Ames Lab Launches Advanced Magnet Facility

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory, Ames, Iowa, marked a significant advancement in American materials research with the opening of its new Advanced Magnet Facility (AMF). The ribbon‑cutting ceremony highlighted a major federal investment aimed at strengthening U.S. leadership in magnet science, critical materials, and energy innovation.

Senior DOE leaders, including Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson, who heads the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, and Kristen Ellis from the Office of the Under Secretary for Science, joined Ames Lab Director Karl Mueller, Iowa State University President David Cook, and regional partners to celebrate the milestone. The new facility provides upgraded laboratory space and state‑of‑the‑art instrumentation designed to expand research in magnetic materials, energy technologies, and national security applications.

The AMF enhances Ames Lab’s longstanding expertise in critical materials and supports efforts to develop next‑generation magnetic components vital to transportation, manufacturing, and defense industries. By modernizing its research infrastructure, the laboratory aims to strengthen domestic supply chains and foster closer collaboration with industry partners.

Prior to the ceremony, DOE officials toured laboratories showcasing advances in automated chemistry, AI‑enabled materials discovery, and participation in the DOE’s Genesis Mission, a national initiative leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific breakthroughs.

Leaders emphasized that the Advanced Magnet Facility will play a central role in driving innovation, reinforcing American manufacturing, and ensuring the nation’s technological competitiveness. The opening underscores Ames National Laboratory’s continued commitment to delivering scientific solutions that advance U.S. energy security and global leadership in critical materials research.