Tom Imbo, University of Illinois at Chicago
Associate Professor of Physics
Tom Imbo’s rare area of study is dedicated to the foundations of quantum physics. He tries to understand, in as mathematically precise a way as possible, the origin and character of the bizarre rules governing the physical world at its most basic levels – atomic, nuclear, sub-nuclear and beyond. He wants to uncover the way these physical systems “think.” Oddly, it’s a fellow theoretical physicist, Mark Mueller, whose path Imbo crossed at Harvard University in 1989, who is funding a significant portion of his research.
“The type of work that I do attempts to ground the whole physics enterprise in a rigorous mathematical way,” says Imbo. “The biggest commodity in this endeavor is ideas, and Mark’s support helps me gather the talent to create and explore them.”
After earning an undergraduate degree in physics from UIC and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin, Imbo became a Junior Fellow in the prestigious Harvard Society of Fellows – a group boasting a large number of Nobel Prize winners. At the same time, Mueller was also at Harvard holding a post-doctoral position in theoretical physics. They hit it off immediately. However, it wasn’t until after a second, successful career in quantitative finance that Mueller found the time to come back to physics and the resources to fund physics research that he considered important.
“Tom is brilliant, draws ideas from everywhere, and creates original thought in a sea of opinions. I respect his intellectual integrity and stamina,” says Mueller. “I believe his research will be appreciated as foundational work in quantum physics. It will help us understand the logical structure of our world.”
Mueller’s support not only helps Imbo attract fellow researchers, and allows those researchers to dedicate themselves to their work without distraction, but also serves their extended timelines. “This type of funding is important for research which requires longer time-scales than normal to reach fruition and which crosses disciplinary boundaries,” says Imbo. “Mark’s gift gives us the unencumbered means and flexibility to pursue our goals.”
Randall Espinoza, a postdoctoral research associate and lecturer in physics working with Imbo, credits Mueller’s gift for allowing him to fulfill many of his professional goals. “Mark is funding much of my research, which addresses 50-year-old, yet unanswered fundamental problems,” says Espinoza. “He’s interacted with some of the modern era’s best physicists, making his advice invaluable.”
Imbo’s PhD students Kimberly Frey and Richard DeJonghe agree that having Mueller’s mentorship and support is exceptional. “In this unique area of physics, having people to discuss your work with is a rare and important resource,” says Frey. “Mark has also supplied us with computers, and funded our travel to a conference which we never could have attended otherwise, ” adds DeJonghe.
What Mueller didn’t expect when partnering with Imbo was the beginning of broad and significant involvement with the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. His work with Imbo led to an adjunct professorship, a fast friendship with the college’s dean and ultimately a role as chair of the college’s Board of Visitors.
“I put my money in places where I have a personal understanding of its use,” says Mueller. “I’ve been pulled into the orbit of UIC by Tom, and I think it’s a place with an enormous amount of potential.”