Ames Laboratory

Ames Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory dedicated to creating materials, inspiring minds to solve problems and addressing global challenges.

Ames Laboratory is a government-owned, contractor-operated national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), operated by and located on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. For more than 70 years, the Ames Laboratory has successfully partnered with Iowa State University, and is unique among the 17 DOE laboratories in that it is physically located on the campus of a major research university. Many of the scientists and administrators at the Laboratory also hold faculty positions at the University and the Laboratory has access to both undergraduate and graduate student talent.

We are global leaders in the discovery, synthesis, analysis and application of new materials, novel chemistries and transformational analytical tools. We conduct fundamental and applied research that helps the world to better understand the nature of the building blocks that make up our universe, and we translate that knowledge into new and unique materials, processes, and technologies that advance the nation’s economic competitiveness and enhance national security. Through multi-institutional collaborations, industry partnerships, and technology licensing, we have a proven track record of transitioning basic energy science through early-stage research to commercialization.