Matilde Marcolli

Matilde Marcolli is the Robert F. Christy Professor of Mathematics and Computing and Mathematical Sciences at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). She holds joint appointments in the Division of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy (PMA) and the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences (EAS). Her research spans noncommutative geometry, mathematical physics, number theory, and mathematical linguistics. She has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Sofja Kovalevskaya Award (2001) and the Heinz Maier Leibnitz Prize (2001). Marcolli has advised numerous PhD students and contributed to over 300 publications. Her work bridges abstract mathematics with applications in cosmology, quantum field theory, and computational linguistics.

Education:

• PhD in Mathematics, University of Chicago, 1997
• M.Sc., University of Chicago, 1994
• Laurea in Mathematics, University of Pavia, 1993

Research Interests:

Marcolli’s research explores the intersection of geometry, number theory, and physics. Key areas include noncommutative geometry models of particle physics and cosmology, motives in quantum field theory, and algebraic models of generative linguistics. She applies advanced techniques such as Feynman integrals, spectral action principles, and Hopf algebras to interdisciplinary problems.

Grants & Awards:

• NSF grants DMS-2104330, DMS-1707882, and others
• NSERC Discovery Grant RGPIN-2018-04937
• FQXi grant FQXi-RFP-1804

Collaborations & Labs:

Marcolli collaborates with institutions like the Perimeter Institute and Florida State University. She leads research groups on topics such as quantum statistical mechanics, holography, and neural information networks. Her work on syntax-semantics interfaces and quantum gravity models has been pivotal in interdisciplinary studies.