This National Science Foundation Project Grant of $540,000 supports research into nuclear structure and reactions from effective field theory from September 2022 through August 2025. Under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), Mississippi State University will conduct fundamental nuclear physics research using effective field theory to calculate properties of halo nuclei and asymmetric nuclear matter relevant to astrophysics. The awardee will apply effective field theory to systematically calculate properties of short-lived exotic nuclei that form halos around nuclear cores, enabling more rigorous uncertainty estimates for astrophysical models of element synthesis. Lattice effective field theory will be used to study properties of asymmetric nuclear matter under conditions of neutron star densities and temperatures. Multi-channel reactions involving tritons, helium-3 and valence nucleons will also be examined. Graduate students will be trained in numerical and analytical methods through this work. Outcomes will contribute to understanding of rare isotope beam experiments and gravitational waves from colliding neutron stars.