SURA enables the advancement of Big Science, large scale leading-edge research, and industry innovations by facilitating the collaboration of teams from member universities. We achieve this through substantial knowledge and experience managing major research facilities, and access to many of the best academic minds in the country. Our inclusiveness, international engagement, and diverse areas of expertise are instrumental in helping members extend the frontiers of knowledge and impact the world.

Who We Are

A builder of transformative research collaborations. As a consortium of over 60 leading research universities in the U.S. and Canada, we attract and engage the most knowledgeable and forward-thinking scientists today to pursue research that is beyond the scope of a single institution or small group of institutions.

The founder and longtime steward of Jefferson Laboratory. We are the original designer, builder, and operator of the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF), now renowned as Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab). Today we continue to manage and coordinate operations of JLab for the U.S. Department of Energy through Jefferson Science Associates.

A driving force in expanding access to Information Technology. Our IT programs are focused on leveraging high-speed network infrastructure to enable a wider range of research communities to pursue significant research initiatives and develop impactful applications.

A facilitator of pioneering coastal and environmental research.  SURA was integral to the formation of the strategic collaborations that developed the Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed (COMT), and continues to coordinate the advancement of this program in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).