ABOUT MMPEI
- Mission
- Goals
- Research Thrusts
- History
- MMPEI Charter
- Organization Chart
- Institute Administration
- Contact Information and Directions to MMPEI
- View presentation about MMPEI
Mission
To chart the path to a secure, affordable and sustainable energy future by applying our strengths in public policy, economics, business and social sciences to lay the foundation for successful implementation of our scientific and technological achievements.
Goals
- Develop, coordinate and promote multidisciplinary energy research and education across the University
- Grow the intellectual activity and infrastructure in key energy topics in addition to our existing strengths
- Establish new faculty and research appointments that combine strengths in science/technology with those in public policy, business, economics and social sciences
- Serve as a unified voice on energy research and education for the University
Research Thrusts
- Energy policy, economics and societal impact
- Carbon neutral electricity sources
- Energy storage and utilization
- Transportation and fuels
Policy, economics and societal impact of the energy challenge: Recognizing that the pathway to the implementation of technological solutions is via public policy, economics and societal impact, the UM is pursuing a comprehensive approach to overcoming barriers to the implementation of technical solutions to the challenges described below.
Carbon neutral electricity sources: With the top-ranked Nuclear Engineering department and a large and growing activity in solar energy materials science, this thrust will address energy sources that minimize or eliminate the production of greenhouse gases. In addition to solar and nuclear energy, established programs to tap wind and ocean energy are developing those sources for local deployment.
Energy storage and utilization: Energy storage is a limiting technology in the development of vehicles powered by batteries and hydrogen. The development of lightweight, cost-effective, high energy density batteries and research on hydrogen storage technologies are major focal points of this thrust. Improved energy utilization in lighting is the major focal point in energy utilization.
Transportation systems and fuels: UM is at the center of the world’s automotive industry and automotive engineering is the nation’s premiere program. The development of alternate power plants and fuels for transportation is a strong and growing program involving significant interaction with the automotive industry and growing interaction with the petrochemical industry. The conversion of fuels into more attractive forms is a major challenge in the move away from fossil fuel consumption for transportation.
History
In 1947, the regents appointed a War Memorial Committee to consider establishing a war memorial in honor of students and alumni who fell in World War II, and in 1948, approved a resolution to “create a war memorial center to explore the ways and means by which the potentialities of atomic energy may become a beneficent influence in the life of man, to be known as the Phoenix Project of the University of Michigan.” Since that time, the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project has operated the Phoenix Memorial Laboratory and the Ford Nuclear Reactor as a memorial to the 585 University alumni, students, faculty and staff members who gave their lives in World War II. It is “devoted to the peaceful, useful and beneficial applications and implications of nuclear science and technology to the welfare of the human race.”
The Phoenix Memorial Energy Institute will build on the legacy of the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project. In 2004, Regental action broadened the charter of the Phoenix Project beyond atomic energy to encompass “research on the development of energy policies that will promote world peace, the responsible use of the environment, and economic prosperity.” The new charter furthermore stresses interdisciplinary research and education that encompasses “perspectives from the natural and social sciences, engineering, medicine, and the arts and humanities.”
MMPEI Charter
The MMPEI will be structured as an Academic Research Unit reporting to the Vice President for Research (VPR). MMPEI will be managed consistent with the standard procedures of OVPR.
MMPEI will have a Director who will be a distinguished faculty member with a high international profile in energy science and/or technology. The director will have at least a 50% appointment in the Unit. The director will have a tenured academic appointment whose responsibilities will be negotiated at the time of hire with the appropriate school/college.
MMPEI may also have up to three Associate Directors focusing on Science and Technology; Policy, Education and Society; and Outreach and Development. The Associate Directors for Science and Technology, and for Policy, Education, and Society will be distinguished senior faculty who would hold up to a 50% appointment in the Unit. The Associate Director for Outreach and Development may hold up to a 100% appointment in the unit and may have a faculty affiliation. The Director will nominate the Associate Directors for a 3-year renewable term for approval by the VPR.
An Operations Manager will assist the Director. This staff person would assist the director in the management of MMPEI business activity and personnel. The Unit will have an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee (EC) will consist of representatives from the schools/colleges, the Provost’s Office, and OVPR. The EC will guide the Director on issues of MMPEI strategy, governance, and resource allocation. The Director will be expected to consult the EC on major decisions influencing MMPEI. The Vice President for Research will select the members of the EC in consultation with the Director. The Director will chair the EC in an ex officio capacity.
The EC and Director will be responsible for the following:
- Develop and implement the MMPEI’s mission and vision statement.
- Establish and implement general MMPEI policy guidance.
- Set the MMPEI’s budget priorities.
- Conduct periodic meetings during the academic year.
- Participate in the development of an annual report for OVPR.
The Director and EC will work together to create a set of Unit Bylaws that will be approved by the VPR. The bylaws will outline processes for the appointment of research faculty, MMPEI membership, and unit governance.
University Research Faculty and Instructional Faculty may have MMPEI Research Faculty Appointments when their 12-month appointment supported by Institute managed funds exceeds 25%. The policy and practice for research faculty appointments in MMPEI will be consistent with Regents Bylaw 5.24. The Director and EC will develop and adopt a policy governing the appointment and promotion of research faculty in accordance with the Unit Bylaws of MMPEI and that have been approved by the VPR and the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. Research faculty appointments in MMPEI will be nominated by the Director and EC and approved by the Vice President for Research. University Research Faculty and Instructional Faculty may have membership in MMPEI. Members of MMPEI may have no appointment in MMPEI, but can participate in the activities of the Institute. The Director and the EC will develop criteria and rules for membership as part of the Unit Bylaws.
An External Advisory Board will provide guidance to the Director, EC, and VPR on national and international developments in energy science, technology, and policy. The External Advisory Board will help develop the future direction of MMPEI. The membership of the External Advisory Board will be nominated by the Director and EC and approved by the Vice President for Research. The number of board members will be determined by the Vice President for Research in consultation with the Director.
An Advisory Committee or Committees will be formed of University faculty who can advise the Director on all matters related to MMPEI. The Director may also form committees to advise on particular topics of interest or need to the MMPEI (e.g. education, industry outreach, technical specialties). The membership of the Advisory Committee(s) will be nominated by the Director and EC and approved by the Vice President for Research. Committee members will serve for up to three years with approximately 1/3 of the committee turning over each year.
MMPEI may form Sub-Units that address critical areas of energy research that are consistent with its mission and are sufficiently interdisciplinary to justify its placement in the Institute (rather than in an individual school/college).
The Director of MMPEI will be responsible for managing the Phoenix Memorial Laboratory (PML). It is expected that PML will house some of the sub-units of MMPEI. Moreover, the offices of the MMPEI may ultimately be housed in the Phoenix Memorial Laboratory.
Budget for MMPEI: As an Academic Research Unit, MMPEI’s budgeting process will be managed by OVPR and will be consistent with the standard procedures of OVPR, and the budget policies established by the Provost's Office for Academic Research Units.
A general funds supplement of $1.2M for the first five years is needed to support the salary of the Director and possible Associate Directors, an Operations Manager, and up to two (2) support staff. The budget will also include MMPEI operating and development expenses.
For the first five years, the general funds supplement to MMPEI will be adjusted to account for growth in budget model taxes and space and utility costs.
The Director and EC will manage the proceeds from the endowment of the MMPEI.
The expectation is that the general funds supplement to MMPEI will decrease as the development effort grows the MMPEI endowment.
The Director will work with the Vice President for Research to allocate University resources devoted to faculty hiring, research seed funding, and cost sharing that have been devoted to the University Initiative on Energy Science, Technology, and Policy.
Organization Chart
Institute Administration
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Sue Nichols 
Shelly Christian-Sherman
General Contact Information and Directions
2609 Draper
2nd Floor Engineering Programs Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2101
734 763-7401 telephone
734-763-9232
fax
mmpei@umich.edu
Directions and maps to MMPEI here.