SURA Welcomes Purdue University to Member Consortium
Washington, D.C. – The Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) has admitted Purdue University as its newest member institution, joining fifty-six other research universities in the consortium. Approved by the SURA Board of Directors in spring 2026, Purdue brings deep expertise in large-scale collaborations and translational innovation to SURA’s efforts. Through its membership, Purdue will engage with a growing network of research institutions leading scientific discoveries through shared infrastructure and partnerships.
Ranked among the top ten public universities in the U.S., Purdue stands as a research powerhouse in the Midwest and the nation, with more than 4,000 research labs and $1 billion in total research expenditures. As Indiana’s land-grant university, Purdue is a pillar of the state’s education and research system, championing accessible, transformative science and workforce development.
“This new partnership is an opportunity for both Purdue to reach outside of the Midwest, and for SURA to leverage Purdue as an institution who knows the landscape of Midwest universities,” said Marcey Hoover, Purdue’s Director of Partner Relations for Federal Laboratories.
David Cappelleri, Assistant Vice President for Research Innovation at Purdue, will serve as the SURA member representative for the university. “Purdue plans to use this membership with SURA as a multiplier for our work and take it to the next level,” Cappelleri said. Underscoring the strength of this partnership, Cappelleri noted, “We have excellence at scale in areas that I think are really complementary to SURA’s interests.” Purdue consistently ranks in the top ten U.S. institutions for patents granted and is home to nationally recognized programs in engineering, computing, and aeronautics.
“We are proud to welcome Purdue University to the SURA consortium and excited to work alongside the university to advance our shared goals of scientific discovery and innovation for the nation,” said SURA CEO and President Sean Hearne. “Our member universities are the backbone of SURA, and we celebrate the collaborations and relationships that will come from this partnership.”
Founded in 1980, SURA was built to realize the vision of thirteen universities to establish a world-class electron accelerator, pioneering new frontiers in the field of nuclear physics. Since then, SURA’s vision and membership have grown in tandem: the organization’s impact spans nuclear physics, space science, and advanced computing, while its members span twenty-one states, Washington, D.C., and Canada.
Purdue’s admission to the SURA consortium continues a period of sustained membership growth following the addition of Temple University, Indiana University, and Arizona State University in the last three years. With Purdue, these institutions broaden SURA’s geographic reach and deepen its scientific and technical capacity, reinforcing the organization’s role in scaffolding significant scientific advancements.
Purdue joins SURA at a time when multi-institutional partnerships are increasingly essential for tackling large federal research initiatives. In partnership with Purdue, SURA will strengthen the national infrastructure for the next wave of scientific discovery.
About SURA
Southeastern Universities Research Association is a consortium of fifty-seven member universities that fosters collaborations which enhance members’ capabilities of undertaking significant, transformative scientific research projects that no single institution can handle independently.
Media Contact:
Anna Rader Groves
SURA Senior Advisor, Government Relations and Communications
Email: arader@sura.org
