JILA was founded in 1962 as a joint institute of The University of Colorado Boulder and the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST).
JILA is one of the nation’s leading research institutes in the physical sciences. We credit this reputation to the high quality of our scientists and their productivity, which is supported by JILA’s structure and resources.
Our scientists explore some of today's most challenging and fundamental scientific questions about the limits of quantum measurements and technologies, the design of precision optical and X-ray lasers, the fundamental principles underlying the interaction of light and matter, the role of quantum physics in chemistry and biology, and the processes that have governed the evolution of the universe for nearly 14 billion years.
Creative collaborations among JILA Fellows, JILA research associates and students, CU professors, NIST staff members, and other world-leading scientists from around the globe play a key role in generating JILA’s renowned pioneering research.
