News Archive

The prestigious postdoctoral scholars program at UC Santa Barbara’s Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP) has served as a career launchpad for scores of prominent physicists. The highly competitive program receives over 700 applications for the 3–5 positions that open each year. 
Those few spots will likely be even more sought after when KITP unveils its new and rare means of support for its postdocs: a dedicated housing facility. 
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Dark Matter: Discovering the Invisible Universe 
Join KITP Postdoctoral Scholar Amalia Madden to explore the compelling evidence for dark matter, discuss why understanding it is essential to uncovering the history of our Universe, and learn how researchers today are designing innovative experiments to reveal its hidden nature. Learn more about Café KITP.

Professor David Gross honored with the 2025 Basic Science Lifetime Award in Physics, by the International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS), for the discovery of asymptotic freedom and other pioneering contributions to elementary particle physics and string theory. Read more.

Professor Lance Dixon presents "Voyage from Outer Space to Inner Space: From Gravitational Waves to the Higgs Boson" — learn more and join us for this lecture: RSVP in-person or register to watch online.

The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP) at the University of California, Santa Barbara seeks applications for a Permanent Member with an anticipated start of Fall 2025. The KITP contributes to all areas of theoretical physics through its programs, conferences, and the research of the permanent members, postdoctoral scholars and graduate fellows. The finalist recommended for hire will be offered a joint appointment as a member of the KITP, and as a tenured ladder faculty member of the University of California, Santa Barbara's Physics Department. All fields of theoretical physics are being considered.

When it’s time for an E. coli bacterium to divide, proteins inside the single-celled organism start to chase each other around. 
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Sonia Fernandez, UCSB Public Affairs, Senior Science Writer
KITP Newsletter, Fall 2024

Scientific excellence drives all of KITP’s endeavors, and it is achieved through unfettered intellectual exchanges between each scientist who visits. 
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Demi Cain, KITP Development Coordinator
KITP Newsletter, Fall 2024

The Earth and other planets started out as particles of dust in the disk of a young star. 
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Maggie Sherriffs, KITP Special Programs & Evaluation Manager
KITP Newsletter, Fall 2024

Over the last seven years that the Charles T. Munger Physics Residence has been housing KITP’s visiting researchers, an unexpected member of the community has become a local celebrity among the building’s staff and guests. 
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Demi Cain, KITP Development Coordinator
KITP Newsletter, Fall 2024

We celebrated 30 years in Kohn Hall this summer. 
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Lars Bildsten, KITP Director
KITP Newsletter, Fall 2024

The convergence of physics and biology has enriched contemporary science research, even leading to new fields like evolutionary cell biology... 
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Demi Cain, KITP Development Coordinator
KITP Newsletter, Fall 2024

The Fall 2024 KITP Newsletter is now available! Read more.

Physics with a twist: The new world of moiré materials 
Dive into the wonderful and rapidly developing physics of moiré materials with KITP Postdoctoral Scholar Tessa Cookmeyer. 
About Café KITP.

Now is the time to submit program pre-proposals or full proposals for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Submissions will be of greatest use if they arrive by November 8, 2024.

Professor Manu Prakash presents "Recreational Biology: From Animals in Flatland to Cellular Origami" — learn more and join us for this lecture: RSVP in-person or register to watch online.

The Summer 2024 KITP Newsletter is now available! Read more.

The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara expects to appoint Postdoctoral Scholars in theoretical physics, beginning September 1, 2025. For more information, and to apply, please visit https://www.kitp.ucsb.edu/apply/fellowships/postdoctoral-scholars-theoretical-physics.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Earlier this year, longtime Friend of KITP and UCSB Foundation Trustee, Tina McEnroe, made a generous planned gift commitment to the institute in honor of her husband and esteemed engineer, Paul McEnroe. 
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Kristi Newton, KITP Senior Director of Development 
KITP Newsletter, Summer 2024

Physicists from around the country converged at KITP from February 12-13, 2024, for two days of talks and camaraderie in memory of esteemed physicist Professor Jim Hartle, one of KITP’s four cofounders who passed away in May 2023. 
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Harrison Tasoff, Science Writer UCSB Public Affairs
KITP Newsletter, Summer 2024