The mission of the Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics (IREAP) is to advance modern science through research and educational programs that are interdisciplinary between physical science and engineering. The flow of knowledge between basic science and engineering at IREAP is bidirectional: we apply our basic science skills to problems of practical importance, and we apply our engineering skills to aid fundamental scientific investigations. We emphasize diversity, quality and excellence in all aspects of our activities.

IREAP conducts experimental and theoretical research on high-temperature plasma physics, plasma spectroscopy, relativistic microwave electronics, high-brightness charged particle beams, laser-plasma interactions, nonlinear dynamics (chaos), ion beam microfabrication techniques, and microwave sintering of advanced materials, nanoscience, and nanotechnology. IREAP is recognized internationally as a leading university research center in these areas of research.

IREAP has participating researchers from the Departments of Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Materials Science and Engineering, and the Institute for Physical Science and Technology. Graduate students work on their research dissertation projects with members of the IREAP faculty. The research activity is reinforced and broadened by visiting scientists and by collaboration with other teaching faculty who are affiliate members of IREAP.