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Facility Leadership · Instrumentation

Research Instrumentation Facility Buildout

Directed a $5M+ multi-instrument research facility buildout, leading space planning, vendor coordination, equipment deployment, SOP development, user training, and research operations.

Completed research instrumentation facility after buildout
Completed research instrumentation facility after renovation, equipment installation, and user-facing setup.

Overview

This project involved directing the buildout of a new multi-instrument research characterization facility while continuing active Ph.D. research. The work required translating interdisciplinary research needs into facility requirements, coordinating space planning and equipment deployment, managing vendor and stakeholder communication, and establishing user-facing workflows for training, safety, access, and day-to-day research operations.

My role

I led execution across 3,500 ft² facility planning, equipment selection, vendor coordination, installation readiness, SOP development, safety workflows, user training, and operational launch. The project required technical judgment across characterization instrumentation, project management across multiple external suppliers, and practical ownership of the systems needed to make the facility usable for a broad research community.

Key outcomes

  • Directed a $5M+ departmental research facility buildout spanning 3,500 ft² of research space.
  • Coordinated vendor engagement with 6 suppliers and supported deployment of 10 instruments for shared characterization use.
  • Developed SOPs, training workflows, safety practices, and user-facing procedures for facility operation.
  • Trained 50+ interdisciplinary users on instrument workflows, safety expectations, and standard operating procedures.
  • Balanced facility leadership with ongoing Ph.D. research, publication, mentoring, and laboratory safety responsibilities.

Project media

Before / After
Before-and-after panoramic comparison showing the transformation from renovation space to operational research instrumentation facility.
After
Custom integrated TGA/DSC–FTIR–GC/MS system with a heated transfer line for coupled thermal analysis and real-time evolved-gas/degradation products characterization.
After
Large-area slot-die coating platform supporting scalable thin-film deposition, process development, and device fabrication.
After
Phenom desktop SEM–EDS station paired with sputter coating for efficient sample preparation, imaging, and elemental analysis
After
Filmetrics optical profiler for non-contact measurement of film thickness, roughness, and three-dimensional surface topography.
After
Shared research workspace designed to support student training, collaborative work, and multi-user facility operations.
After
Flexible open workspace for interdisciplinary researchers, instrument users, and collaborative project development.
After
Interactive meeting and training room equipped with a smart whiteboard for collaborative planning, data review, and user onboarding.