Research and Development Branch
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2026 PHMSA Innovation Showcase
The 2026 PHMSA Innovation Showcase is set for May 20 in at DOT Headquarters. Come see the cutting edge innovation happening across PHMSA! Check out our event booklet for a sneak peak and secure your spot today: PHMSA Innovation Showcase.
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) Research, Development & Technology (RD&T) Forum – November 2023
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) led a virtual public Research, Development & Technology (RD&T) Forum on November 28, 2023. The forum highlighted RD&T's current research projects, current and future research initiatives, program strategies & priorities, and gathering stakeholder input.
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) Research, Development & Technology (RD&T) Forum – December 2022
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) led a virtual public Research, Development & Technology (RD&T) Forum on December 1st, 2022. The forum focused on highlighting RD&T's current research projects, current and future research initiatives, program strategies & priorities, and gathering input from stakeholders.
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) Research, Development & Technology (RD&T) Forum - October 2021
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS) held a public Research, Development & Technology (RD&T) Forum in October 2021 to present the results of recently completed research projects, announce new project plans, and obtain stakeholder input on the direction of current and future research projects. The Forum took place over the course of four half-day sessions that included government and industry presentations covering the mitigation of climate risk, energy products, commodity flow analysis, packaging integrity, and emerging technologies.
OHMS has awarded six projects totaling over $9.6 million to various researchers that will support safety and innovation in hazmat transportation as a result of its 2020 Broad Agency Announcement.
| Researcher | Project Title |
|---|---|
| North Carolina State University | Composite Metal Foams for Impact Protection of Hazardous Material Transportation |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Honeycomb-Encapsulated Phase Change Materials Composites for Battery Transportation Safety |
| SMS | Default Classification of Thermites |
| WHA | High Strain Rate Rupture and Fragmentation of Aluminum Cylinders |
| West Virginia University | Thermo-Mechanical Responses of FRP Composite Jacketing for Tank Cars under Impact and Fire |
| APT Research | Fine Grain Metal Powder Standards for Consumer Pyrotechnics |
About the R&D Branch
The Research & Development Branch leads and coordinates innovative research projects that are focused on near-term solutions to hazardous materials transportation problems.
Vision: To promote innovative approaches to support the safe commerce of hazardous materials for a multi-modal transportation system.
Mission: To provide research, analyses and technical information needed to manage the public risk associated with hazardous material transportation.
People
The staff of the Research, Development & Technology branch conduct all aspects of program management within OHMS, including preparation of RFPs, SOWs, milestones, meetings and deliverables. R&D projects are conducted by a number of internal and external research partners and in cooperation with other DoT modal partners. OHMS R&D efforts include laboratory testing, piloting and field implementation. RD&T staff also identify potential emerging risks and challenges to the safe transport of hazardous materials and provide fiscal oversight of diverse projects within their areas of responsibility. Current staff consists of Joshua Davis and Andy Leyder.
Research Needs
To submit research needs concerning hazardous materials transportation, email Joshua Davis at joshua.davis@dot.gov or Andy Leyder at andrew.leyder@dot.gov.
Last updated: Monday, May 18, 2026