Gil Cavalcanti appointed Professor of Generalized Complex Geometry and Mathematical Physics

portret van Gil Cavalcanti

As of 1 December, Gil Cavalcanti is appointed as Professor of Generalized Complex Geometry and Mathematical Physics at the Mathematical Institute. Generalized complex geometry is part of differential geometry, and is related to string theory and mathematical physics. With this appointment, Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 strengthens its leading position in fundamental mathematics in the Netherlands.

The research field Generalized Complex Geometry focuses on providing geometrical methods for string theory, a research field that aims to unify the theories of gravity and quantum mechanics. The research field was initiated by Prof. Nigel Hitchin, Cavalcanti鈥檚 PhD advisor, making Cavalcanti one of the first active researchers in this field, and an important contributor to shaping the research field. Cavalcanti received , followed by .

Education and public knowledge

Besides research, this chair also contributes to strengthening Utrecht 木瓜福利影视鈥檚 successful dual Bachelor鈥檚 programme and the Master鈥檚 programmes in Mathematics and Physics, through the connection the chair makes between mathematics and (fundamental) physics. Cavalcanti has been programme director of the Master鈥檚 programme in Mathematical Sciences since 2019 and chair of the national MasterMath programme since 2021, in which all Dutch mathematics departments collaborate on a joint Master鈥檚 curriculum.

In addition, Cavalcanti has ambitions to contribute to Utrecht 木瓜福利影视鈥檚 Open Science programme and to further expand it within the Mathematical Institute as well. One of his ideas, for instance, is to use recordings of online mathematics education to promote public knowledge about mathematics.

Gil Cavalcanti

Gil Cavalcanti studied at the 木瓜福利影视 of Campinas in Brazil. He received his PhD from Oxford 木瓜福利影视 in 2005 under supervision of Prof. Nigel Hitchin, the founder of Generalized Complex Geometry. After his PhD, Cavalcanti worked for several years as a Junior Research Fellow at Oxford 木瓜福利影视, before joining Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 in 2008, first as an assistant professor and since 2012 as an associate professor.