SPA facilitates various contractual arrangements between Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. These arrangements support partnerships between NIU and the laboratories that strengthen the university’s research and external funding programs.
Common Types of Contractual Arrangements
Research Contracts
Most research contracts between the laboratories and NIU begin with the lab issuing a Request for Proposal or Request for Quote. NIU holds a master research agreement with Argonne National Laboratory and most research contracts are issued as task orders under this master agreement.
Guest Researcher Agreements
NIU faculty and staff may need to collaborate with Argonne scientists or engineers and access the lab’s facilities at no cost. These arrangements require a guest researcher agreement be signed between NIU and Argonne.
For all new NIU faculty joint appointments and all lab-to-university joint appointments, contact:
Dara Little dlittle@niu.edu Associate VP for Research/Executive Director Sponsored Programs
For all existing NIU faculty joint appointments and other lab contracts, contact:
Jenney Ferris jferris1@niu.edu Grants and Contracts Associate, National Laboratories
Argonne Joint Appointments
NIU faculty and researchers may hold joint appointments with the laboratories while NIU may also extend university appointments with NIU to laboratory scientists.
NIU researchers with funded joint appointments may not receive funded effort under other Argonne research contracts.
Argonne appointees planning to submit proposals through NIU should contact their NIU department and college prior to initiating the proposal through SPA.