National High Magnetic Field Laboratory Campuses

The Gainesville Campus, hosted at the University of Florida, specializes in advanced magnetic resonance techniques for biological and chemical research. Educational offerings here focus on high-resolution NMR spectroscopy, providing in-depth courses for scientists studying molecular structures and dynamics in complex systems like proteins and metabolites.

• High-Resolution NMR Spectroscopy: This core course introduces multidimensional NMR methods, including COSY, NOESY, and HSQC, with applications to biomolecular assignment and structure determination.
• Biomedical Imaging with MRI: Participants explore magnetic resonance imaging principles, learning to optimize field strengths for in vivo studies of tissues and organs, including contrast agent development.
• Metabolomics and Flux Analysis: A specialized program on using NMR to quantify metabolic pathways, integrating data analysis software for high-throughput screening in disease research.
• Solid-State NMR Techniques: Focused on non-solution samples, this course covers magic-angle spinning and cross-polarization for studying materials like polymers and membranes.
• Advanced Data Processing and Simulation: Training in computational tools for spectral interpretation, including machine learning approaches to automate peak assignment and structure prediction.

The curriculum is designed for interdisciplinary audiences, from chemistry PhD candidates to medical researchers, emphasizing practical lab time with 900 MHz magnets. Annual workshops and short courses provide certification in NMR safety and operation, while collaborative projects with UF faculty enhance real-world application. Outreach programs target underrepresented groups, offering introductory sessions on how magnetic resonance revolutionizes healthcare and agriculture. With a focus on translational science, courses bridge basic research and clinical applications, such as early cancer detection via metabolic profiling. Students gain proficiency in sample preparation, experiment design, and result dissemination, often culminating in grant proposals or peer-reviewed papers. The campus's integration with the McKnight Brain Institute allows for unique neuroscience-focused modules, exploring brain connectivity under magnetic fields. This comprehensive education equips learners to tackle global challenges like antibiotic resistance through structural biology insights, promoting innovation and diversity in the magnetic resonance community.

The Los Alamos Campus, part of the Pulsed High Magnetic Field Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory, delivers world-class training in non-destructive, short-pulse magnet technologies up to 100 Tesla. Courses here target extreme-condition physics, enabling studies of material responses under ultra-high fields for national security and fundamental science applications.

• Pulsed Magnet Design and Operation: This foundational course details the engineering of capacitor-driven pulsed magnets, including coil fabrication, power systems, and destructive testing simulations.
• High-Field Transport Measurements: Participants learn magneto-optical and electrical transport techniques to investigate semiconductors and topological insulators under transient fields.
• Extreme Conditions Physics: Focused on shock-compressed materials, this program covers diamond anvil cell integration with pulsed fields for high-pressure studies.
• Plasma and Fusion Magnetism: Advanced modules on magnetic confinement in fusion research, teaching diagnostics for plasma behavior in megagauss fields.
• Safety and Instrumentation in Pulsed Fields: Critical training on electromagnetic interference mitigation, cryogenic handling, and emergency protocols for high-energy experiments.

Geared toward physicists, engineers, and national lab affiliates, the educational framework includes intensive user schools and proposal-based access to facilities. With emphasis on rapid experimentation cycles, courses foster skills in data acquisition during millisecond pulses, using high-speed detectors and analysis pipelines. Collaborative ties with LANL's weapons programs provide classified modules on materials under stress, while open sessions promote international exchange. Undergraduate involvement through REU programs introduces pulsed field concepts via simplified demos, sparking interest in accelerator physics and geophysics. The curriculum addresses cutting-edge topics like axion detection and heavy-fermion systems, preparing participants for DOE-funded projects. Ethical training on dual-use technologies ensures responsible innovation. Over 500 users yearly benefit from this rigorous program, which not only builds technical expertise but also networks across academia and industry, driving discoveries in quantum materials and energy technologies. The unique pulsed environment teaches adaptability, mirroring real-world high-stakes research demands.

The Tallahassee Campus of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory serves as the primary hub for steady-state high magnetic field research, offering advanced training and educational programs in materials science, condensed matter physics, and biological applications of magnetism. Researchers and students engage in hands-on courses that explore the use of DC magnets up to 45 Tesla for studying quantum materials and electronic properties.

• Materials Science Fundamentals: This course covers the synthesis and characterization of novel materials under extreme magnetic fields, including superconductors and semiconductors, with practical sessions on magnetotransport measurements.
• Condensed Matter Physics: Participants learn advanced techniques like nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron spin resonance (ESR) to probe atomic-scale interactions, emphasizing theoretical models and experimental validation.
• Biological Magnetism Applications: Focused on biomolecular studies, this program teaches how high-field magnets reveal protein structures and dynamics, integrating bioinformatics and spectroscopy for drug discovery research.
• Quantum Computing and Magnetism: An emerging course on using magnetic fields to manipulate qubits, covering error correction and coherence times in quantum systems.
• Instrumentation and Safety Training: Essential for all users, this includes magnet operation, cryogenic systems, and safety protocols for high-field environments.

These programs attract graduate students, postdocs, and faculty from around the world, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. The campus features state-of-the-art user facilities where participants conduct independent research projects, often leading to publications in top journals. Educational outreach extends to undergraduates through summer schools and workshops on magnetism basics, demystifying complex phenomena like the Meissner effect and Hall resistivity. With over 1,000 users annually, the curriculum emphasizes innovation in fields like energy storage and medical imaging, preparing the next generation of scientists for breakthroughs in high-field science. The integration of computational modeling with experimental data enhances learning, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of magnetic field impacts on matter at the atomic level. This holistic approach not only imparts technical skills but also encourages ethical considerations in scientific research and data sharing within the global community.