Purdue, Los Alamos sign MOU for joint research effort
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Purdue University and the Los Alamos National Laboratory have signed an agreement that further develops joint research in national defense and global security, a commitment that includes establishing a federal lab near campus.
The memorandum of understanding aims to deepen collaboration between the two organizations, whose partnership in research dates back to the Manhattan Project during World War II, the university said in a news release.
Critical fields of research include advanced materials for hypersonics, cybersecurity, computational modeling and simulation for using AI technologies, and energetics.
“This MOU creates a new framework for partnering in the research capabilities and infrastructures of both Purdue and Los Alamos to make critical advances that strengthen our national security,” Purdue President Mung Chiang said in the release. “It is a particularly important milestone for the university as we welcome the first colocation of a DOE national lab.”
Purdue and the Los Alamos National Laboratory have collaborated on nuclear science, materials engineering and computational modeling research since the Manhattan Project was created to develop the first atomic weapon. Faculty and graduate students at the time relocated to Los Alamos to work on the laboratory’s cyclotron and nuclear cross-section measurements.
The memorandum, which takes effect immediately and extends through 2030, is part of a broader commitment by both institutions to build upon their relationship, the news release said.
“Our collaboration with Purdue University builds on a strong foundation for advancing research critical to national security,” Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Thom Mason said in the release. “This partnership will help accelerate progress in hypersonic materials, cybersecurity, AI-driven modeling and more. Purdue is a natural partner in tackling the complex challenges vital to our nation’s future.”