory techniques. With this new tool, we shall address the propagation of probes in strongly coupled matter, as well as the back-reaction of that matter to the passage of probes. These studies will lead us to propose new strategies for analyzing and interpreting experimental data taken in heavy ion collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The project deals with the newly emerging interdisciplinary interplay of heavy ion phenomenology, string theory and experimental high energy nuclear physics. It is also a means for knowledge transfer between the heavy ion physics and string theory communities and it has the potential to contribute to academic training and education. The training proposed in this project aims at growing all aspects of the applicant's capability to perform leading independent research."