University Radioactive Ion Beam Consortium
The University Radioactive Ion Beam (UNIRIB) consortium is a division of the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) focused on cutting-edge nuclear physics research. UNIRIB is a collaborative partnership involving Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and nine member universities that leverages national laboratory and university resources to effectively accomplish the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) strategic goals in the fundamental structure of nuclei.
The consortium’s research efforts in low-energy nuclear physics are concentrated at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF), part of ORNL’s Physics Division. Some of the group’s activities are also conducted in the home laboratories of member universities.
UNIRIB concentrates on three main endeavors: performing research in low-energy nuclear structure, training students for the national scientific workforce, and organizing educational events pertaining to nuclear physics. UNIRIB accomplishes its mission by bringing together scientists, postdocs, graduate students and technicians from all over the world.
UNIRIB derives its funding from annual consortium membership fees, DOE direct support and DOE direct grants to UNIRIB members. These funds are used to support on-site staff at the HRIBF, as well as specialized equipment required for the research.