Paolo Cascini, assistant professor of mathematics, has won a prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

He is one of 118 young scientists, mathematicians, and economists to be awarded the fellowship this year, 17 of which went to UC researchers. UC faculty members received more Sloan Research Fellowships than any other university this year.

Cascini won the award for his research in algebraic geometry, in particular the minimal model program. In the past two decades, algebraic geometry has played a central role in mathematics due to its many applications in different fields.

Fellows can use their two-year, $50,000 grants to pursue whatever lines of inquiry are of most interest to them. Funds are awarded directly to the Fellow’s institution and may be used by the Fellow for such purposes as equipment, technical assistance, professional travel, trainee support, or any other activity directly related to the Fellow’s research.

Cascini is originally from Italy where, in 2000, he received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Florence. In 2002, he earned his master’s degree at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University; a Ph.D. followed in 2004.

From 2004 to 2007, Cascini was a visiting assistant professor of mathematics at UCSB. In 2007, he became an assistant professor at UCSB.

Overall, the New York-based Sloan Foundation awarded $5.9 million this year to faculty members at 64 colleges and universities in the United and States and Canada who are conducting research in physics, chemistry, molecular biology, computer science, economics, mathematics, and neuroscience.