In a remarkable recognition of cutting-edge research in experimental physics, three physicists from the University of California, Santa Barbara—Sebastian Streichan, David Patterson, and Andrea Young—have been named among the 22 mid-career investigators awarded by the prestigious Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. This cohort, selected nationally for their innovative contributions to advancing fundamental research, will receive $1.3 million in funding over five years to support their visionary scientific endeavors that promise to unravel some of the deepest mysteries in physics and related interdisciplinary fields.
Sebastian Streichan’s work stands at the fascinating crossroads of physics and biology, exploring the physical principles that govern tissue morphogenesis. Inside living organisms, cells self-organize from seemingly chaotic groups into highly ordered structures during embryonic development. Unlike classical systems where order emerges close to thermal equilibrium and at low temperatures, biological tissues operate in warm, dynamic, and out-of-equilibrium environments. Streichan seeks to decipher the feedback mechanisms at play that allow such complexity and organization to arise at both the macro and microscopic levels. His research will involve reconstructing tissue-level ordering in vitro, shedding light on how physical laws enable biological systems to create and maintain structure. This profound insight could revolutionize our capacity to engineer living materials with programmable properties, opening new frontiers in tissue engineering, synthetic biology, and advanced materials science.
David Patterson’s research ventures into the minute and largely unexplored realm of molecular chirality—the intrinsic “handedness” that molecules exhibit, reflected in their three-dimensional asymmetric configurations. This subtle molecular property is analogous to how human hands are mirror images but cannot be perfectly superimposed. Many biological molecules, including those fundamental to life, exist as left- or right-handed enantiomers; however, the minuscule differences between these mirror forms have never been directly observed due to their extraordinary subtlety, on the order of one part in a million billion. Patterson’s team intends to push the limits of experimental precision by trapping individual molecules and probing their vibrational states with exquisitely precise laser techniques, aiming to detect these elusive discrepancies. Unveiling the physical basis of molecular chirality could deepen our understanding of fundamental biological asymmetries and pave the way for analytical tools sensitive enough to detect single molecules, benefiting multiple scientific disciplines.
Andrea Young’s program in condensed matter physics focuses on the burgeoning field of quantum materials, which display exotic phenomena including emergent magnetism and superconductivity at atomic and subatomic scales. Specifically, Young investigates the electronic states existing in ultra-thin, layered materials such as rhombohedral multilayer graphene, where quantum effects dominate and create novel electronic behaviors that challenge existing theoretical frameworks. With funding from the Moore Foundation, Young aims to not only characterize these emergent states with unprecedented sensitivity but also to manipulate them for practical application in next-generation quantum technologies. The insights gained here promise to revolutionize materials engineering and electronic device design, pushing forward the boundaries of quantum information science and enabling transformative technologies in communication, computation, and sensing.
The Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative spearheaded by the Moore Foundation plays a pivotal role in fostering multidisciplinary research at the forefront of experimental science. By emphasizing support for talented individuals rather than just projects, this program empowers researchers like Streichan, Patterson, and Young to chart bold new directions across fields from biophysics and molecular physics to condensed matter and quantum engineering. Their projects reflect an overarching theme: harnessing unprecedented experimental precision and innovative physical concepts to uncover the underpinnings of complex natural phenomena and unlock pathways to revolutionary applied technologies.
Streichan’s exploration into how embryonic tissues generate and sustain order in the midst of constant cellular turnover confronts longstanding puzzles in developmental biology and soft matter physics. Traditional physics explains emergence of order primarily near equilibrium conditions; however, living systems comply with far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics. By systematically reconstructing these biological processes in controlled laboratory conditions, Streichan’s team aims to identify novel physical forces and feedback loops responsible for morphogenesis. Such knowledge not only enriches fundamental physics but also equips bioengineers with quantitative models essential for designing adaptive materials that mimic biological resilience and complexity.
Meanwhile, Patterson’s quest to detect fundamental asymmetries in chiral molecules touches deeply on questions about the very origin of life’s molecular handedness and the subtle physical laws that may dictate biochemical evolution. His use of state-of-the-art laser spectroscopy on isolated molecules represents a technological leap in sensitivity and specificity. If successful, these techniques could transform analytical chemistry and molecular physics alike by enabling unprecedented studies of molecular structure and dynamics at the single-molecule scale. This capability holds promise for developing ultra-sensitive diagnostics, new pharmaceutical screening methodologies, and enhanced understanding of molecular interactions underlying biological function.
Young’s investigation into rhombohedral multilayer graphene situates itself within the rapidly expanding universe of two-dimensional quantum materials, where reduced dimensionality magnifies quantum mechanical effects. By probing emergent electronic phases such as correlated insulating states, unconventional superconductivity, and intricate magnetic ordering, Young seeks to unravel the fundamental physics driving these phenomena. This understanding informs the design of novel quantum devices capable of leveraging these properties for highly efficient information processing, robust quantum computation, and ultrasensitive detection. The interdisciplinary nature of this work, interfacing physics, materials science, and engineering, exemplifies the transformative potential of quantum materials research.
Collectively, the projects pioneered by these UCSB physicists epitomize the spirit of innovation and interdisciplinarity that the Moore Foundation aims to cultivate. These endeavors promise to open new conceptual vistas in understanding living matter, molecular asymmetry, and quantum electronic systems. Moreover, the experimental tools and methodologies developed through this program will likely propagate across scientific disciplines, facilitating breakthroughs well beyond the scope of the original studies.
The funding from this distinguished award will provide the teams with resources to acquire cutting-edge instrumentation, recruit talented researchers, and pursue ambitious experimental campaigns over the next five years. As these scientists push the boundaries of precision measurement and theoretical understanding, their findings will likely inspire new theoretical frameworks and technological applications with broad societal impact.
As Shelly Gable, dean of UCSB’s Division of Mathematical, Life and Physical Sciences, aptly noted, this recognition by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation spotlights the world-class excellence embedded in UCSB’s Physics Department. The foundation’s decision to invest in these exceptional researchers underscores the value of their creative approaches and the anticipation that their discoveries will significantly advance the fundamental physics knowledge essential to future technological revolutions.
This cohort of investigators embodies the vibrant synergy present at the nexus of physics with biology, chemistry, and materials science, epitomizing how interdisciplinary inquiry fuels breakthroughs in understanding matter—from the cellular to the quantum scale. Their ambitious agendas, enabled by this esteemed fellowship, promise to illuminate the principles orchestrating complexity and function in nature while simultaneously inspiring transformative innovations in science and technology.
The collective impact of these projects also emphasizes the importance of sustained support for mid-career scientists exploring emerging scientific frontiers, reinforcing the role of strategic funding initiatives in accelerating discovery and technology development. As these investigators unravel the subtle mechanisms underlying tissue morphogenesis, molecular chirality, and quantum materials, their work will ripple through various fields, shaping research trajectories for years to come and potentially redefining the possibilities for controlled manipulation of matter at fundamental levels.
Subject of Research: Experimental physics at the intersection with biology, molecular physics, and quantum materials.
Article Title: UCSB Physicists Awarded Prestigious Moore Foundation Grants to Pioneer Breakthroughs in Experimental Physics
News Publication Date: Not specified
Web References:
– https://news.ucsb.edu/people/sebastian-streichan
– https://news.ucsb.edu/people/david-patterson
– https://news.ucsb.edu/people/andrea-young
– https://www.moore.org/article-detail?newsUrlName=advancing-discovery-2025-experimental-physics-investigators
References: Not specified
Image Credits: Not specified
Keywords
Scientific community, Scientific approaches, Basic research
