Charge

The Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC) reports to the Vice President for Research and Innovation on matters related to chemical and physical hazards at Texas Tech University (see OP 74.18). The ILSC is a faculty-led committee charged with improving the safety culture in research facilities, art studios, teaching facilities, and field research sites. The committee focuses on both human health protection and hazardous risk reduction in these facilities. Specific charges to the Committee include the following:

• To recommend to the Vice President for Research and Innovation policies and procedures to ensure Texas Tech University's compliance with all institutional, federal, state and local statutes, regulations, procedures and principles relating to the purchase, storage, use and disposal of hazardous chemicals used in Texas Tech University's research, studio and educational programs.
• To certify investigators, their laboratories and their programs for work with Energetic Materials (Defined by 27 CFR 555.11)]
• To produce and update the University Chemical Hygiene Plan & Field Safety Plan. To oversee its administration in research and teaching work areas of Texas Tech University.
• To review and recommend to Environmental Health & Safety the need for general and specific training programs for research, studio and teaching activities dealing with hazardous chemicals, and to review the appropriateness and effectiveness of such training programs.

Committee Composition

Chair

The Vice President for Research & Innovation (VPR) of Texas Tech University shall appoint the Chair of the Institutional Laboratory Safety Committee (ILSC) who, in turn, will appoint the members of the ILSC.

Membership

The associate chairperson and other members of the committee will be appointed by the ILSC Chair with recommendation from the TTU Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO). Membership appointments are on an annual cycle. The university CHO will serve as executive secretary to the committee.

The membership shall include at least:

• A minimum of three (3) faculty members active or knowledgeable in the use of chemical reagents
• A minimum of one (1) faculty member active or knowledgeable in the use of energetic materials (Note: If a standing member is not available, ad hoc members will be added specifically for energetic materials review).
• A minimum of two (2) faculty members who are non-users of chemical or energetic materials
• A minimum of one staff member knowledgeable in the use of chemical and/or energetic materials
• A faculty member involved in field research/teaching.
• A faculty member involved in studio or theater work.

Ex officio (without vote) members include:

• The Associate Vice President for Research & Innovation (Responsible Research; AVPR-RR), ex officio
• The Assistant Vice President for Environmental Health & Safety, ex officio
• Chemical Hygiene Officer, Biological Safety Officer, and Radiation Safety Officer, ex officio
   

2025-26 Membership Roster

Chairperson

Dr. Dimitri Pappas, Faculty, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Associate Chair

Dr. Gordon Christopher, Faculty, Mechanical Engineering

Committee Members

Dr. Anthony Cozzolino, Faculty, Chemistry and Biochemistry 

Mr. Mohamed (Ayman) Ghonim, Staff, Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Chijuan Hu, Faculty, Chemical Engineering

Dr. Hui Ying Luk, Faculty, Kinesiology and Sport Management

Dr. Maria Onyango, Faculty, Biological Sciences 

Ms. LaQuetta Purkiss, Staff, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mr. Shane Scoggin, Staff, Nutritional Sciences

Dr. Paola Tiedemann, Faculty, Environmental Toxicology 

Mr. Von Venhuizen - Faculty, Art

Ms. Allison Matviko, Staff, Office of Export and Security Compliance 

University Chemical Hygiene Officer

Dr. Mychele Jorns, Chemical Hygiene Officer, Environmental Health & Safety

Ex Officio Members

Mr. Matthew Looney, Radiation Safety Officer, Environmental Health & Safety

Mrs. Rebecca Maloney, Biological Safety Officer, Environmental Health & Safety

Mr. Matt Roe, Assistant Vice President for Environmental Health & Safety

Dr. Alice Young, Faculty, Office of the Vice President for Research

Meeting Frequency

Monthly during the regular semesters. For the date and time of the next scheduled meeting, please contact Environmental Health & Safety.

References

a.    National Research Council’s (NRC) Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in the Laboratories

b.    Center for Chemical Process Safety’s Guidelines for Hazard Evaluation Procedures

c.    American Chemical Society’s Safety in the Academic Chemistry Laboratory guides (for university students and for faculty and administrators)

d.    National Research Council’s 2014 Consensus Report, Safe Science: Promoting a Culture of Safety in Academic Chemical Research

ILSC Resources

Lab Tools, Templates & Posters

University Laboratory Safety Manual

Energetic Materials Application

Energetic Material Criteria Decision Tree

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