The Patrons of Physics Fellows is a society created to recognize the generosity of those friends and alumni who make it possible for first-year graduate students to explore their dreams — to determine the right area of specialization, find a mentor, and have the freedom of time to develop new insights and ideas.

Membership

Those who commit $60,000 or more will become members of the Patrons of Physics Fellows Society, regardless of the type of gift — endowed, expendable, or corporate.

Gifts for new expendable fellowships will be matched dollar-for-dollar by a generous donor. Because of the generous match, your gift will have twice the usual impact.

Giving the gift of support

MIT’s graduate program in physics is consistently recognized as one of the best in the world. We attract outstanding students with the discipline and creativity to make major contributions to our understanding of the universe and how it works. From string theory to high-temperature superconductivity, we are closing in on answers to some of the most fascinating problems man has ever addressed. This is a critical time to be sure we keep attracting the best minds in physics. Unfortunately, the cost of supporting graduate students has skyrocketed, in part because of the high cost of living in Cambridge. Moreover, we face increasingly tough competition from other institutions for the best students. Our goal is to be able to offer every incoming graduate student a named fellowship.

Doubling the impact of your gift

George Elbaum AA ’59 has generously offered to match all new gifts dedicated to graduate support, dollar-for-dollar. Our goal is to fund 10 new fellowships in the next three years. Since 1998, George has supported a number of graduate fellowships in the physics department. The Whiteman Fellows, named for his mother, Pauline Whiteman, are highly prized by the recipients. Now, with his match, George is encouraging others to follow his example.

By joining the Patrons of Physics Fellows community, you will be providing the opportunity for a talented student to pursue the latest iconoclastic theory or explore untested techniques. Each member will receive periodic updates from the graduate student he or she is supporting, in addition to an invitation to the annual reception in celebration of the year’s accomplishments.

A gift to the Department of Physics is an opportunity for alumni and friends to play a vital role in the continued greatness of physics at MIT. The gift of a graduate fellowship is truly a gift to current and future generations at MIT, and in a broader sense, to the world.