Fermilab is America's particle physics and accelerator laboratory.

What are we made of? How did the universe begin? What secrets do the smallest, most elemental particles of matter hold, and how can they help us understand the intricacies of space and time?

Since 1967, Fermilab has worked to answer these and other fundamental questions and enhance our understanding of everything we see around us. As the United States' premier particle physics laboratory, we do science that matters. We work on the world's most advanced particle accelerators and dig down to the smallest building blocks of matter. We also probe the farthest reaches of the universe, seeking out the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

Fermilab's 2,160 employees include scientists and engineers from all around the world. Fermilab collaborates with more than 50 countries on physics experiments based in the United States and elsewhere.

Fermilab's 6,800-acre site is located in Batavia, Illinois, and is managed by the Fermi Research Alliance LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. FRA is a partnership of the University of Chicago and Universities Research Association Inc., a consortium of 89 research universities.

For more about who we are and what we do, follow the links below. Contact us at fermilab@fnal.gov or by calling 630-840-3351.

Fermilab's vision and mission

Fermilab is America's particle physics and accelerator laboratory.

Our vision is to solve the mysteries of matter, energy, space and time for the benefit of all. We strive to:

  • lead the world in neutrino science with particle accelerators
  • lead the nation in the development of particle colliders and their use for scientific discovery
  • advance particle physics through measurements of the cosmos

Our mission is to drive discovery by:

  • building and operating world-leading accelerator and detector facilities
  • performing pioneering research with national and global partners
  • developing new technologies for science that support U.S. industrial competitiveness

Learn more about Fermilab

We've created easy-to-understand fact sheets about every facet of the laboratory, including our research, our economic impact, and our environmental and educational efforts. You can also read online versions of several brochures about the laboratory, its work and its place in the global scientific community. Keep up with Fermilab through our two regular publications: the online-only Fermilab Frontiers and our joint magazine with SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, symmetry.

Leadership and Organization

Lia Merminga

Fermilab is managed by Fermi Research Alliance, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.

View the laboratory organization, including bios of Fermilab's directors and senior leaders.

 

Science

photo: Accelerator

Physicists from all over the globe come to Fermilab to conduct particle physics experiments using world-leading accelerators. We collect and analyze the data from those experiments with powerful detectors and computers.

Photo and
video gallery

photo: Fermilab

Take a tour of Fermilab without leaving your house with this collection of photos and videos.

History

Fermilab Ground Breaking

Fermilab was founded in 1967 near Batavia, Illinois, and has a rich and varied history. Find out more about our story, from our earliest directors to our most important discoveries, and see photographs from every era on our history pages.

Lab culture

Fermilab aerial view

Fermilab's mission is science and discovery, but our lab culture extends far beyond that.

Contact

Fermilab aerial view

Have a question about our science, research or public offerings? Get in touch with us. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.