Nafiz Ishtiaque

BIO

My research primarily focuses on the study of integrability within gauge theory and string theory. Integrable models, like integrable spin chains, are distinguished by their exactly solvable dynamics. I aim to develop systematic methods to identify these integrable subsectors within broader quantum field theories and string theories. Using tools such as supersymmetric localization and holomorphic-topological twists, I explore string and M-theoretic constructions of integrable models and their duality transformations.

The concept of symmetry, especially in the form of quantum groups, has been fundamental in understanding integrability. Given the recent developments in generalized or categorical symmetry, I am also interested in investigating how this broader concept of symmetry impacts integrable dynamics.

Education Experience

• 2014-2019 Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Canada, PhD (Theoretical physics).
• 2013-2014 Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Canada, MSc (Theoretical physics).
• 2008-2012 University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, BSc (Physics).

Work Experience

• 2022-2025 Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques, France. Postdoc.
• 2019-2022 Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, USA. Postdoc.

Honors and Awards

Publications

• Symmetry topological field theory and non-abelian Kramers-Wannier dualities of generalised Ising models, with Clement Delcamp, e-Print: 2408.06074 [hep-th].
• Elliptic Stable Envelopes for Certain Non-Symplectic Varieties and Dynamical R-Matrices for Superspin Chains from The Bethe/Gauge Correspondence, with Seyed Faroogh Moosavian, Yehao Zhou, e-Print: 2308.12333 [hep-th].
• Line operators in 4d Chern-Simons theory and Cherkis bows, with Yehao Zhou, e-Print: 2211.00049 [hep-th], SciPost Phys. 16 (2024) 2, 052, SciPost Phys. 16 (2024), 052.
• Superspin chains from superstring theory, with Seyed Faroogh Moosavian, Surya Raghavendran, Junya Yagi, e-Print: 2110.15112 [hep-th], SciPost Phys. 13 (2022) 4, 083, SciPost Phys. 13 (2022), 083.
• Disk, interval, point: on constructions of quantum field theories with holomorphic action functionals, with Junya Yagi, e-Print: 2002.10488 [hep-th], JHEP 06 (2020), 180.
• Topological holography: The example of the D2-D4 brane system, with Seyed Faroogh Moosavian, Yehao Zhou, e-Print: 1809.00372 [hep-th], SciPost Phys. 9 (2020) 2, 017.
• 2D BPS Rings from Sphere Partition Functions, e-Print: 1712.02551 [hep-th], JHEP 04 (2018), 124.
• Correlation Functions of Coulomb Branch Operators, with Efrat Gerchkovitz, Jaume Gomis, Avner Karasik, Zohar Komargodski, Silviu Pufu, e-Print: 1602.05971 [hep-th], JHEP 01 (2017), 103.
• Kähler potential and ambiguities in 4d N = 2 SCFTs, with Jaume Gomis, e-Print: 1409.5325 [hep-th], JHEP 04 (2015), 169, JHEP 04 (2015), 169.