Institute for Physical Science and Technology

What Institute for Physical Science and Technology does

The Institute for Physical Science and Technology (IPST) is an interdisciplinary research institute within the University of Maryland's College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, based in College Park, Maryland. Founded as a boundary-spanning academic unit, IPST conducts research and graduate education at the intersection of physics, chemistry, applied mathematics, and the life sciences. It supports three formal graduate programs — Applied Mathematics & Statistics/Scientific Computation (AMSC), Biophysics, and Chemical Physics — and coordinates additional educational offerings including a Master of Science and Graduate Certificate in Quantum Computing through UMD's Science Academy. Research is organized into seven core areas: non-equilibrium systems and active matter, networks science and dynamical systems, quantitative life sciences, energetic particle astrophysics, applied mathematics and scientific computation, fluid dynamics, and quantum science. Notable technical contributions include high-sensitivity neutron detection apparatus (Coplan, NIST-assigned US Patent 7,791,045 B2), cold-molecule laboratory techniques for interstellar chemistry (Dodson), AI-enhanced molecular simulation methods combining statistical mechanics with machine learning (Tiwary), and DNA-mediated nanostructure assembly (Li).

IPST operates as a non-profit, state-funded academic entity under the University System of Maryland. It has no commercial revenue model; instead, activities are funded through federal research grants (NSF, NIH, DOE), private foundation support (notably the John Templeton Foundation's $2M for the Maryland Quantum-Thermodynamics Hub in 2022), and university resources. The institute is led by Director Konstantina Trivisa (appointed 2020) with an administrative staff of 8, while drawing on dozens of affiliated faculty across departments including Physics, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mathematics, and Engineering. Partnerships include the NCI-UMD Partnership for Integrative Cancer Research, the Burgers Program for Fluid Dynamics, and multiple NSF-funded graduate training programs (PoLS, COMBINE). Faculty credentials include NAS members, AAAS Fellows, SIAM Fellows, APS Fellows, Sloan and Guggenheim Fellows, and recent award recipients including the Hermann Weyl Prize (Yunger Halpern, 2024), ACS Early Career Award (Tiwary, 2025), and the Lars Onsager Prize (Jarzynski, 2019).

Name

Institute for Physical Science and Technology

Legal name

Institute for Physical Science and Technology

Website

https://ipst.umd.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institute for Physical Science and Technology is an interdisciplinary research institute at the University of Maryland that conducts graduate education and federally-funded research across physics, chemistry, applied mathematics, biophysics, chemical physics, and quantum science. It serves graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty collaborators within the University System of Maryland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

College Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: Primary funding from federal agencies including NSF, NIH, DOE, and private foundations such as John Templeton Foundation. Grants support specific research programs and graduate training.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

IPST conducts interdisciplinary academic research and graduate education at the boundaries between physics, chemistry, the mathematical and life sciences, and engineering. The institute coordinates formal graduate degree programs (Applied Mathematics & Statistics & Scientific Computation, Biophysics, Chemical Physics) and a Master of Science / Graduate Certificate in Quantum Computing, alongside postdoctoral fellowships and coordinated research initiatives such as the Burgers Program for Fluid Dynamics, NCI-UMD Partnership for Integrative Cancer Research, and the Maryland Quantum-Thermodynamics Hub.

Product overview

The Institute for Physical Science and Technology (IPST) at the University of Maryland is an interdisciplinary research institute focused on research and graduate education at the boundaries between physics, chemistry, mathematics, and life sciences. IPST offers a portfolio of graduate programs including Applied Mathematics & Statistics & Scientific Computation (AMSC), Biophysics, and Chemical Physics. The institute coordinates the Master of Science and Graduate Certificate in Quantum Computing through the Science Academy. IPST also hosts postdoctoral fellowship opportunities such as the inaugural IPST Postdoctoral Fellowship in Artificial Chemical Intelligence. Research areas span non-equilibrium systems, network science, quantitative life sciences, energetic particle astrophysics, applied mathematics, fluid dynamics, quantum thermodynamics, and data science education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IPST: Institute for Physical Science and Technology - an interdisciplinary research institute at the University of Maryland
• Burgers Program for Fluid Dynamics
• NCI-UMD Partnership for Integrative Cancer Research
• Maryland Quantum-Thermodynamics Hub
• Biophysics Graduate Program
• Chemical Physics Graduate Program
• Quantum Computing Program

Products and services

• Master of Science and Graduate Certificate in Quantum Computing Graduate-level programs in quantum computing offered through the UMD Science Academy and coordinated by IPST, designed for professionals and recent STEM bachelor's graduates seeking multidisciplinary quantum computing training. Applications accepted for Fall 2025 cycle with deadlines of May 30, 2025 for domestic students and February 28, 2025 for international students.
• Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation (AMSC) Graduate Program Interdisciplinary graduate program combining applied mathematics, statistics, and scientific computation methodologies, offered through the University of Maryland and supported by IPST faculty.
• Biophysics Graduate Program Interdisciplinary graduate program training students to use theoretical, computational, and experimental techniques to solve problems in biology, biomedicine, and bioengineering. Faculty drawn from biochemistry, biology, chemistry, engineering, and physics departments.
• Chemical Physics Graduate Program Graduate program focused on the theoretical and experimental study of molecular collisions, photofragmentation, and weakly bound complexes involving open-shell species, with faculty affiliated through IPST.
• IPST Postdoctoral Fellowship in Artificial Chemical Intelligence Inaugural postdoctoral fellowship program inviting outstanding young scientists to conduct research in artificial chemical intelligence within IPST at the University of Maryland.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Cancer InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCI-UMD Partnership for Integrative Cancer Research is a collaborative research initiative bringing together UMD faculty from multiple departments with NCI researchers to advance integrative cancer research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Fields Institute: Canadian institute for mathematical sciences research and training, supporting interdisciplinary scientific programs. Comparable mission in applied mathematics and graduate-level scientific exchange, but operates primarily in Canada.
• Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University: Japanese interdisciplinary graduate university and research institute spanning physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics with a no-departments model. Comparable in research-university hybrid structure and cross-disciplinary emphasis.
• Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences: UK-based institute hosting research programs at the interface of mathematics and the physical/life sciences. Comparable in hosting model and interdisciplinary scope, though geographically distinct.
• Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems: German research institute conducting fundamental research in statistical, biological, and quantum physics. Comparable research themes (non-equilibrium systems, networks, biophysics) but based outside the U.S.

Direct peers

• Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IPAM), UCLA: UCLA-hosted institute funding workshops and research programs at the interface of mathematics, physical sciences, and engineering. Highly comparable in mission, host-university model, and interdisciplinary emphasis.
• Santa Fe Institute: Independent research institute pursuing complex systems science spanning physics, biology, and computation. Mirrors IPST's interdisciplinary, cross-departmental approach to physical and life sciences.
• Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP), UC Santa Barbara: University-hosted interdisciplinary research institute focused on theoretical physics, including quantum thermodynamics, networks, and biological physics. Highly comparable to IPST in scope and structure.
• Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics: Independent research institute focused on theoretical physics including quantum information and statistical mechanics. Comparable research agenda and postdoctoral training model to IPST.
• Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, Stony Brook University: University-hosted institute supporting research and graduate training at the intersection of mathematics and theoretical physics. Closely parallels IPST's graduate program and seminar structure.
• Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton: Independent institute dedicated to fundamental research in mathematics, natural sciences, and historical studies. Comparable to IPST's mission of advancing interdisciplinary physical-science research at the highest level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ipstumd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Institute for Physical Science and Technology