Frank Wilczek

Frank Wilczek is the Herman Feshbach Professor of Physics at MIT and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics (2004) for a fundamental discovery -- one that is at the core of our understanding of the properties of nature. His research interests include asymptotic freedom, quantum chromodynamics, quantum statistics, topology, application of particle physics to cosmology, and application of field theory techniques to condensed matter physics. He currently serves on the board of the Society for Science.

Frank is considered one of the world's most eminent theoretical physicists. He was recently recruited for a major 10-year grant by the Swedish Research Counci for research in theoretical physics, which means that he will be spending much time at Alba Nova Stockholm University.

He has a wide range of research interests, including: "pure" particle physics (especially connections between ambitious theoretical ideas and concrete observable phenomena); the behavior of matter at ultra-high temperature and/or density; the application of insights from particle physics to cosmology (e.g., axions as dark matter candidates, search techniques for these and for WIMPs); the application of field theory techniquesto condensed matter physics; and the quantum theory of black holes (e.g., existence of quantum hair, classical hair and entropy of string-theoretic holes).

In 2014 the Gravity Research Foundation granted Frank Wilczek and physicist Lawrence Krauss First Award for their essay on gravitation From B-Modes to Quantum Gravity and Unification of Forces.

His latest book, A Beautiful Question: Finding nature's deep design was released in July this year.

Frank earned his B.S at the University of Chicago and his M.A. and PhD from Princeton University.

Notable Awards: Sakura Prize (1986); Dirac Medal (1994); Lorentz Medal (2002); Lilenfeld Prize (2003); High Energy and Particle Physics Prize of the European Physical Society (2003); Nobel Prize in Physics (2004) for a fundamental discovery; King Faisal Prize. In 2014 the Gravity Research Foundation granted Lawrence Krauss and Frank Wilczek First Award for their essay on gravitation.

Frank's other books are: The Lightness of Being: Mass, Ether, and the Unification of Forces (2010); Fantastic Realities: 49 Mind Journeys And a Trip to Stockholm (2006); and (with Betsy Devine) Longing for the Harmonies: Themes and Variations from Modern Physics (1989). Contact: Frank Wilczek. Watch MIT Infinite History Interview.