We are currently accepting applications for the role of History Fellow, a three-year postdoctoral position that may begin at any point between June 1 and September 30, 2026. AIP has a long tradition of hosting postdoctoral historians, who enjoy full benefits of AIP employment and access to the rich research resources of AIP and the entire Washington, DC, metro area. Applicants must be able to work in the US without requiring sponsorship of a visa. Further details and an application portal are available here, and the deadline to apply is November 15.

November 15 is also the deadline for applications to AIP’s Grants-in-Aid program. Offering awards of up to $2,500 each, this program supports research projects around the globe in the history of the physical sciences. New this cycle, applicants who wish to conduct oral histories with physical scientists who have spent significant time working in industry may seek funding of up to $6,000. For further details about the program and how to apply, please visit our website. The deadline for the program’s next cycle will be April 15, 2026.

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This blog from the Niels Bohr Library & Archives provides a behind the scenes look at the history and collections we preserve and make accessible. Explore more posts here.

Twelve volumes from the Wenner Collection of rare books and publications on the history of physics are now available online. The collection was acquired by the Niels Bohr Library & Archives in 2018 from collector David Wenner and digitization was supported through a Sloan Foundation grant.

Find the Wenner Collection digitized volumes on our repository.

AIP’s ability to support the preservation and communication of physical sciences history has grown enormously over the years thanks in large part to the generosity of our donor community. As we approach the end of another year, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through AIP Foundation to further empower our work.

As Montserrat Zeron worked on her undergraduate thesis about space diplomacy and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), she began to see the critical value of firsthand accounts from those involved in this international collaboration. That’s when she learned about AIP’s grants-in-aid program for oral history research, which offered a rare opportunity to dive deeper into the lives of the key figures behind the JWST.

With AIP’s support, Montse traveled across the US and Europe, interviewing important contributors to JWST’s history. This experience not only provided invaluable material for her research but also introduced her to the meticulous practice of oral history. Collaborating with AIP historians, she learned how to craft meaningful questions, listen actively, and document the personal stories that shape scientific history. Now, she is continuing her education in space policy at the Science, Technology, and International Affairs program at Georgetown University.