Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative
Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative supports recently tenured physicists, their teams, and equipment to pursue new, high-risk research directions that advance experimental physics.
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Funder: Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Due Dates: October 8, 2026, at 12 p.m. Pacific Time (Pre-application) | Early January 2027 (Conflicted reviewer lists) | Early February 2027 (Full proposals)
Funding Amounts: $1,350,000 per investigator over five years; additional equipment funds available if research progress requires a course change
Summary: Supports recently tenured experimental physicists, their teams, and equipment to pursue new, high-risk research directions.
Key Information: Applicants eligible for both EPI and EPiQS may apply to only one 2026 investigator competition.
Description
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative supports researchers transitioning from early- to mid-career who have recently received tenure or its equivalent. Its extended support gives investigators flexibility to pursue new research problems, test ideas, change direction, and bring students and postdoctoral researchers onto their teams. The initiative aims to advance experimental physics through work that may not attract comparable support from conventional funding sources.
Supported fields include atomic, molecular, and 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. The program also fosters connections among investigators and research-team practices that encourage participation and professional development.
