Caltech Celebrates New Class of National Brown Investigators for 2025

On May 19, 2025, the Brown Institute for Basic Sciences at Caltech revealed the latest class of Brown Investigators. This cohort features eight exceptional mid-career faculty members who are taking on fundamental challenges in the realm of physical sciences—particularly in chemistry and physics. Each investigator is set to receive an impressive grant of up to $2 million over a span of five years, enabling them to push the boundaries of their research.

Established in 2023 with a generous $400 million donation from alumnus and entrepreneur Ross M. Brown, the Brown Institute aims to foster essential scientific advancements that may lead to breakthroughs beneficial to society. Ross M. Brown remarked on the significance of mid-career researchers, stating that they stand at a crucial phase in their careers—well-equipped to leave a lasting impact within their disciplines. Brown expressed his hopes that these awards will empower awardees to venture into bolder, innovative projects that extend beyond their current endeavors, particularly amid the uncertainties of traditional funding sources.

Meet the 2025 Brown Investigators

The investigators awarded this year include:

1. Dmitry Abanin, Professor of Physics at Princeton University, is focused on creating a groundbreaking theoretical and computational framework. This system aims to elucidate the emergent properties of quantum materials and synthetic quantum systems, especially in conditions deviating from thermal equilibrium.

2. László Kürti, Professor of Chemistry at Rice University, is set to innovate chemical methodologies for developing stable neutral polynitrogen cages. These unique nitrogen-only molecules are designed for high energy storage, functioning without combustion, and breaking down into harmless nitrogen gas, which could revolutionize propulsion and energy storage applications.

3. Mark Levin, an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Chicago, plans to apply lessons from skeletal editing within aromatic compounds to reactions involving aliphatic compounds. This work aims to create access to unusual compounds typically unattainable through traditional chemical synthesis methods.

4. Brad Ramshaw, Associate Professor of Physics at Cornell University, aspires to formulate a novel technique utilizing ultrasound to explore the electronic states found in atomically thin materials.

5. Cindy Regal, Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder and Baur-SPIE Chair at JILA, will strive to demonstrate quantum entanglement between more massive objects than previously entangled, furthering understanding of this mysterious phenomenon.

6. Xavier Roy, Professor of Chemistry at Columbia University, seeks to design materials with competing electron pathways. Mastery over these complex behaviors could be pivotal for advancing new types of quantum technologies.

7. Hailiang Wang, Professor of Chemistry at Yale University, intends to broaden electrocatalysis applications to convert inorganic waste—like CO2 and NOx—into valuable organic compounds, underscoring the necessity of sustainability in contemporary research.

8. Joel Yuen-Zhou, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UC San Diego, is engaged in theoretical and computational studies aimed at enhancing photoredox catalysis by leveraging the electron's spin sensitivity to influence reaction selectivity towards specific enantiomers.

The Vision Behind the Brown Investigator Awards

Formed in 2020 through the Brown Science Foundation, the Investigator Awards are a testament to the belief that scientific discovery serves as a foundation for enhancing human welfare. David A. Tirrell, Caltech Provost, expressed excitement about partnering with Ross Brown and the Scientific Advisory Board to support exemplary researchers dedicated to fundamental chemistry and physics.

In total, there have been 21 investigators recognized in the initial four years of this program, which continues to attract innovative talent from across various prestigious research institutions in the country. A notable aspect of the selection process is that Caltech abstains from nominating its own scientists, broadening the horizon for diverse fundamental research in chemistry and physics.

As part of this initiative, Brown Investigators are invited to participate in annual meetings to exchange ideas and foster collaboration. The second annual gathering was held at Caltech in February 2025, promoting engagement among some of the brightest minds in the field.

With a commitment to supporting transformative scientific research, the Brown Institute for Basic Sciences at Caltech exemplifies dedication to nurturing the next generation of scientific leaders and innovators in the physical sciences.