Institute for Physical Research and Technology

Contact Us

Toll-free (877) 251-6520
(515) 294-3045
iprtinfo@iastate.edu


Institute for Physical
Research and Technology

Iowa State University
2156 Gilman Hall
Ames, IA 50011-3110

IPRT Works for Iowa

Services for ISU Faculty

IPRT and its various centers offer a plethora of services to research faculty, all aimed at facilitating interdisciplinary research and letting researchers focus on research.

Access to Opportunities

IPRT brings access to research and funding opportunities beyond the normal sources.  In addition to posting Federal and private-sourced funding opportunities matched specifically to IPRT research interests bi-weekly on its website, IPRT can:

  • Identify U.S. Industrial Partners
    We can find companies that want to partner with you in your research. Our main focus is on Iowa companies; in fact, we have a database of more than 6,000 Iowa companies on which to draw. We can also conduct market research to find just the right partner to support and develop your research.

  • Locate and Acquire State and Federal Funding
    IPRT can help you locate and acquire state and federal funding for applied research. We also have funds from state sources to cost-share funding provided by industry for commercializing new technology or solving problems specific to a company. IPRT also receives state of Iowa funding for applied research proposals that lead to new products and processes that stimulate economic development in Iowa.

Assistance with Project Development and Management

Starting and maintaining an ongoing research program, especially an interdisciplinary one, can be a real challenge. IPRT can help, providing assistance with:

  • Preparing research contract documents.
  • Managing and tracking grants and reporting for funding agency and/or industrial partners for grants administered by IPRT.
  • Coordinating efforts with other ISU resources and meeting internal budget, accounting and reporting requirements for IPRT-administered grants.
  • Fill out Proposal Data Form ("Gold sheets"), prepare proposal budgets and assist with NSF Fastlane entry for proposals submitted through IPRT.
  • Assist in ancillary paperwork involving IPRT-administered grants:
    • Human resources.
    • Environmental health and safety.
    • Inventory and purchasing.
    • Professional service agreements for outside contractor

Access to Facilities and Laboratories

It often takes specialized equipment and facilities to conduct world-class research. Through IPRT, ISU faculty have access to some of the world's most advanced scientific laboratories. Some prominent examples include:

  • The C4 and the C6 virtual reality environments, both world-class facilities with application across a number of disciplines.
  • Materials Preparation Center, a one-of-a-kind user facility that provides high-purity metals for academic and industrial research.
  • State-of-the-art laboratories and equipment for common nondestructive evaluation technologies such as ultrasonics and radiography.

Company Assistance & Technology Transfer

While IPRT does not license technology, we stand ready to help take research beyond the walls of ISU, where it can make a real difference in the quality of human life. Indeed, IPRT is one reason that ISU is a leader in technology transfer. Among peer land grant universities, ISU is number 1, with 7.2 License/Options executed per $10 million in research.

IPRT also offers a company assistance program that further spreads our expertise into industry. IPRT researchers and staff have around 150 interactions with Iowa companies every year.

Continued Management of
Intellectual Property

We can continue to assist in the management of intellectual property, including coordinating efforts with the Iowa State University Research Foundation (ISURF), which manages intellectual property created by ISU.

Marketing to Find Industrial Partners

In this competitive new millennium, marketing is ever so important. In many cases, it starts from the beginning when a researcher has developed an idea or concept and needs an industrial partner to support further research and provide real-world feedback. IPRT is well-versed in this type of marketing.

Provide Proposal Assistance

IPRT Technology Commercialization Associates can provide extra help/assistance in completing or reviewing a commercialization section, business plan, technology transfer or 'broader impact statement' for applied research proposals. We can help gather market information and connect you to other useful sources within the university.

Public Affairs

IPRT Public Affairs can assist researchers with their entire communications program, from news releases and newsletters to brochures, exhibits and Web sites.

Contact Us

For more information, contact IPRT Director's Office at 294-8902 or e-mail iprtinfo@iastate.edu