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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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Become a Member

Home | Member Universities | Become a Member

URA Membership Guidelines

Membership in URA is open to universities with a significant graduate program and a demonstrated sustained commitment to research in the physical, biological, and engineering sciences. Prospective member institutions should exhibit academic excellence and productive scholarly output of publications in science and engineering.

The criteria for full membership in URA are, generally: a consistent output of advanced degrees in relevant disciplines; and overall strength and growth in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) relevant to URA’s mission and activities.

URA will consider, on a case-by-case basis, applications for Associate Membership from universities that may not currently meet all URA criteria for membership but have demonstrated a clear commitment to build robust programs of research in the physical, biological, and related engineering sciences.

URA does not collect annual dues from its members. However, to meet certain corporate expenses that are not allowable under its government contracts, URA may, on an occasional as-needed basis and with the approval of the Board of Trustees and concurrence of the Council of Presidents, collect assessments from its regular members.

Currently, for the benefit of its member universities and Fermilab, URA sponsors the Visiting Scholars at Fermilab Program, providing awards on a competitive basis to the faculty and graduate students of its member universities to carry out research at Fermilab. This program, last extended by the URA Council of Presidents for the five year period 2022-2026, is supported by a yearly assessment of URA member institutions of $5,000. New members are invoiced $10,000, corresponding to the assessment of $5,000 for the immediate past year, and the assessment for the year of admission to membership.

Membership Application

A membership application consists of a letter of interest from the chief university official (e.g., President, Chancellor, or equivalent position) to the URA President. The letter should describe the university’s academic and research profile in the physical, biological, and related engineering sciences, including: the number of advanced degrees granted during each of the past 5 years; the number of graduate students who have reached the thesis research stage; and, the number of faculty members in such departments.

The Council of Presidents normally considers membership nominations at its annual meeting in January/February. URA by-laws provide that nomination may be made by the URA Board of Trustees, or any group of ten URA members. New members must be elected by two-thirds majority of the entire membership.

For additional information, please contact the URA President at the Corporate Office in Washington, D.C.