Colorado's Federally Funded Research Labs
Colorado is home to more than 30 federally funded scientific research laboratories and institutes, spanning weather and climate science, energy, quantum, bioscience, and national security.
These labs generate the innovation that Colorado's technician workforce ultimately builds, installs, tests, and maintains.
Weather, Climate & Atmospheric Science
9 labsNOAA Earth System Research Laboratories
BoulderWeather, climate, atmospheric science
BoulderSolar physics, space weather, astrophysics
NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research
BoulderEarth systems, weather modeling, supercomputing, climate
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
BoulderAtmospheric research infrastructure, scientific computing
National Integrated Drought Information System
BoulderDrought monitoring, climate resilience, water planning
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
BoulderSpace weather, satellites, grid risk, aviation risk
National Weather Service Denver / Boulder Office
BoulderWeather forecasting, severe weather, public safety
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
BoulderNOAA-CU environmental science, climate, cryosphere
Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere
Fort CollinsNOAA-CSU atmospheric science, satellites, weather systems
Aerospace, Space & National Security
3 labsLaboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
BoulderSpace science, satellites, instruments, planetary science
Colorado presence / CO-LABS joint listingDefense R&D, space, aerospace, national security technology
First Responder Network Authority
Boulder presencePublic safety broadband, emergency communications
Quantum, Measurement & Communications
3 labsNational Institute of Standards and Technology
BoulderMeasurement science, quantum, standards, communications
BoulderQuantum, atomic physics, precision measurement, optics
NIST Public Safety Communications Research Division
BoulderFirst responder technology, communications
Energy & Water Infrastructure
3 labsNational Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL)
GoldenEnergy, grid, advanced manufacturing, energy systems
Bureau of Reclamation Research and Development Office
DenverWater infrastructure, hydrology, desalination
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute
BoulderEnergy research, climate, energy transition, public-private R&D
Bioscience, Health & Agriculture
5 labsCDC Division of Vector-Borne Diseases
Fort CollinsPublic health, infectious disease, vector-borne disease
USDA Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins
Fort CollinsAgriculture, water, soil, genetics, rangeland systems
USDA APHIS National Wildlife Research Center
Fort CollinsWildlife management, animal disease, human-wildlife conflict
CSU Infectious Disease Research Center
Fort CollinsBioscience, infectious disease, translational research
National Invasive Species Council Secretariat
Fort Collins listing via CO-LABSInvasive species coordination, natural resource protection
Land, Ecology & Transportation
7 labsNational Ecological Observatory Network
BoulderEcology, environmental sensing, field data systems
NSF Ice Core Facility (formerly National Ice Core Laboratory)
LakewoodPolar science, climate records, ice-core preservation
USGS Water Mission Area / National Water Quality Laboratory
Lakewood / BoulderWater quality, hydrology, environmental analytics
U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station
Fort CollinsForestry, wildfire, ecology, land management
National Park Service Continental Divide Research Learning Center
Estes ParkPark science, ecology, conservation, field research
Federal Railroad Administration Transportation Technology Center
PuebloRail safety, transportation testing, mobility systems
NTIA Institute for Telecommunication Sciences
BoulderTelecommunications, spectrum, public safety communications
Innovation Needs Technicians to Deploy It
Colorado's research labs generate the science. Skilled technicians make it operational.
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