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Thomas F. Rosenbaum, currently the John T. Wilson distinguished service professor of physics at the University of Chicago, where he has served as provost for the past seven years, will be the California Institute of Technology’s ninth president.

He joined the faculty of the University of Chicago in 1983 after receiving a bachelor’s degree in physics from Harvard and a master’s and a PhD from Princeton, and has gone on to make important contributions to the field of quantum mechanics through his expertise in condensed matter physics.

In a statement released on 24 October, Caltech representatives said that while they had been impressed by Dr Rosenbaum’s distinguished reputation as a physicist, their attention had been captured and held by his “deep dedication, as Chicago’s provost, to both undergraduate and graduate education - both critical parts of Caltech’s mission”.

Fiona Harrison, chair of the committee responsible for the eight-month search process, praised Dr Rosenbaum’s commitment to “the fundamental inquiry that characterizes Caltech”, adding that he is “the kind of ambitious leader who will develop the faculty’s ideas into the sorts of innovative ventures that will maintain Caltech’s position of prominence in the next generation of science and technology”.

Dr Rosenbaum, who will take up the position on 1 July 2014, said: “It will be a privilege to work closely with faculty, students, staff, and trustees to explore new opportunities, building on Caltech’s storied accomplishments.”