Division of Physics

The mission of the U.S. National Science Foundation Division of Physics (PHY) is to enable human understanding of the fundamental aspects of nature at all scales, from the quantum-scale effects inside atoms to the mysterious dark energy spanning the entire universe. The division invests in ambitious research, collaborative centers and unique facilities fostering investigation of previously unexplored aspects of nature, including invisible gravitational waves, elusive neutrino particles and seemingly paradoxical quantum-scale phenomena. The division also prioritizes education and workforce development by supporting training opportunities in labs and facilities across the U.S. These opportunities allow more students, early-career researchers and others to get involved with cutting-edge physics research and become leaders in America's future science, technology, engineering and mathematics workforce