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-1655280) – EPSCoR/CPU2AL
National Science Foundation (OIA-2148653) – EPSCoR/FTPP
NASA / Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL-RSA 1571699) – PK-4
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 October, 2022):
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | $9,381,000 |
| Department of Energy (DOE) | $6,104,000 |
| 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): | $17,270,000 |
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 – 8/31/24)
NSF – EPSCOR: RII Track-1: CPU2AL: Connecting the NSF Plasma Universe to Plasma Technology in AL: the Science and Technology of Low-Temperature Plasma (OIA-1655280)
PIs: G. Zank (UAH); E. Thomas (AU); R. Branam (UA), Y. Vohra (UAB), V. Rangari (Tuskegee) (9/1/17 – 8/31/22)
Funding: $20,000,000 [Auburn University portion: ~$3.6 million]
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]
NASA/JPL: Complex Plasma under Microgravity, Utilizing the International Space Station Experiment “PK-4” and Beyond (JPL-RSA 1571699)
PIs: U. Konopka, E. Thomas, Jr., J. Williams (6/1/17 – 5/31/21) – NCE
NSF: Complex Plasma under Microgravity, Utilizing the International Space Station Experiment “PK-4” and Beyond (PHY-1655280)
PIs: U. Konopka, E. Thomas, Jr.,(6/1/17 – 5/31/21) – NCE