David Gross

David Gross is a Chancellor's Chair Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP) and Professor of Physics at the Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). He has served as Director of KITP from 1997 to 2012 and remains a Permanent Member. A 2004 Nobel laureate in Physics, his work revolutionized particle physics and string theory.

• Education: Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees (1962) from Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Ph.D. in Physics (1966) from University of California, Berkeley.

Research Interests: Gross specializes in High Energy Physics, focusing on the foundational properties of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and non-Abelian gauge theories. His groundbreaking discovery of asymptotic freedom explained the weakening of the strong nuclear force at short distances, enabling the formulation of QCD and completing the Standard Model of particle physics. His work extends to String Theory, particularly the development of Heterotic String Theory as a candidate for unifying all fundamental forces. Research trends include quantum gravity, field theory, and the interplay between mathematics and physics.

Scientific Awards:

• 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics
• J. J. Sakurai Prize (1986)
• MacArthur Fellowship (1987)
• Dirac Medal (1988)
• Harvey Prize (2000)
• Grande Médaille d'Or de l'Académie des Sciences (2004)
• Richard E. Prange Prize (2013)

Advising & Grants: Gross supervised notable students like Frank Wilczek, co-discoverer of asymptotic freedom. His career includes prestigious fellowships such as the NSF Graduate Fellowship and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow, alongside leadership roles like the American Physical Society’s Presidential Line (2016-2020).

Labs & Teams: Gross is affiliated with the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP) at UCSB, a global hub for theoretical physics research. He has held leadership roles, including Director (1997-2012), and currently serves as Permanent Member and Honorary Director of KITP/CAS in Beijing, China.