KITP Graduate Fellows and Postdoctoral Scholars Endowment

Every year the KITP Graduate Fellows Program offers a unique, highly-competitive opportunity for a dozen outstanding graduate students to spend six months at KITP to participate in research programs and broaden their understanding of physics. KITP’s graduate fellows come from a variety of sub-fields of theoretical physics, from the best schools around the globe with one purpose – to take advantage of the unique environment that KITP offers, participate in research programs with leaders in their fields, find career mentors, and broaden their understanding of physics. Gifts to the KITP Graduate Fellows Fund support the Program and the recruitment and retention of this next generation of theorists.

In recognition of leadership gifts of $100,000 or more to this endowment campaign KITP is offering permanent recognition in Kohn Hall, and prominent naming opportunities in Kohn Hall and the Charles T. Munger Physics Residence for gifts over $350,000. Whether it is in your own name, or in honor of someone special, there are a number of ways to take advantage of this rare opportunity to join the distinguished community of supporters of the KITP and to play a key role in the future of scientific exploration. Please contact Kristi Newton, Senior Director of Development for the KITP, if you would like to learn more about an estate or outright gift to our endowment campaign.

KITP recruits the brightest, most independent early-career (post PhD) scientists, mentoring and successfully launching them as leading research scientists. With its global reputation for excellence, KITP receives approximately 600 applications annually of which just 4 or 5 are selected to be KITP Postdoctoral Scholars. They spend on average 3 years at KITP collaborating with visitors and UCSB faculty, mentoring students, giving their first public outreach talks, and most importantly, asking big questions about the future of physics. Gifts to the Postdoctoral Scholars Endowment Fund support the KITP Postdoctoral Scholars Program and the recruitment and retention of these scholars.

In recognition of leadership gifts of $100,000 or more to this endowment campaign KITP is offering permanent recognition in Kohn Hall, and prominent naming opportunities in Kohn Hall and the Charles T. Munger Physics Residence for gifts over $350,000. Whether it is in your own name, or in honor of someone special, there are a number of ways to take advantage of this rare opportunity to join the distinguished community of supporters of the KITP and to play a key role in the future of scientific exploration. Please contact Kristi Newton, Senior Director of Development for the KITP, if you would like to learn more about an estate or outright gift to our endowment campaign.

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.

	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. The Carl P. Feinberg Chair in Theoretical Physics was established in 2017 through a generous irrevocable planned and current use gift commitment from Carl P. Feinberg. Carl Feinberg is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Relational Architects International, a computer software firm. Feinberg has a keen interest in science and theoretical physics in particular. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and studied programming at New York University. The Carl P. Feinberg Chair in Theoretical Physics will support the teaching, research and public service of an outstanding scholar in the field of theoretical physics who will also hold the position of Permanent Member of the KITP. Selection will be made through approved University procedures.
Fred Gluck	The Frederick W. Gluck Chair in Theoretical Physics The administrative chair for the institute director was established with a gift of $1M from Fred Gluck, Fred is a UCSB Foundation Trustee and a member of the KITP Director’s Council, generously contributing his time, talent and resources to the institute and to campus. Read more...
Gus Gurley	The Susan F. Gurley Chair in Theoretical Physics and Biology Gus Gurley, co-founder of Santa Barbara based Digital Instruments (DI), endowed a chair at the KITP with a generous gift of $1M. The Susan F. Gurley Chair in Theoretical Physics and Biology honors the entrepreneur’s mother.  The first holder of the endowed chair is KITP permanent member Boris Shraiman. Read more...
Wayne Rosing Simon Raab Diana Raab	The Wayne Rosing, Simon and Diana Raab Chair in Theoretical Astrophysics UC Santa Barbara astrophysicist Lars Bildsten, a permanent member of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, has been awarded the Wayne Rosing, Simon and Diana Raab Chair in Theoretical Astrophysics in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the discipline. The endowed chair was established recently with a combined $1 million gift from the donors. Read more...
Doug and Deborah Troxel	The Troxel Family Chair in Theoretical Physics We are actively recruiting for this position. The Troxel Family Chair in Theoretical Physics was established in 2017 through a generous gift from Doug and Deborah Troxel. The Troxels’ history with UC Santa Barbara, and specifically with the KITP, dates back many years. Deborah is a UCSB alumna who majored in biology. Doug, is the founder and former Chief Executive and Chief Technology Officer of Serena Software, Inc. Now retired, Doug is the president of his family foundation, Change Happens, and splits his time between California and Hawaii with Deborah. The Troxels’ mission, like their family foundation, is to invest in pioneering programs and forward-thinking projects. Their endowed chair is just another example of their visionary philanthropy. The Troxel Family Chair in Theoretical Physics will support the teaching, research and public service of an outstanding scholar in the field of theoretical physics who will also hold the position of Permanent Member of the KITP. Selection will be made through approved University procedures.

David Gross, Ann Rice, Chancellor Henry Yang

The Family Fund provides indispensable financial support for scientists visiting KITP for four weeks or more with young children. Often the costs of travel and longterm child care are too great to cover for early-career scientists on their own. To apply, our visitors simply fill out a questionnaire indicating their need and approximately how much assistance is required.

Drs. Ann and Myron Rice have generously endowed the Family Fund to ensure cost is never a barrier to scientific discovery.