David Gross is an American theoretical physicist known for his significant contributions to the field of particle physics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2004 for his work on string theory, which aims to explain the fundamental forces of nature and the behavior of elementary particles. Born on February 19, 1941, in Washington, D.C., Gross has held various academic positions, including at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is also a co-founder of the Institute for Theoretical Physics, which promotes research in theoretical physics and fosters collaboration among scientists.