Existence of low mass dark matter halos and subhalos are amongst the unique predictions of the standard model of cosmology (Lambda-CDM). Faint dwarf galaxies, which are hosted in these low dark matter halos, are therefore key laboratories for probing cosmology and the nature of dark matter. There have been long standing debates in the literature on whether the observed properties of dwarf galaxies are consistent with the predictions of the LCDM. I will go over some of the key challenges and open questions in understanding dwarf galaxies in the cosmological context, in particular their dark matter content. I will discuss how some of these “tensions” can (or cannot) be addressed in recent cosmological simulations that include complex physics of galaxy formation.
Time permitting, I will also give a brief overview of other projects and topics I am interested in and have worked on in recent years; namely probing the Galactic halo and implications of Gaia’s recent findings for dark matter direct detection.