Roy T. Eddleman's Investments in the Quantum Future
The late chemist Roy T. Eddleman, founder and former CEO of Spectrum Labs, had a knack for bringing creative people together and cultivating a fertile environment for interaction and innovation. His company was just one example.
As a philanthropist, he assembled the leaders of Caltech, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara as an advisory board for what came to be called the Eddleman Quantum Institute (EQI). Now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded by Eddleman's estate, the EQI is dedicated to promoting his vision: to revolutionize science and technology through interactive and collaborative quantum science, by way of this complementary combination of research universities. Eddleman passed away in 2022.
Starting in 2020 and into 2025, the trio of institutions has received a combined $64,725,000 for research, education, programs, and operations in quantum science, all courtesy of Eddleman and his trust.
"Quantum science holds significant promise for humanity," Eddleman said in 2021 of the motivation for his generosity. "To realize its fullest potential, we need to provide adequate support to the young scientists who want to pursue careers in this field."
Advancing Quantum Science at Caltech
At Caltech, Eddleman's support—more than $21.5 million in total—established the Eddleman Quantum Initiative and laid a strong foundation for quantum science research and education. The Initiative is comprised of the Eddleman Professorship of Theoretical Physics, the Eddleman Fellowship in Quantum Science, and the Roy Eddleman Quantum Innovation Fund. Each of these plays a distinct role in advancing discovery at the quantum frontier while nurturing the next generation of physicists and engineers.
"Roy Eddleman's enthusiasm for quantum science was infectious, and his vision to connect leading research institutions across Southern California continues to pay dividends," says Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum, professor of physics and Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair. "His emphasis on supporting brilliant young researchers fits perfectly with Caltech's approach to leading the way in this critical area of discovery."
Empowering Discovery
Xie Chen, the current Eddleman Professor of Theoretical Physics, explores how matter behaves in ways that defy everyday intuition—such as how particles, when examined at the quantum level, can become linked across distances or appear to act as parts of a larger, emergent whole. These behaviors aren't just scientific curiosities; they could one day power revolutionary technologies.
Chen's approach is notably interdisciplinary. She collaborates with experts across various fields, including physics, mathematics, and computer science, in her explorations of complex quantum phenomena. One of Chen's main areas of study involves using quantum circuits—a tool developed for realizing exponential improvements in speed in quantum computers—to elucidate the mysterious entanglement patterns of quantum matter and thereby predict new quantum phases of matter or reveal their hidden connections. Support from the Eddleman professorship makes this possible.
"Theoretical research requires intellectual and financial freedom to explore promising ideas that may not have immediate applications," Chen says. "Roy Eddleman's visionary support has bolstered an environment where out-of-the-box thinking has room to grow and foundational advances can take shape."
Investing in Students and Fueling Collaboration
The Eddleman Fellowship in Quantum Science is offered to entering graduate students who intend to conduct quantum research. Such fellowships are crucial for recruiting the best and brightest to Caltech in the face of fierce competition from other leading research universities, and offer students the freedom to take intellectual risks, collaborate across disciplines, and commit fully to challenging scientific problems. At Caltech, where graduate students are integral to advancing research, this kind of support has an outsized impact.
The Roy Eddleman Quantum Innovation Fund supports graduate fellowships for more senior graduate students who are farther along in their PhD research. Since 2020, a total of 25 students have been supported by this program. Among many other innovative scientific contributions, these Eddleman Fellows developed new methods for benchmarking the performance of quantum computers, discovered new quantum phases of two-dimensional matter, and devised quantum memories that can store quantum information for extended periods.
In addition, the Eddleman Quantum Innovation Fund sponsors small workshops that bring global experts together for a long weekend to share their perspectives on the most challenging current problems in quantum science. Topics in these workshops have included novel quantum strategies for enhancing the sensitivity of measurements and unconventional physical realizations of quantum bits.
These efforts align closely with Eddleman's broader goal: to foster synergy among researchers and institutions in Southern California and to create an ecosystem where transformative ideas can emerge.
An Enduring Legacy
Roy T. Eddleman believed in the power of human ingenuity and quantum science's potential to reshape our understanding of the universe. Through his philanthropy, he built bridges—between people, institutions, and disciplines—and opened new paths for scientific progress.
As Caltech faculty members and their colleagues at UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara continue to explore the quantum frontier, Eddleman's vision remains a guiding force. His legacy lives on in these scientists empowered by his philanthropy and the collaborative spirit he championed.