Discovering Breakthroughs
Discovering breakthroughs is not just a goal, but a reality within the labs of the Applied Research division. Each day, the staff focus on projects driven strictly by the needs of industry in order to help foster economic transformation. While our Analytical Chemistry group offers elite testing services, our Advanced Materials labs provide cutting-edge characterization and polymer testing capabilities. The groundbreaking agricultural enrichment efforts of our Controlled Environment Agriculture and Plant Endophyte Research teams add to our pride in enhancing human life and presenting commercialization prospects.
Advanced Materials
Equipped with polymer testing and characterization capabilities, IALR’s high-tech advanced materials labs are ideally suited to support industry needs.
Analytical Chemistry
Analytical methodology development and chemical testing services help expedite decision-making processes, quantify the efficacy of products under development and offer access to state-of-the-art equipment.
Controlled Environment Agriculture
By developing strategic partnerships with industry, academia, and producers, the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center is a hub for research and educational programming to develop, promote and advance the controlled environment agriculture sector.
Plant Endophyte Research Center
IALR’s Plant Endophyte Research Center is the first of its kind in the U.S. It leverages private and public partnerships, an elite team of scientists and exclusive equipment and testing services. A library of 2,000 endophytes, or beneficial plant bacteria, show promise as natural biostimulants—reducing chemical fertilizer use and preserving the environment.
Robotic Imaging
IALR’s SMART tables, which are precision imaging platforms, record and track plant growth and responses to environmental stimuli. This data could be used for early detection of plant stress to determine the efficacy of treatments and to precisely track plant growth by the minute.
Success Stories
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East
Endophyte Research
AeroFarms Locates in Danville/Pittsylvania County

VA Tech Students at IALR

Patrick & Henry Community College Visits IALR
