Small-Scale Fundamental Physics
Supports university-based precision measurement experiments advancing fundamental physics, including dark matter searches, gravity studies, and quantum foundations, through innovative instrumentation and methods.
Funder: Sloan Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards support university-scale experiments; award size and duration vary by project.
Summary: Supports innovative, small-scale precision measurement experiments to advance understanding of fundamental physics.
Key Information: Currently not accepting applications; next anticipated call expected in 2026.
Description
This program supports small-scale, university-lab-based experiments that leverage advances in precision measurement to explore fundamental particles and forces. The funding is intended to enable research that would traditionally require large-scale facilities, such as the LHC or LIGO, but can now be conducted in university settings thanks to new techniques in cold matter manipulation, quantum nondemolition measurement, and related fields.
Projects may involve:
- Searches for dark matter or other new particles/forces
- Investigations into gravity or quantum gravity
- Tests of symmetry principles
- Explorations of quantum foundations
Funded research often involves developing new instruments or experimental methods that push the boundaries of measurement capabilities. Theoretical work is only supported if it directly informs the design or analysis of an associated experiment.
