Alessio Figalli

Alessio Figalli is a renowned mathematician and Professor at the Department of Mathematics, ETH Zurich, where he also serves as Director of the Forschungsinstitut für Mathematik (FIM). Born in Rome (Italy) in April 1984, he holds Italian citizenship and is a Swiss permanent resident. His academic journey includes a PhD from the Scuola Normale Superiore (Pisa) and École Normale Supérieure (Lyon), with postdoctoral roles at institutions like the University of Nice and École Polytechnique. Prior to ETH Zurich, he held professorships at the University of Texas at Austin (2009–2019).

Figalli's research focuses on Calculus of Variations, Partial Differential Equations (PDEs), Optimal Transport, and Free Boundary Problems. His work bridges pure and applied mathematics, with applications in geometry, probability, and physics. He is particularly known for contributions to optimal transport theory, regularity in free boundary problems, and stability estimates for geometric inequalities.

Figalli has authored over 200 publications, including seminal papers on regularity of optimal transport maps, stability of geometric inequalities, and nonlocal PDEs. His invited lectures include plenary talks at the International Congress of Mathematicians (2018) and the Bourbaki seminar. He has supervised numerous PhD students and postdocs, fostering collaborations globally.

• Awards: Fields Medal (2018), EMS Prize (2012), Feltrinelli Prize (2017).
• Editorial Roles: Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal., Duke Math. J., and 10+ other journals.
• Grants: ERC Grant RSPDE, NSF awards, and the Swiss National Science Foundation.

His ERC-funded project RSPDE explores regularity and stability in PDEs, while his mentorship has shaped the careers of over 30 students/postdocs. Figalli actively promotes mathematics through outreach, including public lectures and media engagements.