UC Santa CruzUC Santa Cruz Department of Physics
View of the Bay from Campus

Stefano Profumo

Professor of Physics

Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs,
Division of Physical and Biological Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz

Chair, Senate University of California Senate Committee on Academic Personnel
University of California

Deputy Director for Theory,
Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics


Office Address
Department of Physics, ISB 328
University of California
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Phone: 1-831-459-3039
E-mail: profumo AT ucsc DOT edu


Research Interests

  1. Astro-particle Physics
    1. Particle Dark Matter Searches and Model Building
    2. Black Hole Physics
    3. High Energy Astrophysics

  2. Theoretical High Energy Physics
    1. Particle Physics Beyond the Standard Model
    2. Models for the Generation of the Matter-Antimatter Asymmetry in the Universe
    3. Phenomenology of Supersymmetric and Extra-Dimensional Models

Publications (see also(Google Scholar))

Abridged Curriculum Vitae

Full Curriculum Vitae


Employment

  • Professor of Physics, University of California, Santa Cruz (July 2015-present)
  • Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, Division of Physical and Biological Sciences, University of California, Santa Cru$ (March 2024-present)
  • Associate Professor of Physics, University of California, Santa Cruz (July 2011-July 2015)
  • Assistant Professor of Physics, University of California, Santa Cruz (July 2007-July 2011)
  • Postdoctoral Scholar in Theoretical Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy (2005-2007)
  • Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Florida State University, High Energy Physics Group (2004-2005)


    Education

  • Ph.D. studies in Theoretical High Energy Physics, SISSA-ISAS, Trieste (2001-2004)
  • Undergraduate studies in Theoretical Physics, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa and University of Pisa (1997-2001)


    Teaching

  • Physics 227 (Graduate General Relativity) - Winter 2024
  • Physics 182 (Scientific Communication for Physicists) - Winter 2024
  • Physics 5D (Introduction to Thermodynamics and Modern Physics) - Fall 2023
  • Physics 5D (Introduction to Thermodynamics and Modern Physics) - Fall 2022
  • Physics 212 (Electromagnetism I) - Fall 2021
  • Physics 215 (Introduction to Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics) - Winter 2021
  • Physics 212 (Electromagnetism I) - Fall 2020
  • Physics 116C (Mathematical Methods in Physics III) - Fall 2019
  • Physics 5D (Introduction to Thermodynamics and Modern Physics) - Fall 2019
  • Physics 215 (Introduction to Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics) - Winter 2019
  • Physics 116C (Mathematical Methods in Physics III) - Fall 2018
  • Physics 218 (Quantum Field Theory II) - Winter 2018
  • Physics 116C (Mathematical Methods in Physics III) - Fall 2017
  • Physics 218 (Quantum Field Theory II) - Winter 2017
  • Physics 210 (Graduate Classical Mechanics) - Fall 2016
  • Physics 215 (Introduction to Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics) - Winter 2016
  • Physics 217 (Quantum Field Theory I) - Fall 2015
  • Physics 215 (Introduction to Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics) - Winter 2015
  • Physics 217 (Quantum Field Theory I) - Fall 2014
  • Physics 5A (Introduction to Physics I) - Fall 2013
  • Physics 105 (Mechanics) - Fall 2013
  • Physics 210 (Graduate Classical Mechanics) - Fall 2012
  • Physics 105 (Mechanics) - Fall 2012
  • Physics 116A (Mathematical Methods in Physics, Part I) - Winter 2012
  • Physics 210 (Graduate Classical Mechanics) - Fall 2011
  • Physics 116B (Mathematical Methods in Physics, Part II) - Spring 2011
  • Physics 217 (Quantum Field Theory I) - Fall 2010
  • Physics 116B (Mathematical Methods in Physics, Part II) - Spring 2010
  • Physics 226 (General Relativity) - Winter 2010
  • Physics 217 (Quantum Field Theory I) - Fall 2009
  • Physics 116A (Mathematical Methods in Physics, Part I) - Winter 2009
  • Physics 221A (Introduction to Particle Physics) - Fall 2008
  • Physics 116A (Mathematical Methods in Physics) - Winter 2008
  • Physics 221A (Introduction to Particle Physics) - Fall 2007


    Professional Service

  • Postodctoral Opening in the Theory Group (Ad on SPIRES; Apply here)
  • A Rough Guide to Graduate Student Awards and External Funding Opportunities
  • On Teaching: interview for the Committee on Teaching


    "An Introduction to Particle Dark Matter"

    An Introduction to Particle Dark Matter

  • Purchase on WorldScientific (use code WSSPPS20 to get 20% off!)
  • Amazon


    Lecture Notes on Dark Matter

  • TASI 2012 Lecture Notes on Astrophysical Probes of Dark Matter (also available here)
  • SUSY 2013 Lecture Notes on Dark Matter: Lecture 1, Lecture 2, Lecture 3, Lecture 4
  • TAUP 2013 Lecture Notes on Dark Matter (handsomly hand-written slides): part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4
  • Galileo Galilei Institute Lectures on Dark Matter, Florence, January 2016: Lecture 1, Lecture 2, Lecture 3, Lecture 4, Lecture 5
  • Cosmology on the Beach 2016: "The Burden of Proof: Three examples from astrophysical dark matter searches"
  • Pre-SUSY 2016 School Lectures on "Introduction to Particle Dark Matter": Lecture #1, Lecture #2, Lecture #3 li>III José Plínio Baptista School of Cosmology - ​The Dark Sector of the Universe: 5 Lectures on "Particle Dark Matter": Lecture #1


    Miscellanea

  • Phi Beta Kappa Initiation Address, Wednesday June 4, 2014
  • 2013 Physics Department Commencement Speech
  • 2013 Excellence in Teaching Award - Teaching Philosophy Statement

  • Double Bass links
  • Photos
  • On the local TV news (KION and KSBW), on the California budget cuts to UC


    Running, Cycling, Multi-Sports

  • 5 km - 15':02'' (Carmel, CA, June 19, 2011, course was probably short!); 18':14" (with my son Alex in the jogging stroller, Santa Cruz, December 11, 2011), 15':36" (Downhill from Saratoga Gap, on the way for SCTA Virtual SC Triathlon 10k, 9/27/2020)
  • 10 km - 34':18'' (Richmond, VA, March 31, 2012); 32':47" (2012 W2W, 6 miler); 31':39" (down from Saratoga Gap for SCTA virtual Santa Cruz Triathlon 10k, 9/27/2020)
  • Half Marathon (13.1 mi) - 1h:13':48" (inaugural Capitola Half Marathon, Santa Cruz May 20, 2012)
  • Marathon (26.2 mi) - 2h:37':43" (Sacramento, CA, December 3, 2017)
  • Ultramarathon (50 km - 31 mi) - 4h:26':52'' (Santa Cruz mountains, CA, April 18, 2010)
  • Multi-sport - 2021: North American Ironman 70.3 Champion (St. George, UT, May 1, 2021); 10th overall (out of >2500 athletes), Santa Cruz Ironman 70.3; Kona qualifier (Tulsa Ironman); 2019 National Champion (ultra-distance (Ironman) triathlon, August 2019, Grand Rapids); 2nd place Off-road triathlon nationals (2019), 2nd place Long Course Duathlon national championship (2018), 2nd place Standard and 3rd place Sprint Duathlon national championship (2018); 3rd place Aquathon national championship (2018); 2nd place Duathlon national championship (2017); 2013, 2017, 2018 Triathlon All American; 2013 Duathlon All American; 2018 All-World Ironman Athlete
  • Cycling - 2015 Cycling Races 1st places: Pine Flat RR (Masters 35+ 1/2/3); Northern California/Nevada District Championship, Turlock RR (35-39 1/2/3); Everest Challenge Stage Race Stage 1, Stage 2 and General Classification (Pro-1-2); 2104 Cycling Races 1st places: Everest Challenge Stage 1, 2 and stage race overall (Masters 35+ 1/2/3), Sea Otter Classic Circuit Race, Red Kite Omnium #10-Crossfire Hurricane Hill Climb Challenge ITT, Mount Diablo Hill Climb Time Trial (NCNCA Championship), Pescadero Coastal Classic Road Race (Elite 3 Category), Wards Ferry Road Race, UC Santa Cruz Slugapalooza, Cantua Creek Road Race (Category 4), San Bruno Mountain Hill Climb TT (Category 5). Overall Low-Key Hill Climb Series Winner.

    On Running -- Favorite Quotes

    On Cycling -- Favorite Quotes

    Article on the Santa Cruz Sentinel (August 14, 2014)

    More race results on Athlinks

  • Running - Santa Cruz Track Club

    Cycling - Team Bike Trip

    Swimming - Santa Cruz Masters (CRUZ)

    Triathlon - Santa Cruz Triathlon Association