In the lab of Irfan Siddiqi (left), ultracold freezers are key to investigating the theoretical and technological aspects of quantum coherence and harnessing the phenomenon in superconducting circuits and other devices. (UC Berkeley photo by Keegan Houser) To support research that has the potential to forge new paths in the physical sciences, UC Berkeley today (Jan. 28) launched the Heising-Simons Faculty Fellows program. Through a generous gift from the Heising-Simons Family Fund, early- and mid-career faculty members working in geology and geophysics, materials sciences and materials chemistry, astronomy and physics will have the opportunity to apply for five-year $1 million fellowships to pursue basic science research that could lead to paradigm-shifting discoveries. Two awards will be given each year for the next six years.