The John E. Edwards Accelerator Laboratory provides ion beams and the associated detection equipment for the study of nuclear reactions of interest for nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics, materials science, inertial confinement fusion, nuclear energy, homeland security, and other applications. This research is performed by Ohio University students, faculty, and staff, as well users from other universities and laboratories.

The education and training of undergraduate and graduate students is a fundamental mission of the laboratory. Physics and Astronomy majors utilize the accelerator in the required advanced undergraduate laboratory course and have the opportunity work in the laboratory, including summer research and honors thesis research. Much of the research in the laboratory is carried out by graduate students working towards M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.

The Edwards Accelerator Laboratory is managed by the Department of Physics and Astronomy and is also a part of the Institute for Nuclear and Particle Physics (INPP). For a complete roster of students, faculty, and staff working in the area of nuclear physics, and descriptions of their reseach, please visit the INPP website.