Fundamental physics

The FQSP Distinguished Fellowships support independent theoretical research spanning fundamental physics and chemistry, mathematics, quantum information and nonequilibrium science. The programme gives early-career researchers scope to pursue their own questions across laboratory boundaries. Recruitment requires an initial nomination by a referee who can assess the candidate’s research ability. Referee registration is due November 13, 2026; the subsequent candidate application and recommendation documents are due December 14, 2026. The successful scientist is employed at RIKEN’s Wako campus.

Supports fundamental physics through atomic, molecular and optical science; nuclear and particle physics; gravitation; plasma physics; living systems; quantum information; instrumentation and related programmes. Proposals are accepted at any time, with programme-specific target dates for review. Funding levels and duration vary; the solicitation does not promise a fixed individual award. Investigators should contact the relevant programme about overlapping proposals or existing Physics awards.

…connect laboratory tests of fundamental physics with the engineering and scientific aims of planetary exploration.

…that turn observatories into probes of fundamental physics, including infrared observations with JWST for axions and radio studies of cosmic filaments for WIMP scenarios.

David Shih surveys generative AI applications to discovery in fundamental physics. Normalising-flow methods enable model-agnostic anomaly searches at the LHC and identification of stellar streams and faint galaxies in astronomical data. Generative inference also supports pulsar-timing gravitational-wave analysis and, combined with physics-informed networks, measurements of local dark-matter density. The talk concludes with agentic language models and new forms of collaboration between researchers and AI.