The laboratory operates in dual-support mode. In addition to research projects linked to external grants and contracts, collaborative research projects are conducted with the consortium universities. There is also some capacity for undertaking luminescence dating for external users. Enquiries should be directed to Dr. David C. W. Sanderson.

The laboratories have an extensive range of equipment for luminescence dating and research, backed by a full suite of sample preparation laboratories, and an unmatched capability for measurement of the environmental radioactivity associated with dating samples. Luminescence equipment includes 3 computer based TL readers developed in-house, together with highly sensitive pulsed PSL systems, originally developed for detection of irradiated foods, and a Risų DA15 automatic TL/IRSL/OSL dating system. Research spectrometers are also available for PSL excitation spectrometry and time-domain spectrometry. Irradiation facilities include high precision 90Sr irradiators calibrated relative to the NPL primary air-kerma standards to a precision of 1.5%, and 241Am sources for alpha irradiation. Sample dose rates are determined by in-situ gamma spectrometry, conducted at the time of sampling, coupled with thick source beta counting and high resolution gamma spectrometry in the laboratory, and ICPMS determination of internal uranium and thorium concentrations.