Gigliola Staffilani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gigliola Staffilani
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Gigliola Staffilani (2013)
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| Born | March 24, 1966 (age 59) |
| Nationality | |
| Alma mater | University of Chicago |
| Awards |
Fellow, American Mathematical Society (2012)
Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2014) Member, National Academy of Sciences (2021) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | The initial value problem for some dispersive differential equations (1995) |
| Doctoral advisor | Carlos Kenig |
Gigliola Staffilani (born March 24, 1966) is a famous Italian-American mathematician. She is a professor of mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her work focuses on understanding how waves and changes happen in mathematics. This includes studying special equations like the Korteweg–de Vries equation and Schrödinger equation.
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Early Life and Education
Gigliola Staffilani grew up on a farm in Martinsicuro, a small town in central Italy. When she was young, she only spoke the local language. Her family didn't have many books at home until her older brother brought some from his school.
When Gigliola was 10, her father passed away. Her mother thought she didn't need to go to high school. But her brother helped change her mother's mind. Gigliola fell in love with mathematics at school. Her teachers and brother encouraged her to keep studying. They thought she could become a math teacher back in Martinsicuro.
She earned a scholarship to study at the University of Bologna. In 1989, she completed her first university degree in mathematics. Her final project was about special math tools called Green's functions.
Moving to America
One of her professors in Bologna suggested she go to the University of Chicago for more studies. This was a big change because it meant she couldn't go back to Martinsicuro right away. When she arrived in Chicago, she knew very little English. She also hadn't taken the Test of English as a Foreign Language, which is a test for non-native English speakers.
She had trouble with her visa, which meant she couldn't get the teaching job she was promised. She almost went home. But a kind professor named Paul Sally helped her. He loaned her money until her visa problems were fixed. At Chicago, she studied how waves spread out in math, earning her master's degree in 1991 and her Ph.D. in 1995.
Career Highlights
After finishing her Ph.D., Gigliola worked at several top universities. She was at the Institute for Advanced Study, Stanford University, and Princeton University. In 1999, she became a professor at Stanford. She earned a permanent position there in 2001.
While at Stanford, she met her husband, Tomasz Mrowka. He is also a math professor at MIT. After a year and a half, Gigliola found a job closer to him at Brown University. Then, in 2002, she moved to MIT. In 2006, she made history by becoming only the second woman to be a full professor of mathematics at MIT.
Teamwork in Mathematics
Gigliola Staffilani often works with other mathematicians. She is part of a group called the "I-team." This team includes James Colliander, Markus Keel, Hideo Takaoka, and Terence Tao.
The name "I-team" might come from a math term they use, or it could mean "interaction." This refers to how they work together as a team. It also refers to how different waves interact in their math problems. Their teamwork is very important. Their work was even highlighted when their team member, Terence Tao, won the Fields Medal in 2006. The Fields Medal is one of the highest honors in mathematics.
Awards and Recognitions
Gigliola Staffilani has received many important awards for her work.
- From 2000 to 2002, she was a Sloan Fellow. This is a special award for promising young scientists.
- In 2009-2010, she was a member of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.
- In 2012, she became one of the first fellows of the American Mathematical Society. This means she is recognized as a top expert in her field.
- In 2014, she was chosen to join the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- In 2021, she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United States.
