The Institute for Physics of Microstructures of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPM RAS) was created in accordance with the Decree of the Presidium of Russian Academy of Science № 173 of 28 September, 1993 on the basis of Solid State Physics Division of the «Institute of Applied Physics of the USSR Academy of Sciences (now IAP RAS). The first director of the IPM RAS was S. V. Gaponov (corresponding member of RAS since 1994, academician since 2008 and Councillor of RAS since 2009). In 2009 professor Z. F. Krasilnik headed the IPM RAS, in 2015 professor V.I. Gavrilenko.

According to the results of elections of 2021, Novikov Alexey V., a Doctor of Physics and Mathematics Science, was appointed the Director of IPM RAS.