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A $20 million donation from the Leinweber Foundation, coupled with a $5 million pledge from the MIT School of Science, will enhance theoretical physics research and education at MIT.
Leinweber Foundation contributions to five institutions, amounting to $90 million, will create the newly renamed MIT Center for Theoretical Physics – A Leinweber Institute within the Department of Physics, linked with the Laboratory for Nuclear Science at the School of Science, along with Leinweber Institutes for Theoretical Physics at three other leading research universities: the University of Michigan, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of Chicago, in addition to a Leinweber Forum for Theoretical and Quantum Physics at the Institute for Advanced Study.
“MIT boasts one of the most robust and expansive theory groups globally,” states Professor Washington Taylor, the head of the newly funded center and a prominent scholar in string theory and its relationship to observable particle physics and cosmology.
“This groundbreaking endowment from the Leinweber Foundation will allow us to support outstanding graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in developing their own independent research initiatives and connecting with other scholars in the Leinweber Institute network. By committing to this network and fundamental curiosity-driven science, Larry Leinweber and his family foundation have made a significant contribution to sustaining a vibrant scientific enterprise in the United States indefinitely.”
The Leinweber Foundation’s investment across five institutions — representing the largest philanthropic contribution ever for theoretical physics research, according to the Science Philanthropy Alliance, a nonprofit organization promoting philanthropic support for scientific endeavors — will reinforce existing programs at each institution and encourage collaboration among the universities. Recipient institutions will engage both independently and collectively to investigate fundamental questions in theoretical physics. Each institute will continue to define its own research focus and programs while also committing to significant cross-institutional gatherings around shared interests. Furthermore, each institute will have substantially greater funding for graduate students and postdocs, including fellowship support for three to eight fully endowed Leinweber Physics Fellows at each institute.
“This donation is a pledge to America’s scientific future,” remarks Larry Leinweber, founder and president of the Leinweber Foundation. “Theoretical physics may appear abstract to many, but it is at the forefront of innovation. It drives our understanding of the workings of the universe and paves the way for new technologies that can redefine society for generations. As someone who has nurtured a lifelong intrigue with theoretical physics, I hope this investment enhances U.S. leadership in fundamental science and inspires curiosity, creativity, and groundbreaking discoveries for future generations.”
The donation to MIT will establish a postdoc program that, once fully funded, will initially fund up to six postdocs, with two selected each year for a three-year program. Moreover, the donation will provide financial assistance for students, including fellowship support, for up to six graduate students per year studying theoretical physics. The objective is to attract top talent to the MIT Center for Theoretical Physics – A Leinweber Institute and to enhance existing research programs more robustly.
A segment of the funding will also offer support for visitors, seminars, and other scholarly activities for current postdocs, faculty, and students in theoretical physics, as well as assist with administrative tasks.
“Graduate students are the lifeblood of our nation’s scientific research initiatives. Supporting their education to become the future leaders in the field is crucial for the advancement of the discipline,” states Nergis Mavalvala, dean of the MIT School of Science and the Curtis (1963) and Kathleen Marble Professor of Astrophysics.
The Leinweber Foundation gift marks the second substantial donation for the center. “We are consistently thankful to Virgil Elings, whose generous contribution helped facilitate the space that houses the center,” notes Deepto Chakrabarty, head of the Department of Physics. Elings PhD ’66, co-founder of Digital Instruments, which designed and marketed scanning probe microscopes, made his donation more than 20 years ago to support a space for theoretical physicists to collaborate.
“Contributions such as those from Larry Leinweber and Virgil Elings are vital, particularly in these times of uncertain federal funding for fundamental scientific research conducted by our nation’s leading postdocs, research scientists, faculty, and students,” adds Mavalvala.
Professor Tracy Slatyer, whose research is driven by fundamental particle physics questions — particularly the characteristics and interactions of dark matter — will take on the role of director of the MIT Center for Theoretical Physics – A Leinweber Institute starting this fall. Slatyer will join Mavalvala, Taylor, Chakrabarty, and the entire theoretical physics community at a dedication ceremony scheduled for the near future.
The Leinweber Foundation was established in 2015 by software entrepreneur Larry Leinweber and has collaborated with the Science Philanthropy Alliance since 2021 to refine its philanthropic strategy. “It has been a genuine pleasure to collaborate with Larry and the Leinweber family over the past four years and observe their vision materialize,” states France Córdova, president of the Science Philanthropy Alliance. “Throughout his life, Larry has embodied curiosity, intellectual openness, and a profound commitment to learning. This donation reflects those principles, ensuring that future generations of scientists will have the liberty to explore, question, and pursue ideas that may alter our comprehension of the universe.”
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