Science: Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative Grant

Science: Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Gordon E And Betty I Moore Foundation
Amount: Up to US $1,300,000
Last Updated: March 30, 2026

Summary

The Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative, launched by the Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation, aims to support mid-career scientists in experimental physics. With a funding of $1,250,000 over five years, this program encourages innovative research and collaboration among scientists. Applicants from U.S. institutions are invited to submit pre-proposals, with about 50% advancing to full proposals. The initiative fosters inclusivity and equity while aiming to make significant impacts in the field of experimental physics.

Overview

NOTE: Pre-Proposal - Pre-proposals will be reviewed by Moore Foundation staff in consultation with an external advisory board and a limited number will advance to the second stage. Full Proposal - Invite Only- In the second stage, individuals will be invited to submit a more complete research proposal, answers to questions describing how the applicant is creating an inclusive research group and advancing equity in their department, budget information, and a list of reviewers (suggested and excluded with rationale). Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative Overview The Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative was established to help the next generation of scientific leaders achieve remarkable physics insights and open new frontiers. The goal of the Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative is to provide substantial funding to our investigators over an extended period. This allows creative individuals to pursue exciting research goals, try new ideas, and explore areas that might not otherwise attract this level and duration of financial support from conventional funding sources. Each investigator receives $1,250,000 over five years. We employ a two-stage proposal process and typically advance about 50% of submissions to our full-proposal stage and fund about a third of these each year. The pre-proposal is short and simple – applicants submit ORCID data, and a two-page outline of their ideas. Individuals from any United States nonprofit or public academic or research institution are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. The goals of the initiative by the end of the eleventh year are: The 120 mid-career scientists who have received Moore Foundation funding have distinguished themselves among their peers as having made extraordinary contributions to the field of experimental physics. Collaboration among these investigators has led to advances in experimental physics that would not have occurred without Moore Foundation support. Supported researchers have fostered an inclusive and supportive community within their research groups and in their academic department. To achieve its goals, the Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative will employ two connected strategies: The first is to select and support outstanding individual investigators to advance cutting-edge research in experimental physics that improves scientific understanding of the natural world. Second is to host convocations and facilitate other interactions among the investigators to unleash creativity through exchanging ideas and fostering collaboration that will lead to insightful experiments and new discoveries. Both strategies conducted in a culture that supports continued development of inclusive research groups and that promotes equitable access to education and career development within the experimental physics community. The Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative seeks to support creative individuals who have recently received tenure (or its equivalent) to tackle interesting new research problems with enough flexibility to pivot when necessary and to bring on students and a postdoc to accelerate their progress. We are committed to advancing science in highly productive research teams that embrace inclusive and equitable practices. We will also make available additional equipment funds if progress dictates a course change, and we are enabling investigators to spend time with peers in the same career stage who are probing physics frontiers with new tools and ideas to foster collaborations and out-of-the-box research ideas. Launched in 2022, the initiative plans to support 120 mid-career scientists over six annual cohorts with an eye to evaluating our ability to have a significant impact in advancing the science among this unique group of individuals. Funding Each grant will provide $1,250,000 over five years with some additional funds available for research equipment. This amount includes a 12.5% indirect cost allowance on eligible expenses. Grants will be made to the applicant’s university or research institution.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Awards are given to a single institution with a single principal investigator.Investigators must have earned tenure (or equivalent) at their current U.S. institution and be within five years of that appointment at the time of application.While collaborations are allowed, the primary use of funds must support the principal investigator, their team, and their research equipment. Applicants who feel they are mid-career scientists but do not exactly meet these requirements may request a waiver within the application portal to these requirements.Researchers at all U.S. academic institutions are eligible.Researchers at academic institutions need not be in physics departments to be eligible. The essential requirement is that the proposed research is experimental physics.Researchers at national laboratories may be eligible. The EPI program is designed to support investigators who are transitioning from an early to a mid-career stage (e.g., immediately post tenure at most universities). Applicants will be able to explain their career stage in the appropriate section.Individuals supported by other awards from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation are eligible as long as they meet eligibility requirements. The experimental fields being considered include atomic/molecular/optical physics;biophysics;chemical physics;condensed matter;fluid dynamics;geophysics; laser physics;materials;polymer physics;plasma physics;precision measurements;quantum information;and soft matter physics.

Ineligibility

Investigators must not have access to significant funding (conventional or flexible) to pursue the research ideas described in the proposal. What we do not support: Theoretical and computational work unless part of larger experimental research efforts.Education research or public engagement.Ongoing work of large collaborations (e.g., astrophysics/astronomy, exotic matter searches, fusion, gravitational physics, high energy physics, nuclear physics).Observational astronomy.For-profit organizations.