The Department of Mathematical Physics (DFMA) at the Physics Institute (IF) of the University of São Paulo (USP) stands as the premier hub for fundamental theoretical research in Brazil and Latin America. Founded in 1977 by Prof. Hersch Moysés Nussenzveig, the department was established to consolidate and empower a core group of theoretical physicists, creating a lasting legacy of scientific excellence.

Today, the DFMA’s mission is to maintain, permanently renew, and disseminate the highest level of proficiency in fundamental physics. Its modern research scope is broad, covering a wide swatch of 21st-century areas: Cosmology and Astrophysics, Quantum Field Theory and String Theory, Particle Physics, Relativistic Heavy Ions, Mathematical Physics, and the rapidly growing fields of Quantum Information. This intellectual breadth and commitment to basic science position the DFMA at the frontiers of fundamental research, aiming to understand the universe from its deepest foundations to its largest structures.

As an elite independent research center, the DFMA is proud of consistently attracting top students and recruiting global talent. We provide a vital, stable environment for high-level, curiosity-driven theoretical research in the Southern Hemisphere, ensuring Brazil remains an indispensable node in the global network of fundamental science. One of our core purposes is to break down disciplinary barriers and concentrate talent on unified areas like quantum gravity, particle cosmology, and fundamental quantum theory—precisely the research mandate and strength of the DFMA. This intellectual heritage is continuously assessed against global standards through international contacts, reinforcing its status as a consistently top-ranked scientific research center in Latin America.

Beyond its research prowess, the DFMA maintains a profound commitment to teaching excellence, evidenced by its long tradition of producing academic texts, many of which have received prestigious awards. The department is responsible for core undergraduate and graduate courses, ensuring the continuity of high-quality physics education that has shaped generations of Brazilian scientists, symbolized by classic textbooks like "Curso de Física Básica", by Prof. Nussenzveig.