2021 Research Projects

PhD Research

Low power, low-cost gas sensors with high specificity for hydrogen gas

PI: Prof. Bryan Boudouris

Prevention through catalyst design for applications in the petrochemical industry

PI: Prof. Raj Gounder

Predicting spray dynamics for flow assurance, minimization of fines, and prevention of drift

PI: Prof. Osman Basaran

Understanding erosion at the microscopic level

PI: Prof. Osman A. Basaran

Real-time Li-ion battery monitoring using impedance spectroscopy and gas / pressure sensors for early thermal runaway detection

PI: Prof. Vilas Pol

Quantum chemical prediction of molecular thermodynamics to assess reaction safety & scale-up

PI: Prof. Brett Savoie

Professional M.S. Capstone Research

Dispersion of H2S & NH3 from releases of sour water & rich amine treating solvent (Phillips 66)

Survey of heats of reaction for some common reaction types in pharma industry & comparison with reaction types in pharma industry & comparison with CHETAH & TCIT predictions (Vertex)

PI: w / Prof. Brett Savoie
Partnered w / Amgen, Corteva, GSK, JM, Lilly, Merck & Vertex 

Drilling & completion fluid management (Chevron)

Assessing efficacy of indirect contact water spray in arresting thermal runaway inside vessels (Dow)

Designing an emergency relief system for vessels containing materials with known and unknown decomposition kinetics (Fauske) - cont'd

Using experimental data to assess thermal hazards in pipes to protect flow reactors (Merck)

Thermal hazards in the pharma industry; Td24 (AMGEN) - cont'd

Undergraduate Research (PI: Prof Ray Mentzer)

Organizational culture - what it consists of, how it's measured and keys to improvement - cont'd

Partnered w / ACC & Marsh Risk

Natural disasters contribution to process safety incidents

ARSST calorimetric measurements for reagents common to pharmaceutical industry

Investigation of the correlation between minor & major incidents and the domino effect

Survey of heats of reaction for some common reaction types in pharma industry & comparison with CHETAH & TCIT predictions - cont'd

PI: w / Prof. Brett Savoie
Partnered w / Amgen, Corteva, GSK, JM, Lilly, Merck & Vertex 

Other Research (PI: Prof Ray Mentzer - e.g. add'l research by Prof MS & PhD students beyond capstone / thesis)

Factors contributing to US chemical plant process safety incidents from 2010 -2020 - cont'd

Partnered w / ACC & Univ of Utah

Safety in Academic & Industrial Laboratories - cont'd

Joint Topic with CISTAR, NSF Funded

Inherently Safe & Secure Physical Systems - cont'd

Joint Topic with CISTAR, NSF Funded