Dr. Changwon Son Award

Dr. Changwon Son, Assistant Professor of Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering, recently was awarded a $855,760 research grant from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Gulf Research Program for his project titled “Empowering and Enhancing Offshore Workers' SWA, UWA, Reporting Unsafe Conditions, and Employee Participation”. Dr. Son in concert with Dr. Kerk Kee (TTU Media & Communication), Dr. Marshall Watson (TTU Petroleum Eng.), and Dr. Tyree Mitchell (LSU School of Leadership and HRD) will investigate SURE (Stop-work authority, Ultimate work authority, Reporting unsafe conditions, and Employee participation) programs to combat the most difficult safety issue for offshore energy workers. This research initiative underscores the team's unwavering commitment to improving safety within the offshore energy sector. The funding provided by NASEM Gulf Research Program will equip Dr. Son and his team with the necessary tools to develop a variety of methods that incorporate safety culture into the offshore industry. 

The primary effort is targeted at the application of safety tools referred to as the “SURE Toolbox”, which includes education and training materials, operating procedures, observation and reporting cards, end-user manuals, team safety meeting guidelines, and data analytics of the SURE activities. 

Dr. Son received his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering in 2021 and in 2016 his M.S. in Safety Engineering in respectively from Texas A&M University, and his B.S. in Industrial Engineering form Hanyang University in 2007. His research surrounds the topic of resilience engineering in complex human systems such as emergency operations, healthcare, and energy.

Dr. Son joined the TTU IMSE Department as Assistant Professor in August of 2021 and serves as the director of the Safety, Human Factors, and Resilience Engineering (SHARE) Lab. Through his dedication to the department, he continues to develop groundbreaking research in the world of safety and health in the workplace. We are ecstatic to announce Dr. Son's accomplishments and proud to recognize him as an outstanding faculty member here at the IMSE. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Son for his exceptional performance in industrial engineering. 

Congratulations on this outstanding achievement, Dr. Changwon Son!