Master of Science in Explosion Protection Engineering
Longstanding Industry Ties
WPI has strong relationships with leading companies in industries such as insurance, process safety, manufacturing, and aerospace, providing the following benefits:
- Dedicated explosion labs and additional resources for specialized equipment
- Collaboration opportunities with industry experts who are engaged in impactful work
- Closer connections to industry demands and trends
State-of-the-Art Laboratories
- Equipped with cutting-edge technology and instrumentation
- Safe environment for conducting explosion control studies
- Optimal launchpad for groundbreaking research in advanced explosion safety strategies
Interdisciplinary Opportunities
Our Explosion Protection Engineering program welcomes all students with the following degrees:
Meet Our World-Class Faculty
Ali S. Rangwala
Professor, Fire Protection Engineering
Program Head
Specializes in industrial fire and explosion, focusing on deflagration of combustible dust clouds and ignition behavior of dust layers. Co-authored books on explosion dynamics and fire mechanisms. Teaches explosion dynamics and explosion protection engineering.
Vyto Babrauskas
Professor, Fire Protection Engineering
Renowned researcher in fire safety science, explosion safety, and electrical failures. Inventor of the cone calorimeter and author of Ignition Handbook. Teaches courses on new and renewable energy technologies, hydrogen, battery storage, electrical arc explosions, and transformer safety.
Aswin Gnanaskandan
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Specializes in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), developing high-fidelity models for multiphase flows. Directs the Computational Multiphase Transport Laboratory. Teaches a graduate course on CFD, a key component of the explosion protection engineering curriculum.
Jagan Jayachandran
Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering
Associate Program Head
Focuses on reacting flows under explosion safety conditions. Studies laminar flame ignition, DDT, and flame instabilities. Teaches a graduate course on combustion.
Stephen Kmiotek
Professor of Practice, Chemical Engineering
Brings 30 years of experience in the chemical and environmental industries, focusing on chemical process safety, environmental health and safety, and air pollution engineering. Provides students with practical insights into explosion protection and safety management.
Kathy Notarianni
Associate Professor, Fire Protection Engineering
Expertise in fire protection engineering and emergency response optimization. Experience from NIST and over 10 years as head of the fire protection engineering department. Integrates advanced risk assessment and incident management strategies into the explosion protection engineering curriculum.
Milosh Puchovsky
Professor of Practice, Fire Protection Engineering
Over 30 years of experience in fire protection and explosion safety, including lithium-ion batteries and energy storage systems. Strengthens the explosion protection engineering curriculum by teaching application-oriented courses and bridging consulting engineering with academic research.
Michael Timko
Professor, Chemical Engineering
Associate Program Head
Researches chemical engineering science, transport, phase behavior, and reactor design for converting energy resources into fuels and chemicals. Focuses on hydrogen production and utilization. Teaches a core class on transport phenomena.
Jamal Yagoobi
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Associate Program Head
Director of the Center for Advanced Research in Drying (CARD), teaches heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermal systems design. Researches heat and mass transfer and explosion risks in drying processes. Provides valuable insights into heat transfer and explosion protection.
Christopher Wood
Professor, Fire Protection Engineering
Head of Fire Link LLC, experienced in hazard analysis and forensic investigation. Teaches courses on explosion forensics, providing practical knowledge essential for analyzing explosion incidents.
Lorenz Boeck
Adjunct Professor, Explosion Protection Engineering
Boeck is chief scientific officer at Rembe® Inc., a global leader in explosion and process safety, where he oversees the company’s scientific program. Prior to joining Rembe® Inc., Boeck held research positions at FM Global, California Institute of Technology, Queen's University, and Technical University of Munich.
With over 15 years of research experience in academia and industry, Boeck has led programs to assess and mitigate explosion risks across various sectors, including nuclear, aerospace, energy, food and beverage, wood products, and general manufacturing. His expertise spans a wide range of explosion hazards, encompassing gas, dust, hybrid, energetic-material, and physical explosions. He has extensive experience in large-scale and laboratory-scale testing, as well as in the certification of explosion protection systems such as deflagration vents, suppression systems, and isolation systems.
His contributions to the field include over 70 peer-reviewed research publications. His work has garnered numerous accolades, including the prestigious John H.S. Lee Award and multiple international best-paper awards. Boeck teaches Explosion Protection (FP 573) for the XPE program.
Ashok G. Dastidar
Adjunct Professor, Chemical Engineering
Ashok Dastidar holds a PhD in chemical engineering from Dalhousie University (2004) and is a leading expert in chemical process hazards analysis, specializing in flammable dusts, liquids, vapors, explosion hazards, and electrostatic risks. He has extensive experience conducting tests and analyzing data on electrostatic discharge, dust explosibility, flammability, and thermal stability, as well as implementing risk mitigation strategies using HAZOP and FMEA methods.
A prominent figure in the field, Dastidar is actively involved with AIChE, NFPA, and ASTM, where he chairs the ASTM E27.05 Subcommittee on dust explosibility and serves on multiple NFPA technical committees.
Alfonso Ibarreta
Adjunct Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Alfonso Ibarreta holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and is a certified fire and explosion investigator with expertise in combustion processes, fires, and explosions. His research and professional work focus on the analysis and prevention of explosion hazards involving flammable dusts, liquids, and gases. He has extensive experience in using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models, such as FLACS, to simulate flammable liquid/vapor releases, vapor cloud explosions, and combustible dust explosions.
Ibarreta is a principal member of the NFPA Technical Committee on Explosion Protection Systems, where he contributes to standards such as NFPA 67, 68, and 69. He also serves on the Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention Regulations, overseeing state fire safety codes. His expertise includes consequence modeling, testing fuel gas systems, and developing fire safety standards for lithium-ion batteries in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
