MSU competed against the federally-funded Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago. The facility will be built over the next decade and is expected to give Michigan nearly $1 billion in economic stimulus through the creation of jobs and research.

The decision was made after DOE representatives heard oral reports from MSU and Argonne officials in Washington, D.C., and after visiting the two locations in person.

The facility will study rare isotopes, which are unique nuclei not usually found on Earth. They exist for less than a second and are involved in cosmic processes such as exploding stars.

These isotopes can help answer fundamental questions relating to the origin of the universe and also have uses in fields ranging fro medicine to national security.

“This is a major accomplishment for Michigan State University and a great opportunity for the State of Michigan,” U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, said in a statement. “MSU has one of the top nuclear physics programs in the nation and is the absolute best site for the new facility.

“We know that this will create good paying jobs for Michigan, provide outstanding educational opportunities for our next generation of scientists, and open the door for scientific breakthroughs.”