The Universities Research Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) consortium over 90 leading research universities in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Founded in 1965, URA was created at the behest of the National Academy of Sciences to "provide a national basis" for the management and operation of the proposed 200 GeV proton accelerator, later known as Fermilab. Today, URA participates in laboratory management and operation at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory through the Fermi Research Alliance (FRA) and Sandia National Laboratories in partnership with the National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS). In addition, URA also receives funding from the National Science Foundation as part of the U.S. share for continuing operations at Pierre August Observatory.
URA serves as a bridge between universities and laboratories, providing a talent pipeline for research institutions. Our organization provides scholarship opportunities to students of our member universities to conduct research at our associated laboratories.
