As a national and international nuclear physics research facility, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab, or JLab) provides unique research capabilities at the forefront of nuclear physics and in particle accelerator technology, provides research opportunities for Virginia faculty and students, and explores and develops core technologies and new initiatives for the economic benefit of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Jefferson Lab’s mission is to deliver fundamental scientific discoveries and technical breakthroughs by fostering a diverse user community and by designing, delivering and deploying world-leading scientific capabilities, technologies, and facilities to meet the needs of the nation’s scientist users.

JLab designs, builds and operates unprecedented instruments and facilities to enable scientists to unlock the hidden mysteries of matter and the universe. Jefferson Science Associates (JSA)/Jefferson Lab will continue to lead the world in exploring the complex dynamics by which quarks (elementary particles of matter) interacting via gluons (mediators of the strong force between quarks), form the stable and solid massive matter of everyday experience. To this end, JLab will continue to conduct experiments using a unique facility that is continually being upgraded to serve some 1,650 users, provide theoretical analysis to guide and evaluate experiments, and develop state-of-the-art computer simulations to compute experimentally verifiable predictions. JLab will lead the world in the technology of superconducting radio frequency (SRF) and energy recovering linear accelerators (linacs). These technologies will be used with JLab participation for the research aims of nuclear physics.

JLab is expanding its mission of scientific discovery with a  world-leading data science program, and in 2023 was chosen by the Office of Science (SC) as the site to lead the High Performance Data Facility (HPDF) Hub Project in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The HPDF will be an enabler of the Integrated Research Infrastructure (IRI) program, tying together user facilities across the DOE complex. HPDF will be purpose-built to provide researchers with the tools needed for ‘big data’ analysis. Furthermore, HPDF will be a first-of-its-kind Office of Science (SC) user facility that fits within and adds world-class capabilities to the Advanced Scientific and Computing Research (ASCR) and the SC data and computing infrastructure ecosystem. The HPDF mission is to enable and accelerate scientific discovery by delivering state-of-the-art data management infrastructure, capabilities, and tools, filling a gap identified through workshops and the IRI report. Data requirement areas include management, capture, staging, archiving, and processing within the context of the overall ecosystem. The HPDF will shepherd data policies and provide collaborative environments around data.

Research and development (R&D) activities using these innovative technologies will enable the Lab to continue to leverage Commonwealth funds to develop applications and new initiatives that benefit economic development in Virginia. A prerequisite to achieving these goals and success for JLab, is the recruitment and retention of a top-quality leadership team that will ensure exceptional institutional management.

Jefferson Lab pursues scientific discovery; works safely with purpose; embraces diversity; achieves with integrity; and leads in community.

The Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is a Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science laboratory for conducting nuclear physics research and is managed by Jefferson Science Associates (JSA), LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) which was the original M&O contractor for the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). CEBAF, the national user facility at the heart of JLab, started in 1987 and the first experiment began in 1995. JLab leads the world in exploring the complex dynamics by which quarks (elementary particles of matter), interacting via gluons (the strong force between quarks), form the stable and solid massive matter of everyday experience. The Lab conducts experiments (215 completed to-date) using a unique facility that has recently been upgraded to double its accelerator’s energy and to add a new experimental hall. The facility serves approximately 1650 active users from 308 institutions in 35 countries. JLab is a world leader in the technology of superconducting radio frequency (SRF) and energy recovering linacs (linear accelerators).

JSA/JLab will continue to be a national and international center for nuclear physics research and with the 12 GeV CEBAF upgrade now complete, will remain at the forefront of the field for the next several decades. In addition, a mid-scale physics detector project, called MOLLER, is now being built to study electron parity violation and should be operational in 2028. This mid-scale project ($65M) will provide the best measure yet of parity violation. JLab has begun a data science computational program as it builds the associated High Performance Data Facility. JLab expects to sustain or increase its scientific productivity in terms of Ph.D.s produced and in scientific papers and journal articles based on this program expansion.

JSA/JLab will continue its participation in research and development (R&D) and technology using the capabilities of the Low Energy Recirculator Facility (LERF), further building on the investments made by the Navy and leveraging Commonwealth funds to develop applications to benefit economic development in Virginia. The LERF building may be transformed into a higher energy injector hall if DOE pursues an energy upgrade for the CEBAF facility in the future.

JSA/JLab will continue to identify and develop emerging research opportunities that open new avenues for collaboration with university researchers like the newly formed Center for Nuclear Femtography (CNF), and business/industry partners. The CNF will bring together experts in nuclear physics, particle physics, computational science, mathematics and visualization to establish a center for three-dimensional imaging of nucleons and nuclei, with a goal to advance the role of the Commonwealth of Virginia as a focus for emerging technologies. The knowledge and technology developed through the CNF have the potential for future technological developments associated with structure at a much smaller distance scale than current nanotechnology. Five Virginia universities including Christopher Newport University (CNU), Wiliam & Mary (W&M), Old Dominion University (ODU), University of Virginia (UVa), and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VA Tech) are active participants in the CNF program. As part of the CNF mission to train the next generation of scientists and technologists and educate students, CNF awards graduate fellowships to students studying the field while working with Lab scientists on research projects related to femtography.

JSA/JLab receives its primary funding from the DOE Office of Science that supports the information technology requirements of the facility. SURA institutions, ODU, W&M, VA Tech and UVa work collaboratively with JLab to maintain E-LITE and MARIA networking services to provide high-speed connectivity to Virginia research institutions and to the DOE's ESnet. This collaboration leverages the networking expertise at these universities and ESnet to provide a cost-effective, high-speed Internet connection to collaborators around the world in support of the laboratory's scientific mission.

JSA/JLab faces a specific workforce challenge in recruiting for positions with highly specialized skill sets that are critical to the Lab’s success including Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) scientists and engineers, cryogenic systems engineers, superconducting magnet engineers, electrical and mechanical R&D engineers. Currently, the lab employs more than 950 people.

JLab is located on a 179-acre DOE-owned federal complex within Newport News and includes 71 DOE-owned buildings comprising 1,010,744 gross square feet (GSF).

Adjacent to the federal complex is a five-acre parcel owned by the Commonwealth containing the Virginia Associated Research Campus which provides additional office and shop space at a de minimus cost to the Lab. Transfer of ownership of the Applied Research Center from the City of Newport News to DOE took place in 2024 and will allow for additional office space under the CEBAF Renovation and Expansion project supported by the Office of Science. SURA owns 37 acres adjacent to the JLab site where it operates a 42-room Residence Facility providing temporary housing for Lab users, researchers, and guests.

JSA/JLab receives its primary funding from the U.S. DOE Office of Science that supports the infrastructure and maintenance requirements of the facility.

The primary impediment to the accomplishment of goals is the availability of adequate federal funding to operate JLab. Pressure on the discretionary portion of the federal budget will continue to impact JLab and could delay or obstruct progress toward goals and initiatives.

The FY2025 initial general fund (GF) appropriation of $1,547,651 represents base funding of $1,547,651 and supports the recruitment and retention of JLab leaders, faculty and staff positions, Governor’s Distinguished CEBAF Professorships, Scientists, and Fellows program, an industry-led research that will promote economic development opportunities in the Commonwealth, and an additional $500,000 to expand the Center for Nuclear Femtography (CNF) in partnership with the Commonwealth’s research universities and to attract Data Scientists to the lab to work with HPDF. The CNF will also support JLab's partnership and scientific discovery potential with the Electron Ion Collider (EIC). JLab plans to dedicate a portion of base funding to its EIC Center to support graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. In FY2023, Capital funds in the amount of $43,305,379 were appropriated to construct the infrastructure and a building (the Jefferson Lab Data Center) in support of a High Performance Data Facility (HPDF) at Jefferson Lab which was officially selected as the site by the U.S. Department of Energy in the fall of 2023. These funds will be utilized beginning in FY2025 to commence work. This facility will support a world-leading computational program focused on the unique challenges and opportunities for data-intensive applications and near real-time computing needs. The FY2026 general fund appropriation of $1,547,651 represents base funding supporting the activities listed above.

Jefferson Laboratory is not a revenue generating entity.

It is expected that the total number of publications will increase as completed experiments undergo analysis and new experiments start producing results. The total number of Ph.D.s awarded is also projected to increase as future experiments provide opportunities for university faculty and students to participate and produce theses based on JLab research.

Commonwealth support of Jefferson Lab's research activities and technology development provides important benefits including emerging technologies with economic development potential and opportunities for Virginia research universities to participate in research at an international level. This research may lead to important developments in science, defense, security, health and manufacturing with economic impact.

Additionally, The Governor's Distinguished CEBAF Professorships, Scientists and Fellows program provides salary support that allows JSA and Jefferson Lab to attract and retain top scientific and technological talent in the Commonwealth.

Jefferson Lab has more than 1,650 active users from the international scientific community, including 298 on approved experiments led by scientists at Virginia's research universities, and 36 theorists who collaborate with JLab staff. Nearly one-third of all nuclear science Ph.D.s awarded in the United States is based on Jefferson Lab's science. Eight hundred forty-seven Ph.D.s (288 from Virginia institutions) have been awarded to date, with 206 more in progress (83 from Virginia institutions). Jefferson Lab research has been cited more than 280,000 times in scientific literature, including some top cited papers in the field. The Jefferson Lab Free Electron Laser was awarded a 2005 R&D 100 Award as one of the 100 top technology advances in the United States.

Work at Jefferson Lab has resulted in patents and two spin-off companies: 1), Dilon Technologies, now producing breast imagers for use in centers around the world and was featured on the ABC Evening News on October 23, 2006, and 2) BNNT (Boron Nitride Nanotubes), LLC. Ninety-eight faculty positions in nuclear science and JLab related technologies have been created at Virginia's research universities.

A 2018 economic impact study noted that in 2018 alone, Jefferson Lab generated economic output of more than $500,000,000 nation-wide. In the Commonwealth, Jefferson Lab has generated economic output of more than $300,000,000.

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To provide world-class unique facilities for research in nuclear physics and data science -- products include experiments, Ph.D.s, papers in refereed journals, invited talks and scientific and technical prizes or awards.

To provide research support and development of industry-university partnerships in emerging fields to explore and develop applications for lab-developed technologies that could provide economic benefit to the Commonwealth -- products are collaborations, partnerships, proposals, research papers and publications, patents, new business spin-offs, and licenses.

Jefferson Science Associates (JSA)/Jefferson Lab (JLab) measures its progress and performance via a performance-based management and operating contract with the DOE. For activities funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia, it also reports progress towards metrics to the Virginia Performs database. These activities are:

1. Support for new research directions and technology development, including emerging technologies with economic development potential. Support for these research activities provides an opportunity for Virginia research universities to participate in research at an international level, and may lead to important developments in science, defense, security, health and manufacturing with economic impact.


2. The Governor's Distinguished CEBAF Professorships and Governor’s CEBAF Scientist programs, funded by the Commonwealth, provide opportunities for JLab leaders to hold faculty positions at Virginia universities.


3. Funding support that allows JSA to attract and retain top scientific and technological leaders to JLab.


4. Leveraging support for the newly established High Performance Data Facility (HPDF) at JLab.


5. Support to grow the Center for Nuclear Femtography program through multidisciplinary collaborations with Virginia universities, to enable new insights in understanding the subatomic world through the development of novel methods for imaging the structure of atomic nuclei.

JSA/JLab has shown excellent scientific and technological productivity in its basic research and technology transfer missions. It has approximately 1,650 active users from the international scientific community, including 298 on approved experiments led by scientists at Virginia research universities.

Enhancement of Virginia's economy requires that new science and technology is moved from the laboratory and university to the marketplace. By effectively leveraging Commonwealth-provided funds to yield new applications and developments, JLab is helping university researchers to identify and develop new products and services to stimulate high-tech economic development in Virginia based on the unique research capabilities. Commonwealth funds were also utilized to leverage federal investment in the $338 million 12 GeV CEBAF upgrade. This goal is aligned with Chapter 4.9:1 Virginia Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011, purposes 5 (To promote university-based research that produces outside investment in Virginia, fuels economic advances, triggers commercialization of new products and processes, fosters the formation of new businesses, leads businesses to bring their facilities and jobs to Virginia, and in other ways helps place the Commonwealth on the leading edge in the knowledge-driven economy; and 6 (To support the national effort to enhance the security and economic competitiveness of the United States of America, and to secure a leading economic position for the Commonwealth of Virginia, through increased research and instruction in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related fields, which require qualified faculty, appropriate research facilities and equipment, public-private and intergovernmental collaboration, and sustained state support.

Increase the total funding for the support of basic and applied research by leveraging state funds from all other non-state sources by a factor of 60 or greater.

• Jefferson Lab uses state funds to develop proposals, foster collaborations and for targeted experiments used to develop new applications with potential economic development impact for the Commonwealth and to leverage further federal investment.

By increasing the number of Virginia university faculty and students in high-profile experiments and in exploring and developing technologies for application, JLab raises the profile of the research conducted, attracts more and better students and faculty to Virginia and advances the development of applications with economic development impact for the Commonwealth. This goal is aligned with Chapter 4.9:1 Virginia Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011, purposes 2 (To take optimal advantage of the demonstrated correlation between higher education and economic growth by investing in a manner that will generate economic growth, job creation, personal income growth, and revenues generated for state and local government in Virginia), 4 (To enhance personal opportunity and earning power for individual Virginians by increasing college degree attainment in the Commonwealth, especially in high-demand, high-income fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and health care, and by providing information about the economic value and impact of individual degree programs by institution), 5 (To promote university-based research that produces outside investment in Virginia, fuels economic advances, triggers commercialization of new products and processes, fosters the formation of new businesses, leads businesses to bring their facilities and jobs to Virginia, and in other ways helps place the Commonwealth on the leading edge in the knowledge-driven economy), and 6 (To support the national effort to enhance the security and economic competitiveness of the United States of America, and to secure a leading economic position for the Commonwealth, through increased research and instruction in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related fields, which require qualified faculty, appropriate research facilities and equipment, public-private and intergovernmental collaboration, and sustained state support).

Make Jefferson Lab available to Virginia universities to participate in high-profile experiments and technology applications development, and increase Virginia university participation in emerging research areas such as medical imaging and nanotechnology with 16% of total users being from Virginia University participation.

• Jefferson Lab is seeking to increase the participation of Virginia university faculty and students in research at the Lab to enhance Virginia's economic development and to attract the best and brightest students and faculty to pursue these opportunities.

As a national and international nuclear physics research facility, JLab provides unique research capabilities at the forefront of nuclear physics and in particle accelerator technology, provides research opportunities for Virginia faculty and students, and explores and develops core technologies and new initiatives for the economic benefit of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jefferson Science Associates (JSA)/JLab, as a basic research facility for university users, provides unique educational and research opportunities for students and faculty enhancing the educational and research and development (R&D) infrastructure of the Commonwealth.

Jefferson Lab is managed and operated via a performance-based contract by JSA, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy.   ( www.energy.gov )

To provide world-class unique facilities for research in nuclear physics -- products include: experiments, Ph.D.s, papers in refereed journals, invited talks and scientific and technical prizes or awards.

Provide research support and development of industry-university in emerging fields to explore and develop applications for lab-developed technologies that could provide economic benefit to the Commonwealth -- products are collaborations, partnerships, proposals, research papers and publications, patents, new business spin-offs, and licenses.

The FY2025 initial general fund (GF) appropriation of $1,547,651 represents base funding of $1,047,651 and supports the recruitment and retention of JLab leaders, faculty and staff positions, Governor’s Distinguished CEBAF Professorships, Scientists, and Fellows program, an industry-led research that will promote economic development opportunities in the Commonwealth, and an additional $500,000 to expand the Center for Nuclear Femtography (CNF) in partnership with the Commonwealth’s research universities and to attract Data Scientists to the lab to work with HPDF. The CNF will also support JLab's partnership and scientific discovery potential with the Electron Ion Collider (EIC). JLab plans to dedicate a portion of base funding to its EIC Center to support graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. In FY2023, Capital funds in the amount of $43,305,379 were appropriated to construct the infrastructure and a building in support of a High Performance Data Facility (HPDF) at Jefferson Lab which was officially selected as the site by the U.S. Department of Energy in the fall of 2023. These funds will be utilized beginning in FY2025 to commence work. This facility will support a world-leading computational program focused on the unique challenges and opportunities for data-intensive applications and near real-time computing needs. The FY2026 general fund appropriation of $1,547,651 represents base funding supporting the activities listed above.