AMES, Iowa — The U. S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Ames National Laboratory celebrated a major milestone on March 10 with the official opening of its new Advanced Magnet Facility (AMF), marking a significant investment in U. S. leadership in magnet science and critical materials research.
Senior DOE officials — including Audrey Robertson, Assistant Secretary of Energy (EERE), who leads the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI), and Kristen Ellis, Associate Principal Deputy Under Secretary for the Office of the Under Secretary for Science — joined Ames Laboratory Director Karl Mueller, Iowa State University President David Cook, and regional partners for the ribbon‑cutting ceremony.
The AMF provides modernized space and instrumentation that will expand the laboratory’s capabilities in magnetic materials, energy technologies, and applications focused on national security. Speakers emphasized the facility’s role in strengthening domestic supply chains and advancing next‑generation materials innovation together with industry.
Ahead of the ceremony, DOE guests toured several research areas showcasing Ames National Laboratory’s strengths in critical materials, automated chemistry, and AI‑enabled discovery. The lab is also advancing AI for research through the DOE’s Genesis Mission, a historic national effort to transform American science and innovation through the power of AI, strengthening the nation’s technological leadership and global competitiveness.
“We are delighted to welcome our leadership from the Department of Energy to Ames National Laboratory and to share the exciting work happening across our campus,” said Ames Lab Director Karl Mueller. “The opening of the Advanced Magnet Facility represents a major step forward for our mission — strengthening the nation’s capabilities in magnet science and critical materials, and the technologies that rely on them.”
"The newly renovated Advanced Magnet Facility underscores the scientific and research excellence of our national laboratories," said DOE Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson. "It will enable cutting-edge work to establish new magnetic materials and components for use across transportation and industry, while supporting American manufacturing innovation."
The opening of the AMF reflects the laboratory’s ongoing commitment to delivering scientific solutions that bolster U.S. energy security and technological competitiveness.
The Critical Materials Innovation (CMI) Hub is an Energy Innovation Hub led by DOE’s Ames National Laboratory with support from CMEI’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office. CMI seeks ways to accelerate the development of critical material technologies and enhance the innovation pipeline for U.S. supply chains by accelerating research, educating a diverse workforce, and creating de-risked, commercial-ready technologies in partnership with American industry.
CMEI’s Transportation Technologies Office also supports Ames Lab’s technological research and development focusing on the creation of novel magnetic materials for advanced motor designs for transportation and the recycling and reusing of motor materials, both of which are vital for addressing and mitigating challenges within critical supply chains.
Ames National Laboratory is a DOE Office of Science National Laboratory operated by Iowa State University. Ames Laboratory creates innovative materials, technologies, and energy solutions. The lab uses its expertise, unique capabilities, and interdisciplinary collaborations to solve global problems.
Ames Laboratory is supported by DOE’s Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit https://energy.gov/science.