International School for Advanced Studies

SISSA – Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati – was founded in 1978 and is a scientific center of excellence within the national and international academic scene. 

SISSA’s activities focus on three main areas: Physics, Neuroscience and Mathematics. Moreover, the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Advanced Studies works at the interface between science, humanities and the public.

The research projects are coordinated by internationally renowned scientists. Some members of the School have received honoris causa degrees in prestigious universities, they were given important prizes or are members of leading scientific academies. SISSA scientists obtain each year substantial international and Italian grants. In particular, SISSA ranks in the highest positions among the Italian scientific institutions in terms of awarded ERC grants, especially when considering the small faculty size. The School has received 24 projects since the foundation of the European Research Council in 2007; more than 20% of the current faculty memebrs has received one or more ERC grants.