Research at the Institute for Nuclear Physics centers on the structure and the interaction of elementary particles, especially on the understanding of the so-called strong force and its implications on nuclear and particle physics. The Mainzer Microtron MAMI, an electron accelerator for energies of up to 1,5 GeV, is the core of experimental investigations. In addition a new low energy, high intensity electron accelerator called MESA is being setup within the institute. MESA is based on a unique concept for recovering a part of the energy that is required for accelerating the electron beam. Scientists working at the Institute for Nuclear Physics are also related to the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM) which represents a Link between the University Mainz and GSI/FAIR. Additionally, scientists at the Institute of Nuclear Physics are working on the theoretical description and interpretation of the experimental results and on external experiments in Darmstadt (GSI), Geneva (CERN), Beijing (BES) and Tsukuba (BELLE).

JGU Mainz has specific roles in NA4-PREN, NA5-THEIA, NA6-LatticeHadrons, JRA3-PrecisionSM, JRA5-GPD-ACT, JRA7-HaSP, JRA10-CryPTA and JRA13-P3E.

JGU Mainz has the responsibility of TA2-MAMI (Achim Denig), NA4-PREN (Dominique Marchand, Randolf Pohl), NA5-THEIA (Josef Pochodzalla) and JRA3-PrecisionSM (Mikhail Gorshteyn, Andrzej Kupsc).

EC funds in TA2-MAMI, NA4-PREN, NA5-THEIA, NA6-LatticeHadrons, JRA3-PrecisionSM, JRA7-HaSP, JRA10-CryPTA and JRA13-P3E.