$12 million new gift from Larry Leinweber to school raises his most recent donations to $130 million in support of theoretical physics research
The California Institute of Technology has received a $12 million gift from the Leinweber Foundation to establish the Leinweber Forum for Theoretical Physics, strengthening the Institute’s long-standing leadership in foundational science.
The initiative will support faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars, while fostering collaborative programming in theoretical physics. Caltech will also contribute $3 million, bringing total support to $15 million.
The new Forum joins a growing national network of Leinweber Institutes and Forums at leading research universities, including UC Berkeley, the University of Chicago, Stanford, MIT, the University of Michigan, and the Institute for Advanced Study. Collectively, these institutions are dedicated to advancing the frontiers of theoretical and quantum physics while building a vibrant, cross-institutional community of early-career scientists.
“We are honored to be part of the Leinweber Foundation’s extraordinary commitment to theoretical physics,” said Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum, professor of physics and the Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair. “The Leinweber Forum intensifies Caltech’s pursuit of profound and challenging questions about the universe, amplifying the impact of fundamental discovery through dialogue with a national network of scholars.”
The Forum will be led by Clifford Cheung, professor of theoretical physics, as its founding director. It will establish a premier postdoctoral fellowship program, with recipients named Leinweber Physics Fellows, and provide funding and mentorship for exceptional PhD students.
Additional support will cover visiting scholars, research collaborations, and programming, including participation in biannual national convenings of the Leinweber network starting in 2026. A dedicated gathering of all current and former Leinweber Fellows across institutions will begin in 2027.
Caltech’s new initiative builds on the Institute’s historic contributions to theoretical physics, from Richard Feynman’s quantum electrodynamics to Murray Gell-Mann’s quark model, William Fowler’s nuclear astrophysics, David Politzer’s quantum chromodynamics, Kip Thorne’s gravitational wave research, and John Hopfield’s pioneering work on neural networks.
More recently, Caltech faculty have advanced understanding of the quantum–gravity connection, developed new tools in quantum field theory, and explored concepts in quantum computation.
“This gift recognizes both the historic excellence and the future promise of theoretical physics at Caltech,” said Hirosi Ooguri, Fred Kavli Professor of Theoretical Physics and Mathematics and leadership chair of Caltech’s Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy.
“The Leinweber Forum will give our community the freedom to explore bold ideas and to connect more deeply with peers across the country.”
For the Leinweber Foundation, led by Larry Leinweber, the Caltech gift is part of a broader effort to sustain theoretical physics throughout the nation.
Earlier this year, the Foundation announced a $90 million commitment to establish endowed institutes at the University of Chicago, MIT, UC Berkeley, and a Forum at the Institute for Advanced Study. Including Caltech, the Foundation has now committed over $130 million to support theoretical physics research.
“This gift reflects my deep belief that theoretical physics is essential to building the foundational knowledge on which all scientific progress depends,” said Leinweber.
“By connecting Caltech to a growing network of institutions, we’re creating a collaborative environment where discovery is accelerated through shared insight and intellectual exchange.”