The Institute of Physics (IOP), Bhubaneswar was founded by the Government of Orissa in 1972 as the All-India Institute of Research and Advanced Studies. On 25 March 1985, the institute was taken over by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Although the majority of funding for IOP comes from the DAE, a minor portion is still contributed by the Government of Orissa. IOP currently pursues research in theoretical and experimental studies. Theoretical research includes studies in nuclear and high energy physics as well as condensed matter. Nuclear research in particular revolves around nuclear structure, ground state properties and quark structures of nuclei, quark gluon plasma, and nuclear spectroscopy. Experimental research involves clusters and nanomaterials, accelerator applications, and surface and interface studies. Facilities for experimental research include the Ion Beam Laboratory that features a Model 9SDH 3MV Tandem Pelletron Accelerator that was procured from the United States in the late 1980s.

IOP offers high-level science and technology training through pre-doctoral, doctoral, and short-term programs. Actual doctorate degrees are awarded by one of three Orissa-based universities. IOP has been engaged in numerous joint ventures over the past few years, most notably an Indo-US ion microbeam development project and an Indo-French project on atomic clusters and cluster assembled solids.

Sources:
[1] DAE (Government of India), "Annual Report 2000-2001," Executive Summary available at www.dae.gov.in;
[2] DAE (Government of India), "Annual Report 2001-2002," Executive Summary available at www.dae.gov.in;
[3] Dr. R.K. Choudhury, "Institute of Physics: A Profile," DAE (Government of India), www.dae.gov.in;
[4] Institute of Physics (IOP), Bhubaneswar, www.iopb.res.in.