Salt Lake City, UT — The University of Utah, one of the nation’s leading research universities, announces the launch of the National Laboratories & Security Office (NLSO).The NLSO is dedicated to expanding the university’s collaborations with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories and the National Intelligence Community, opening doors to transformative research, innovation, and student opportunity ,while remaining aligned with national priorities.
The NLSO is the first office of its kind in the state of Utah, cementing the University’s role as a leader in energy resilience, national security, and science-based policy engagement. The office currently supports active partnerships via formal agreements with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Sandia National Laboratories, Further, NLSO serves as the university’s point of contact for its membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU)—a prestigious consortium that connects higher education and national research facilities to provide unique opportunities for students and faculty.
“We are thrilled to launch NLSO,” said Dr. Marian Rice, director of the new office. “This is an exciting opportunity to deepen our ties with National Labs and the Intelligence Community. We’re creating connections that benefit our faculty, students, and the state of Utah by linking them directly to groundbreaking research and real-world solutions.”
Dr. Jake Jensen, Assistant Vice President for Research, noted the significance of the initiative: “This is a strategic step for both the University and the state of Utah. The NLSO will help catalyze research activity, economic development, and student engagement in critical sectors.”
The NLSO will focus on:
- Developing contracts, MOUs, and research agreements
- Establishing and maintaining long-term research collaborations
- Supporting researcher and student placements at federal laboratories
- Aligning University efforts with U.S. national strategy
Before its official launch, the NLSO played a key role in supporting the DOE-sponsored Sandia National Laboratories BOOST Workshop, held on May 19, 2025. The workshop brought together leaders from academia, local government, and the entrepreneurial sector to address Utah’s most pressing energy challenges and explore lab-based innovation pathways. By facilitating this event, the NLSO demonstrated its role as a connector—linking university expertise with federal programs and regional stakeholders to catalyze research collaboration, policy engagement, and program development.
To learn more about the NLSO and its strategic direction, watch the official launch video: https://youtu.be/vcrHp4oNcbs
Faculty, students, industry partners, and community stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the NLSO. Visit nlso.utah.edu or email NLSO@utah.edu for more information.
About the National Laboratory & Security Office
The National Laboratory & Security Office (NLSO) at the University of Utah connects researchers and students with the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories and key federal security agencies. Part of the Office of the Vice President for Research, NLSO facilitates research agreements, strategic partnerships, and workforce development opportunities that align university expertise with national priorities in energy, defense, and security.
About the University of Utah
The University of Utah is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate majors and graduate programs, and an enrollment of more than 36,000 students. It is a member of the Association of American Universities—an invitation-only, prestigious group of 71 leading research institutions. Ranked #1 public university in the West by the Wall Street Journal, the U strives to be a model public university in delivering unmatched value in higher education and health care while making social, economic and cultural contributions that improve the quality of life throughout the state, the nation and the world.
