Prof. Marek Karliner to Deliver the 2026 Hofstadter Memorial Lecture at Stanford

We are proud to share that Professor Marek Karliner, former Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) at Tel Aviv University and currently a member of its Academic Board, has been invited to deliver the 2026 Robert Hofstadter Memorial Lecture at Stanford University. The lecture will take place on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 7:30 pm.

The Robert Hofstadter Memorial Lecture Series, established in 1993 by the Stanford Physics Department, honors Robert Hofstadter, Nobel Laureate in Physics for his pioneering work revealing the internal structure of the proton. Each year, the series invites an eminent scientist to present a public lecture followed by a departmental colloquium, and is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious lecture platforms in the field.

Prof. Robert Hofstadter

Prof. Karliner’s lecture, titled “The Social Life of Subatomic Particles,” explores the fundamental structure of matter, from atoms to quarks and gluons, and highlights recent advances in understanding how quarks combine into both familiar and exotic particles. Drawing on discoveries from modern particle accelerators, the lecture offers insight into the rich and complex “social” behavior of quarks and the forces that bind them. He will also deliver a follow-up colloquium at Stanford on May 5, 2026.

A distinguished theoretical physicist and Professor Emeritus at Tel Aviv University, Prof. Karliner is internationally recognized for his contributions to particle physics, including precise predictions of rare and exotic hadrons such as the doubly charmed ++Xi-cc baryon and the Tcc+ tetraquark, confirmed in 2021. He has served as a visiting professor at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, and since 2019 has chaired the Israeli High Energy Physics Committee coordinating Israel’s collaboration with CERN, further strengthening Israel’s role in cutting-edge particle physics research.

Prof. Karliner served as Director of the IAS for a decade (2015–2025), during which he played a central role in strengthening the Institute’s academic excellence and international profile. Under his leadership, the IAS continued to thrive through challenging periods, maintaining vibrant scholarly activity and global collaboration. Following the conclusion of his tenure in January 2026, he remains closely involved in the Institute’s activities as a member of its Academic Board.

This invitation to deliver the Hofstadter Memorial Lecture reflects Prof. Karliner’s outstanding international standing and the high esteem in which he is held by the global scientific community.