Research Facilities

At Illinois, great research facilities enable collaborative, interdisciplinary projects. Our faculty, postdocs, and students work in laboratories housed within our three-building complex, comprising Loomis Laboratory of Physics, Illinois Materials Research Laboratory (MRL), and portions of Engineering Sciences Building (ESB). This complex also offers a Physics Machine Shop, Physics Liquid Helium Facility, and Physics Interaction Room. Beyond our own state-of-the-art research laboratories, physics faculty and students make use of specialized research infrastructure and equipment at campus-wide facilities. Some faculty also carry out research at two national labs within two hours' driving distance of campus, Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.

Building Hours

Loomis Laboratory:
M-Th: 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
F: 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat: Locked
Sun: Locked

Engineering Science Building:
M-F: 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sat: Locked
Sun: Locked

Loomis Lab Facilities

  • Physics Machine Shop
    Professional machine shop has CNC capabilities. Associated student shop available (mills, lathes, band saw, drill presses, 2-axis CNC milling machine) with yearly key fee.

    All machine shop orders should be placed on line. Please contact the physics business office at 217.333.0573 to become a preauthorized PI before placing an order.

  • Physics Liquid Helium Facility
    All nitrogen, gaseous helium and liquid helium ordered on line. Please contact the physics business office at 217.333.0573 to become a preauthorized PI before placing an order.

  • Physics Interaction Room
    This space has developed as a hub of intellectual energy and now hosts many interactions where faculty, post-docs, graduate students, and upper-level undergraduate Physics majors meet to study and discuss Physics.

Collaborative Research Facilities at Illinois

Other Machine Shops/Research Facilities

Engineering Office of Safety

The College of Engineering is dedicated to protecting the environment, health, and safety for all those who work or visit the College as well as protecting our community. Thus, the College pledges to:

Create a safe and healthy workplace;
Maintain a respect for the environment; and
Respect and adhere to all applicable laws, regulations, and University environmental, health, and safety requirements.

Read more about safety