Illinois officials recently broke ground on a new research facility that holds the promise of creating thousands of jobs for people with high tech research experience on their resume in the state. Expected to be completed in 2013, the new Illinois Accelerator Research Center near Chicago's Fermilab will be a state-of-the-art research and development lab for the commercialization of particle accelerator technology that can be used in medicine, industry and national defense projects, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Researchers will also look at using the technology for new applications including waste water management and food packaging. The Illinois Jobs Now capital bill is funding the $20 million project, which is expected to create 80 immediate construction jobs and more positions for highly skilled researchers when it opens in two years. Governor Pat Quinn said the new research center will help attract many talented engineers and scientists to the area. "In Illinois we understand the importance of investing in cutting edge technologies, which not only boost our economy, but also secure our role as a major competitor in the global marketplace," Quinn added. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job opportunities for physicists are expected to grow by 16% through the end of the decade. |