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        • 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.

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        • 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.

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        • 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.

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Science & Research Policy

Home | Science & Research Policy
U.S. Capitol building

SPARC: Science Policy & Advocacy For Research Competition

SPARC is a Science Policy & Advocacy for Research Competition for Graduate Students pursuing STEM research who are interested in developing skills in science communication, advocacy, and legislative research. SPARC’s goal is to spark student portfolios in science policy and engagement for the benefit of society. The 10-week virtual program culminates in active science advocacy and a competition. Three winning graduates students will visit Washington D.C. to speak with congresspersons on Capitol Hill and other federal policymakers.

URA Undergraduate Women in STEM

Summer undergraduate internship at Fermilab for underrepresented women in STEM. To introduce undergraduate women in STEM to science policy, interns of this program visit Washington D.C. to learn about the science & technology policy process in the nation’s capital.

A roomful of students look at computer monitors in a lab
U.S. Capitol building

URA-Hosted Research and Science Policy Forums

URA hosts research and Science Policy Forums convening leaders in research communities across academia, national laboratories, and government to serve the critical needs of all stakeholders in shaping the future of the national science and research enterprise.

 

 

URA Council of Presidents Policy Forum

URA hosted its 59th Annual Council of Presidents Meeting & Policy Forum, reporting on URA’s business activities and programs and providing a forum for an exchange of ideas on advancing research programs across national laboratories and URA’s academic consortium.

A roomful of students look at computer monitors in a lab