Ahsan Choudhuri, PhD Professor and Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering

1. Bridging Industry Best Practices in Project Management and Safety Assurance to Academic Propulsion Research Ahsan Choudhuri, PhD Professor and Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering Director, NASA URC: Center for Space Exploration Technology Research University of Texas at El Paso

2. In increasingly knowledge-based economies, universities are required to play a significant role in national systems of innovation. • The evolving triple-helix research model is continuously reshaping the institutional relationships between university, industry, and government. • The rapidly changing technological paradigm, globalization, and transformation of R&D workforce require universities to provide research experiences that are enhanced with industry practices. • Student as a bridge between two distinct world with different research cultures and values systems. • Universities focus on science and are structured to quest for knowledge and understanding • Industries thrive on finding practical technology solutions within the perimeter of cost effectiveness.

3. The research training in academic settings seems to underemphasize two important industry best practices: • project management • safety • There is a need for an adaptive and abridged management system that facilitates project execution, safety and quality assurance, while providing educational training for participants. • Given the nature of academic research, the system has to make allowances and adjustments in comparison to a more commercial or industrial environment. • Innovations in IT are enablers for such systems.

4. NASA University Research CenterUniversity of Texas at El PasoCenter for Space Exploration Technology Research (cSETR) Vision The cSETR vision is to establish a minority university Center of Excellence in Advanced Propulsion and Energyresearch through strategic partnerships and to educate a diverse future aerospace and energy workforce. Goals • Advance research in aerospace and energy engineering • Inspire, excite, and engage undergraduate and graduate students, especially those from underrepresented groups, in the study of aerospace and energy engineering • Build a sustainable research capacity and infrastructure at UTEP in aerospace and energy engineering.

5. NASA University Research CenterUniversity of Texas at El PasoCenter for Space Exploration Technology Research (cSETR) • 10 Faculty • 4 Administrative Staff Members • 1 Associate Director and Research Manager • 1 Program Coordinator • 1 Finance Manager • 1 Administrative Assistant • 3 Staff Engineers • 64 Student Researchers • 36 Student Researchers – NASA

6. NASA University Research CenterUniversity of Texas at El PasoCenter for Space Exploration Technology Research (cSETR) • Space Systems • Propulsion • Non-Toxic Propulsion • Miniature Propulsion Systems • Missile Interceptors • Structures and Materials • High Temperature Materials and Coatings • High Strain Rate Failure • Energy Engineering • Advanced Turbine Technologies • High Hydrogen Fuel Combustion • High Temperature Materials and Coatings • Carbon Capture and Sequestration • Oxy-Fuel Combustion

7. Processes and systems • Each project under the Center has a project management plan that includes at minimum: • Gantt schedule • Objectives • Requirements • Reference to Center Safety Plan or Custom Safety Plan • Reference to Center Data Mgmt. Plan • Components of plans shared and confirmed by each customer • Each plan is updated throughout the project duration and customer apprised of updates • Project management process • Safety and quality assurance programs • Data management system

8. Project Flow

11. cSETR has and maintains a documented Center-wide safety policy • Policy is always available to all participants online • Policy has also been shared and stands in compliment with UTEP EH&S • There are standard safety checklists for each initiative • Setups and experimentation require prior safety review and approval to proceed

12. Project Flow Diagram with Safety Considerations in Light Orange

14. Hazard Analysis

15. Data Mangement • Reliable, central storage point of all data • Center maintained and centralized servers and regular data back up • Documented and updated data management policy • Online, open source, customized data management system • Uniform approach for all participants • Double firewall

19. Summary • The recurring scheme and use of abbreviated checklists and procedures integrates safety, quality and experimental progress into a whole without a large burden or delay in research. • The process integrates safety considerations into the design phase (HA, FMEA, checklists) and portions related to test or experimentation (procedure with data management, safety mitigation built-in and risk considerations). • It also integrates quality control through a written and predetermined process for design, test and data handling. • The data management includes an archive of documentation on the development, results and overall execution of an effort. • The preset process allows for enough rigidity and repeatability to ensure data integrity and handling, yet enough brevity to allow for flexibility and progressive experimentation in a research environment.