Tom Hutchcroft

Tom Hutchcroft is a Professor of Mathematics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), affiliated with the Division of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy. He specializes in probability theory, particularly percolation theory, focusing on phase transitions in non-Euclidean geometries and fractal structures. In 2024, he was awarded the prestigious Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering, providing $875,000 over five years to support his research. His work includes groundbreaking contributions such as proving the existence of two phase transitions in negatively curved spaces and solving Schramm's locality conjecture with graduate student Philip Easo.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, University of Cambridge (2013)
• PhD in Mathematics, University of British Columbia (2017)
• Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Cambridge (2017–2021)

Research Interests

Hutchcroft explores percolation dynamics in complex systems, including phase transitions, long-range percolation, and critical phenomena. His work bridges pure mathematics and theoretical physics, addressing foundational problems like the behavior of three-dimensional percolation at criticality. He investigates how mathematical frameworks can unify seemingly unrelated physical systems.

Awards

• 2024 Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering

Advising & Grants

Hutchcroft advises graduate student Philip Easo and leverages the Packard Fellowship to pursue high-risk, high-reward projects. His research is supported by grants enabling exploration of nonamenable graphs and long-range percolation models.

Labs/Teams

He collaborates with Caltech's Mathematics Department and participates in interdisciplinary initiatives within the Division of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy, contributing to research centers like the Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM).