Virginia Tech, SURA selected to lead Jefferson Lab in Newport News
The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Virginia Tech and the Southeastern Universities Research Association to manage and operate the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News.
The newly formed management group, known as SURATech, is a joint venture between the two organizations and will oversee one of the nation’s leading nuclear physics research laboratories.
Officials say the partnership marks a new chapter for Jefferson Lab and reflects a shared commitment to advancing scientific research, strengthening collaboration and expanding opportunities for students and the global scientific community.
“Virginia Tech is proud to partner in this effort to lead one of the nation’s premier research facilities,” said university president Tim Sands. “As part of SURATech, we’re ready to support Jefferson Lab’s mission and push the boundaries of discovery.”
Leaders with SURA echoed that sentiment, pointing to the lab’s long-standing legacy in nuclear physics and its role in groundbreaking discoveries about the structure of matter.
Jefferson Lab employs about 840 people and operates with an annual budget of roughly $238 million. The facility has been at the forefront of particle accelerator and nuclear physics research for decades.
This marks the first time a university has partnered in an organization selected to manage Jefferson Lab, one of the Department of Energy’s 17 national laboratories.
Officials say the new partnership will also expand research efforts in areas like artificial intelligence, data science and quantum information, while strengthening workforce development and collaboration across Virginia’s higher education institutions.
Several universities across the commonwealth are expected to take part in the initiative, helping create new opportunities for research, education and training.
Looking ahead, SURATech leaders say their focus will be on supporting Jefferson Lab’s workforce, enhancing collaboration and continuing the cutting-edge research that defines the facility’s mission.
