An AI/artistic rendering of the new solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance magnet system to be installed at the National MagLab. (Alexandre Poulhazan / Gemini AI)
Key Points
The National Science Foundation awarded $18 million to the FSU-headquartered MagLab for a new ultra-high-sensitivity NMR facility.
The facility centers on a 23.5-tesla NMR magnet, one of the strongest in the United States.
It will be the only ultra-high-field magnet in the world equipped with both magic angle spinning and dynamic nuclear polarization. DNP improves sensitivity by up to four orders of magnitude; the combined techniques can cut measurement times by a factor of up to 16.
Research applications include amyloid and membrane proteins linked to disease, solid-state battery materials, electronics, solar cells and catalysis.
Installation is scheduled for 2028, with user access beginning the following year.
A 23.5-tesla nuclear magnetic resonance magnet, among the strongest in the United States, will give scientists new ways to study disease-related proteins, battery materials and electronics at the atomic scale
A new $18 million National Science Foundation award will fund an advanced nuclear magnetic resonance facility at the Florida State University-headquartered National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, or MagLab. The facility will open new capabilities for researchers such as Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy, a professor of chemical and biomedical engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. His lab investigates amyloid formation, which plays a role in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Type 2 diabetes and other diseases.
(Mark Wallheiser/FAMU-FSU College of Engineering)
“I am delighted to see this remarkable facility become a reality and serve the scientific community,” said Ramamoorthy, who is also a MagLab researcher. “This award further amplifies the MagLab’s impact by empowering scientists from around the world to make new discoveries.”
The new ultra-high-sensitivity facility will center on a 23.5-tesla nuclear magnetic resonance, or NMR, magnet, one of the strongest in the United States. Additional equipment will speed up data collection for a wide range of research.
“This grant will fund an instrument that is unique in the world. It’s a significant milestone and exciting news for the MagLab, FSU and the U.S. as a whole,” said Frederic Mentink-Vigier, lead researcher for the project and an affiliated faculty member in the FSU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. “What this instrument is opening up is the ability to look at samples with higher sensitivity, and thus to look at the entirety of the periodic table.”
What will the new NMR facility let researchers study?
NMR uses high magnetic fields and radio waves to determine the 3D structures of molecules, uncover the mechanisms of enzymes and catalysts, and provide insights into surfaces and interfaces at scales far beyond the reach of conventional microscopes. Stronger magnets let researchers investigate more deeply and drive breakthroughs across disciplines.
The technology lets scientists examine samples for biologically essential elements such as iron, copper, sulfur and calcium. It also expands the study of membrane proteins, which act as cell gatekeepers, and of amyloid proteins. Ramamoorthy’s lab studies both types of protein, along with the roles of biologically relevant metals in disease-related molecular processes.
“All this is essential to be able to understand disease and develop cures,” said Mentink-Vigier.
The instrument will also help scientists see lithium and sodium, which are being studied for solid-state batteries. Researchers will be able to better detect cadmium, selenium and lead, which are crucial for electronics, solar cells and LEDs. They will also be able to better detect platinum-group metals, which play critical roles in catalysis and medicine.
“This facility will provide previously inaccessible capabilities for understanding the structure and dynamics of matter at the atomic scale, critical to U.S. priorities in biotechnology, energy, advanced manufacturing and health,” said the NSF award announcement.
What makes this magnet different from others in the world?
It will be the only ultra-high-field magnet in the world equipped with both magic angle spinning and dynamic nuclear polarization, or DNP.
Mentink-Vigier is a world-renowned expert in DNP, and his research focuses on the technique. DNP acts as a signal amplifier and improves sensitivity by up to four orders of magnitude. The new system will pair magic angle spinning with either DNP or cryoprobes to improve resolution. That combination can cut measurement times by a factor of up to 16.
“When people want information out of the NMR experiments, this is the combination: magic angle spinning gives you resolution and dynamic nuclear polarization gives you signaling intensity,” said Mentink-Vigier. “We have the ability to do experiments that previously we were not able to do. What you could not absolutely see before, you can now see.”
When will researchers be able to use the new magnet?
Installation is scheduled for 2028, with access for users from around the world starting the following year. The magnet will operate as part of the MagLab’s large user program. The program serves more than 1,600 academic researchers and companies each year and gives students who will help build the future STEM workforce a place to train on the technology.
“Our NMR program is already known for its unparalleled equipment and expertise,” said MagLab Director Kathleen Amm. “This will only expand what’s possible for top scientists from around the world who come here to push the boundaries in biology and other disciplines.”
How does the project honor the MagLab’s NMR legacy?
The project carries forward the work of former NMR Facility Director Robert Schurko, who passed away in February 2026 after a battle with cancer. Schurko spent his career extending the use of solid-state NMR research and discovery.
“Rob was the catalyst that brought us together around a shared vision of creating a unique facility that would push the boundaries of solid-state NMR,” said Mentink-Vigier. “We are honored to carry his vision forward. This award is a testament to Rob’s legacy and our collective commitment to making this facility a reality.”
The National MagLab is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the State of Florida.
Editor’s Note: This article was adapted from content originally published by Florida State University. Artificial intelligence tools assisted with editing and search optimization; all content was reviewed and approved by the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Office of Marketing, Communications and Media.
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