The MPRL is generously supported by research grants from federal and internal (AU) organizations agencies.
US Department of Energy – Plasma Science Facility (SC-0019176) – MPRL
National Science Foundation (OIA-2148653) – EPSCoR/FTPP
National Science Foundation (NSF-2308947) – ECLIPSE program
The MPRL also acknowledges support from US industry through the SBIR program and corporate sponsors.
The MDPX facility was developed and built through a grant from the NSF Major Research Instrumentation (NSF-MRI) program: PHY-1126067
Funding portfolio for MPRL (as of Fall, 2024):
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | $9,670,766 |
| Department of Energy (DOE) | $6,103,844 |
| Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) | $653,000 |
| National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) | $570,000 |
| Other Federal Agencies (NRL, etc.) | $22,000 |
| Subcontracts | $540,000 |
| Total Support (1998 – present): | $17,559,610 |
Current Active Research Grants – detailed information
DOE – The Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory as a DOE Plasma Science Facility (DE-SC0019176)
PIs: E. Thomas, Jr., U. Konopka (9/1/18 – 8/31/21)
Renewal: PIs: E. Thomas, Jr., U. Konopka, S. Chakraborty Thakur (9/1/21 – 8/31/25)
NSF – EPSCOR: RII Track-1: FTPP: Future Technologies and Enabling Plasma Processes (OIA-2148653)
PIs: G. Zank (UAH); E. Thomas (AU); R. Branam (UA), Y. Vohra (UAB), V. Rangari (Tuskegee) (5/16/22 – 5/15/27)
Funding: $20,000,000 [Auburn University portion: >$2.8 million]
NSF – ECLIPSE: Physical and chemical insights into particle formation and dynamics in dusty plasma via multi-fold laser diagnostics (NSF-2308947)
PIs: C. Wang (MSU); S. Chakraborty Thakur (AU); E. Thomas (AU) (06/1/2023 – 05/31/2026)