• A researcher works with equipment

        • About Us

          URA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) academic consortium composed of over 94 premier research universities across the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan headquartered in Washington, D.C. supporting government lab management and operation in the national interest.

        • A grassy area is located next to a column-lined outdoor walkway at a college campus

        • Member Universities

          URA fosters valuable university research partnerships through membership. URA presents members with research opportunities at national engineering and physics labs, engagement with laboratory leadership and management, and recognition of academic achievements.

        • Lab Management

          Since 1965 URA has been an integral part of the management of Fermilab, overseeing the management and operations of the lab and bringing the expertise of our 94 member universities to bear on the challenges facing the Fermilab.  URA supports scholars and interns doing research at Fermilab and recognizes outstanding contributions.  In 2007 URA became part of the organization that manages and operates Sandia National Laboratories and since then has worked to support the scientific and technical demands of Sandia by supporting external calibration of science, technology and engineering (ST&E) programs; aid in ST&E programs’ strategic planning; and assist in development of university partnerships and diverse workforce talent.

        • Science & Research Policy

          URA strives to engender an awareness of the current national science policy issues among its members and early career scientists. This is achieved through a variety of platforms at URA, including science policy and communication training, connecting scientists and policymakers, and policy town halls and workshops. URA’s goal is to facilitate effective science communication to promote the public’s understanding of scientific discoveries, foster trust in scientific institutions, and facilitate informed decision-making by policymakers and the public.

        • Two researchers in hard hats examine computer equipment

        • High Energy Physics User Community

          URA has been a supporter, convener, and integral part of the high energy physics User Community since Fermilab’s creation. Currently approximately seventy-five percent of the university-based users at Fermilab come from URA members. URA members represent the best scientific expertise the nation has to offer. Through our leadership, oversight, and programs URA is committed to ensuring that the full range of expertise from around the Nation and the world contributes to Fermilab’s scientific challenges and the user and affiliate community remains the vital part of the lab’s research base that it has always been.

  • Events
  • News
  • Contact Us

Lab Management

Home | Lab Management

For over 50 years, the Universities Research Association has engaged in laboratory management and continues to contribute to the national science enterprise through management and operating (M&O) contracts with the Department of Energy. Today, URA participates in key partnerships and  M&O contracts which include the Fermi Research Alliance, National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS), and the National Science Foundation.

Fermi Research Alliance:

Since URA’s founding, it has been responsible for the management and operation (M&O) of the Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), the premier particle physics laboratory in the United States. In 2007, URA joined with the University of Chicago  to form the Fermi Research Alliance, LLC (FRA), which serves as the current M&O contractor for the Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab). The FRA is governed by its Board of Directors,  a 13-15-person board of individuals from industry, business, and academia that provides critical insight and direction to Fermilab. To find out more about FRA click here.

National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS)

In 2016, URA assumed an important supporting role as part of the Honeywell-led NTESS M&O contractor team supporting the excellent science, technology, and engineering (ST&E) research and development  at Sandia National Laboratories. Through a site office reporting to the Sandia Chief Research Officer, URA supports external calibration, strategic planning, university partnerships, and diverse talent development for Sandia’s ST&E organizations. In addition, URA assists Sandia to identify and assess current and future research fields that align with the Laboratories’ mission. The URA President serves on Sandia National Laboratories’ Board of Managers and chairs the Science, Technology, and Engineering Committee, providing key leadership and perspectives. To find out more about the Sandia National Laboratories click here.

Pierre Auger Observatory

URA supports continuing operations of  the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina for the National Science Foundation. The URA President is a member of the Pierre Auger Finance Board helping to coordinate work for the observatory between U.S. participants and their scientific collaborators from more than 14 partner countries. To find out more about the Pierre Auger Observatory-URA collaboration click here.

Photo credit (above): Ryan Postel, Fermilab