- For his contributions to topology in QCD and the development of new methods in lattice field theory.
Postdoctoral researcher Claudio Bonanno, from the Institute for Theoretical Physics (IFT, UAM–CSIC), has been awarded the 2025 Kenneth G. Wilson Award for Excellence in Lattice Field Theory, one of the most significant international distinctions in the field of lattice field theory.
The committee recognized Bonanno for his “significant contributions to the understanding of topology in QCD, QCD-like, and large-Nc gauge theories, including algorithmic developments to reduce topological freezing, studies of Dirac spectral properties, and axion phenomenology.”
Claudio Bonanno’s trajectory
Claudio Bonanno received his PhD from the University of Pisa in 2021. Since then, he has carried out extensive research activity in lattice field theory and gauge theories, with a particular focus on topological aspects and the development of new numerical tools.
He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Theoretical Physics (IFT UAM–CSIC), where he continues his work on quantum field theory, quantum chromodynamics (QCD), and physics beyond the Standard Model. At the time of his nomination, Bonanno already had 27 scientific publications and a solid record of independent research.
International recognition for lattice field theory
The Kenneth G. Wilson Award for Excellence in Lattice Field Theory has been granted annually since 2011 to physicists who, within seven years of completing their PhD, have made recent and outstanding contributions to lattice field theory.
The award is named after Kenneth G. Wilson (1936–2013), Nobel Laureate in Physics and a pioneer of lattice gauge theory, which made it possible to study gauge theories numerically using powerful computers. The prize is presented at the International Lattice Conference, the main global meeting of the lattice field theory community.
Claudio Bonanno presented the work that earned him the award at the 42nd Lattice Conference, held at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai, India, from 2 to 8 November 2025.
This recognition once again places the IFT at the forefront of international research in theoretical physics and lattice field theory, highlighting the impact of the contributions made by young researchers trained and hosted at the institute.
Congratulations, Claudio!