December 3, 2025- We’re excited to announce that EITD at the University of Alabama at Birmingham has been awarded the NASA Lunar Freezer System contract! This system will support the NASA Artemis program by preserving temperature-sensitive lunar science samples as they make their journey back to Earth. A mission we’re incredibly proud to take on. This award is a testament to the dedication, expertise, and innovative spirit of our team. It marks another major step in our commitment to taking on complex challenges- on Earth and beyond.
EITD has a long history of developing advanced thermal systems and engineering solutions for NASA, building technologies that have supported mission success for almost three decades. Our team has designed, delivered, and maintained multiple generations of cold-stowage hardware for the International Space Station. Systems that protect and preserve vital scientific samples used in medical research, microgravity experiments, and technology demonstrations conducted aboard the ISS. These contributions have made EITD a trusted partner in NASA’s most critical research efforts, and they highlight our deep expertise in creating reliable, precision-controlled systems for science to thrive in the unique environment of space.
The Lunar Freezer System project will be led by EITD Director Chad Duke, with Project Manager Lance Weise and Deputy Project Manager Samuel Misko guiding day-to-day development and execution. Their leadership and experience will be key as we take on this exciting new chapter.
We are grateful for NASA's continued trust in our work and energized by the opportunities ahead. The future of space exploration is unfolding, and we are honored to help shape it.
November 15, 2025
Engineering and Innovative Technology Development (EITD) is proud to announce that BLADE — the Blazer Launchpad for Advanced Design and Engineering — has been selected as a 2025 UAB Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) awardee. This initiative marks a major step forward in expanding rapid-development engineering support across UAB.
BLADE is driven by the vision and efforts of Samuel Misko and Andrés Morales, who have worked to create a university-wide model that applies EITD’s established engineering capabilities to accelerate innovation in medicine, research, and emerging technologies.
Through BLADE, EITD will provide a streamlined path for UAB innovators to move from concept to prototype. The program is designed to:
- Transform ideas into engineered solutions through rapid prototyping and development.
- Strengthen UAB’s intellectual property and commercialization pipeline in collaboration with the Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
- Foster interdisciplinary collaboration between engineering, medicine, and research.
- Support startup creation and broader economic impact.
EITD is currently refining the project and evaluation process for BLADE and will share participation details in the coming months. We look forward to partnering with UAB faculty, clinicians, researchers, and students ready to bring new ideas to life.
October 1, 2025
EITD is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a Task Order under NASA’s REMIS-2 contract to provide Cold Stowage Services. This secures our role in maintaining and sustaining the suite of cold storage hardware that supports temperature-controlled science aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and related mission operations.
Under this Task Order, EITD will continue to maintain, engineer, and support the full fleet of cold-stowage units — including active freezers and temperature-controlled lockers and transport systems — ensuring that science samples remain within required thermal limits from launch through on-orbit operations to return. Cold Stowage hardware and services play a critical role in preserving sample integrity for ISS science experiments, enabling researchers to collect, store, and transport sensitive biological and physical samples under precise temperature conditions.
Our work under the Task Order encompasses sustaining and integration engineering, configuration management, flight-ready maintenance, spare-inventory support, and real-time operations support aligned with NASA’s manifest requirements.
What This Means for EITD and NASA
- Reliable Science Support: With EITD overseeing Cold Stowage hardware readiness, NASA can count on continuous, dependable thermal-control support for ISS payloads.
- Mission Readiness: This award ensures that EITD will sustain hardware readiness for future ISS missions preserving decades of experience with cold-stowage systems and contributing to ongoing and upcoming research opportunities.
- Mission Integration: As part of the larger REMIS-2 portfolio, EITD’s involvement reflects our capabilities in mission integration, systems engineering, and long-term sustainment of flight-critical hardware.
We are proud to continue our partnership with NASA and to support the advancement of space science, preserving the integrity of payloads, and enabling world-class research on the ISS.
03/21/2024
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Engineering and Innovative Technology Development group has achieved a significant milestone by securing a pivotal role in the International Space Station program, offering a spectrum of research, engineering, and mission integration services.
Joining forces with eleven other distinguished organizations, UAB has landed a coveted multiple-award contract, the Research, Engineering, and Mission Integration Services-2 (REMIS-2), with maximum potential value of an impressive $478 million. This contract not only provides UAB with a platform to contribute directly to the International Space Station program but also presents an opportunity to extend our expertise and services to a broader spectrum of clients that require a thermally controlled environment for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond.
The seven-year duration of the REMIS-2 contract, spanning from January 2024 to September 30, 2030, with an option for extension until 2032, emphasizes the long-term commitment and opportunity it presents for UAB. Furthermore, the ability for other NASA organizations or federal Government agencies to utilize the contract through mutual agreement with the NASA ISS Program extends the reach and impact of UAB’s expertise and services, solidifying its position as a leader in engineering and innovative technology development.
