Stefania Gori was a postdoctoral researcher at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. Now she is a professor of theoretical particle physics at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Perimeter Institute alumni have gone on to a wide variety of roles after leaving the Institute. It was a high school visit to CERN that set Stefania Gori on the path to become a physicist. That path has come full circle, with her work now inspiring several searches at the Large Hadron Collider. We reached out to Stefania to learn more about her journey.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
What is your current role, and how are you trying to push boundaries in your field?
I am a professor of theoretical particle physics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, working on physics beyond the Standard Model. Throughout my career, my research has spanned a broad range of topics, from flavor physics and neutrinos to the Higgs boson, dark matter, and axions.
Currently, I focus on dark matter and axions, and their connections to cosmology and astrophysics. I am one of the original proposers of the DarkQuest beam dump experiment at Fermilab, designed to probe light dark sector particles. I strive to push the boundaries of our understanding by thinking creatively about where new physics might emerge. I strongly believe that breakthroughs will come from connecting ideas across different areas in particle physics and across different fields, including cosmology, astrophysics, condensed matter, quantum information, and gravitational waves. I am currently pursuing research at the interface between particle physics and condensed matter, developing new theories and detection strategies for light dark matter. This interdisciplinary approach reflects my broader goal: to maximize discovery potential through both theoretical innovation and close engagement with experiments.
What brought you to where you are now?
A visit to CERN during my high school junior year was a defining moment that solidified my desire to become a physicist. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to have remarkable mentors, beginning with my Master’s thesis advisor, Riccardo Barbieri, at the Scuola Normale, in Pisa, Italy, who introduced me to theoretical particle physics. The University of Chicago and later Perimeter Institute were formative environments that shaped me into an independent thinker, a creative physicist, and a collaborative leader.
Beyond mentorship and institutional support, I attribute my success to two key qualities: resilience and passion. The path to become a theoretical physicist is highly competitive, but my determination to pursue this dream and my deep enthusiasm for the subject have sustained me through challenges and fueled my progress. These values continue to drive my research and growth.
What are you passionate about?
Outside of physics, I’m deeply passionate about hiking and being in nature. I find it incredibly rewarding to reach the top of high mountains, a passion I developed as a child during summers in the Dolomites in Italy, and one that has stayed with me ever since. I’m also a curious person who enjoys trying new things. In recent years, I’ve taken up skiing as another way to experience the mountains. Since moving to Santa Cruz, I have also discovered beach volleyball, which gives me a fun and social outlet for my competitive side. Beyond outdoor activities, I love learning about different cultures and ways of thinking. Physics has taken me to many parts of the world, and I deeply value the personal growth that comes from engaging with diverse perspectives. This curiosity also shapes my reading interests. I’m drawn to books on philosophy, psychology, and human nature, which offer insights into how people think, act, and relate across cultures.
How has your work impacted your industry and community?
My research has impacted both theoretical and experimental particle physics. I developed theories for Higgs physics, even before the Higgs boson discovery. Currently, I work on new theories for axions and dark matter, addressing two of the most pressing questions in fundamental physics: the strong CP problem and the nature of dark matter. I have also performed key calculations for Standard Model processes; notably, my calculation of the neutrino trident process during my postdoctoral research at Perimeter Institute earned me a Frontiers of Science Award last year.
Several Large Hadron Collider searches have been inspired by my work. Over the years, I have been a leader in the field of light dark matter, proposing innovative experimental ideas, many of which evolved into existing experiments and measurements. I proposed a new experiment at Fermilab, DarkQuest, to search for dark sectors and led the effort to build its ~50-member collaboration. The first phase of the experiment began data taking last year. Beyond my research, I serve on the Fermilab Physics Advisory Committee, the Belle-II Advisory Committee (an ~1000-member experiment in Japan), and am a general member of the Aspen Center, reflecting both the reach of my work and my commitment to the broader physics community.
How do you give back to your community?
I feel fortunate to have mentored talented and motivated junior physicists, from undergraduates to PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from a variety of backgrounds. It has been deeply rewarding to collaborate across career stages, witness their growth, and see them succeed. I’m especially proud of papers I co-authored with undergraduate students, something particularly challenging in theoretical physics. Beyond involving junior researchers in my projects, I’m committed to supporting their professional and personal development, and I strive to serve as a positive role model, especially for women in physics.
I also care deeply about communicating science to the broader public. I have given public lectures, including at the Aspen Center for Physics, participated in interviews with science journalists, and contributed to outreach events like the closing panel of the “Convergence” conference at Perimeter Institute in 2015.