The European Research Council has awarded a €1.2 million ERC Starting Grant to physicist Gabriel Francisco Cuomo of SISSA, funding only 8.8% of the 4,807 proposals received this year. The grant will support Cuomo’s theoretical physics project, exploring how extended quantities function within quantum field theory and offering insight into the physics of confinement.
“I wanted to return to Europe and SISSA is an ideal place to carry out high-level research,” says Cuomo, who built his career across institutions including EPFL, Stony Brook University, and a joint project involving Princeton and NYU before returning to SISSA in 2025. This funding will allow him to establish his research group and pursue ambitious ideas as he begins this stage of his career.
Cuomo’s €1.2 Million ERC Grant Supports Extended Probes in Quantum Field Theory
His research will specifically examine extended objects and their role in understanding systems like quark confinement. Cuomo’s research will focus on quantities not localized to a single point, such as energy density measured across a surface, and how these relate to fundamental particles unable to exist in isolation. He describes the project as an investigation into how these extended objects can illuminate systems governed by quantum mechanics.
According to SISSA Director Andrea Romanino, the award acknowledges not only Cuomo’s scientific ability but also his commitment to rigorous and ethical research. “This new prestigious ERC grant awarded to a young faculty member who has only recently joined SISSA is a confirmation of the quality of our recruitment,” Romanino stated.
Cuomo himself expressed satisfaction with the grant, noting it provides “the resources and scientific freedom needed to build a group, develop the project’s ideas and, above all, do interesting physics.” This ERC Grant marks the 35th awarded to SISSA researchers since 2007, demonstrating the institution’s continued success in attracting and supporting leading scientists.
This new prestigious ERC grant awarded to a young faculty member who has only recently joined SISSA is a confirmation of the quality of our recruitment.
Andrea Romanino, SISSA Director
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