Private philanthropic support is central to attracting and retaining leading theorists and researchers for the Permanent Member faculty at the institute. Endowed chairs are highly prized, and one of the most distinguished honors the university can bestow on one of its members. While the state budget pays for a faculty member’s salary, earnings from the invested gift funds for the chair significantly enhance research impact, attract top post-doctoral and graduate students, and expand travel and sabbatical opportunities for the chair holder. These discretionary funds also permit timely programmatic responses to scientific discoveries, particularly in emerging interdisciplinary fields fostered at KITP that fall between traditional boundaries of funding organizations.
These generous donors have endowed 5 chairs at KITP.
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Chancellor’s Chair Professor of Theoretical Physics The Chancellor’s Chair supports the teaching, research and public service of an outstanding scholar at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics. The Chair was established through a generous planned gift from Marvin V. Clarke. Marvin Clarke graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1951 with a degree in Industrial Arts and then went on to have a successful career in Engineering. Marvin and his wife, Patricia, were friends with former UCSB Chancellor Vernon Cheadle and ultimately named the UC Santa Barbara Foundation as a beneficiary their trust estate. The Chancellor’s Chair is currently held by Professor David Gross, 2004 Nobel Laureate and former Director of the KITP. |
![]() Carl P. Feinberg |
The Carl P. Feinberg Chair in Theoretical Physics We are actively recruiting for this position. |
![]() Fred Gluck |
The Frederick W. Gluck Chair in Theoretical Physics |
![]() Gus Gurley |
The Susan F. Gurley Chair in Theoretical Physics and Biology |
![]() Wayne Rosing ![]() Simon Raab ![]() Diana Raab |
The Wayne Rosing, Simon and Diana Raab Chair in Theoretical Astrophysics |
![]() Doug and Deborah Troxel |
The Troxel Family Chair in Theoretical Physics |