Engineering and Innovative Technology Development

01/01/2026

🎉 Happy New Year 2026! 🎉
From the team here at EITD, we wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year. As we head into 2026, we’re excited to continue our work on NASA projects and keep advancing innovative, mission-critical engineering solutions. We’re proud of the progress made and look forward to another year of collaboration, problem-solving, and pushing what’s possible. 🛰🌕❄️

12/02/2025

We’re excited to announce that UAB EITD has been awarded NASA new 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.

We’re grateful for NASA’s continued trust in our work and energized by the opportunities ahead. The future of space exploration is unfolding and we’re honored to help shape it.

NASA has selected the University of Alabama at Birmingham to provide the necessary systems required to return temperature sensitive science payloads to Earth

11/20/2025

We are proud to share that the EITD team is a key partner in the newly launched Blazer Launchpad for Advanced Design & Engineering (BLADE) and was selected as a 2025 awardee of UAB's Strategic Investment Fund (SIF).

BLADE is an ambitious, university-wide initiative aiming to turn research and clinical ideas into engineered solutions, prototypes and commercial products — and EITD will be integral to making that vision a reality.

Through this award, we’ll have the institutional support to expand our engineering translation work, strengthen collaborations across UAB (Engineering, Heersink School of Medicine , Health System, and Harbert Institute) and help drive startup formation and economic growth for Birmingham and beyond.

We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working on the leading edge of innovation and are eager to bring the EITD community along on this journey. Stay tuned for more updates and ways to get involved!

See the article below for more information and other award recipients.

UAB Strategic Investment Fund names 2025 awardees

09/26/2025

After 34 years at UAB, our very own Dan Connor is retiring from his role as Engineering Manager in EITD. What an incredible legacy he leaves behind.

Over the decades, Dan’s contributions have spanned from supporting crystallography work and cold-stowage systems for the International Space Station.

He’s earned respect not just for his technical expertise and project leadership, but for being a mentor, bridge to NASA collaborations, and a steady presence who helped shape EITD.

Here’s to a well-deserved retirement, Dan! 🥂
We look forward to celebrating your many accomplishments and all the lives you’ve impacted.

The UAB School of Engineering is a world-class institution of engineering education and research, consisting of 5 departments within a major research university.

09/11/2025

The EITD team at UAB is proud to see our Polar cold stowage hardware continuing to make waves in the space industry. Polar, designed and built right her in Birmingham, was recently part of a successful test with Vast Space’s Haven-1 payload power module out in Long Beach, CA.

This test proved that our hardware can support critical science experiments at extreme temperatures from -95°C to +10°C. That means Polar will keep enabling research in space, whether it’s aboard the International Space Station (where it’s already a frequent flyer) or on future missions with new partners like Haven-1. 🚀

It’s exciting to know that technology designed, engineered, and developed at UAB plays such an important role in advancing space science. From Birmingham to the ISS (and beyond!) — innovation from Alabama is helping shape the future of research in space. 💚💛

We successfully tested Haven-1's payload power module with Polar, the NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Johnson Space Center’s Cold Stowage payload hardware, at our headquarters in Long Beach, CA. The power module, built in-house, was tested to NASA standards and demonstrated th...

07/08/2025

🧪 What is MERLIN?
No, it’s not casting spells — but it is keeping things cold in space. MERLIN stands for Microgravity Experiment Research Locker/INcubator, and it’s basically a super high-tech mini fridge for science.

MERLIN provides precise temperature control for biological and physical science experiments on the International Space Station. Whether it’s chilling cell cultures or keeping samples stable, MERLIN makes sure critical experiments stay in just the right environment — because in space, even a few degrees can make a big difference.

Designed and supported by EITD, MERLIN is about the size of a microwave but punches way above its weight, helping keep experiments stable from launch to landing.

And speaking of launches... one of our MERLIN units just hitched a ride to orbit aboard Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission! 🚀 Another small step for science, another proud moment for our team.

06/09/2025

Did you know some of the most important science on the International Space Station is kept cold thanks to a system developed right here at EITD?

Meet Polar — our compact, efficient cold stowage unit designed to keep biological samples frozen at temperatures as low as -95°C. From DNA to plant samples to protein crystals, Polar helps preserve critical research that could lead to breakthroughs in medicine, agriculture, and technology — both in space and back on Earth. 🌍

Engineered in Alabama, orbiting 250 miles above us. That’s the kind of impact we’re proud of.

06/03/2025

We’re proud to share that the Engineering and Innovation Technology Development (EITD) team has officially moved into our new home — Gorrie Hall at UAB!

It’s a true honor to be part of this cutting-edge facility named in recognition of Frances and Miller Gorrie, whose dedication to Birmingham and commitment to progress have helped shape the future of engineering and innovation in our city. Their legacy inspires the work we do every day — from developing spaceflight hardware to advancing scientific discovery.

We’re excited for the opportunities this new space brings and grateful to carry forward our mission in a building that stands as a symbol of vision, excellence, and community impact.

The future is bright — and it starts here.

12/03/2024

Check out this incredible post from Astronaut Nick Hague about the Iceberg Freezer, a unit developed by the talented team here at UAB's EITD. The Iceberg is no ordinary freezer—it's a critical piece of cold stowage hardware helping astronauts aboard the ISS preserve scientific samples at ultra-low temperatures. It's amazing to see how EITD's expertise, innovation, and teamwork directly supports space exploration and groundbreaking research.
Thank you, Nick Hague, for highlighting this achievement, and kudos to everyone involved in making Iceberg a reality. Proof that with collaboration and innovation, even the sky isn’t the limit!

10/14/2024

Whether you're on the campus of UAB - The University of Alabama at Birmingham or anywhere in the Northern hemisphere there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness Comet A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) lighting up the sky. The comet is on a rare journey through the inner solar system, and it won’t return for thousands of years—so now’s the time to catch it before it’s gone!

✨ How to Spot It:

When: Look shortly after sunset over the next few days. An hour after sunset is ideal.

Where: You’ll need a clear view of the western horizon with as little light pollution as possible (far from city lights).

Tools: While it might be visible to the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope will help you see it much better. The camera on your phone will pick up the comet as well.

If you manage to capture it, post your photos below—we’d love to see your stargazing shots! 📸 Happy comet hunting!

10/03/2024

Did you know the International Space Station orbits the Earth once every 90 minutes? That means it completes about 16 orbits every single day!
If you're on UAB - The University of Alabama at Birmingham campus or even in the Central Alabama area, keep an eye on the sky this evening for a nice view of the ISS as it passes overhead. It will be a good night to witness the station as it travels over 17,000 mph, carrying astronauts and even some of EITD's flight hardware.
Look towards the WNW around 7:12 pm Central time as the ISS makes its appearance for a full 6 minutes before disappearing in the SSE.
Photo courtesy ISS National Lab

08/23/2024

Way to go AJ! AJ has been with EITD for 7 years now and continues to be an asset to the team and this award highlights his dedication and talent. Congrats AJ on your remarkable achievement!

Congratulations to Research Engineer Anthony (AJ) Ford (EITD), who recently received an award from the NASA Cold Stowage project manager. The award was given “in recognition of exceptional performance regarding automated improvements to Structural Analysis tools.”