Master of Science in Threat and Response Management
Capstone Projects
Masters in Emergency Management Capstone Process
As a culminating experience, Master of Science in Threat and Response Management students put into practice the knowledge and skills they have learned during their coursework by completing a capstone project. The project is a degree requirement and is completed during the last three quarters of their program. Program staff support these efforts by curating a portfolio of projects with capstone sponsors which include industry partners, governmental agencies, and program graduates. The program also facilitates matching students to projects based on skills and interest and helps assign scientific advisors to provide guidance and mentorship.
The capstone process is an opportunity for students to develop and implement an emergency management solution and explore potential networking and employment partnerships. Students work together in small teams and begin the experience in the autumn quarter.
Students review their project and develop a plan for implementation, meet with project sponsors to document scope, goals, requirements, and timeline. Students write a project proposal and confirm with the sponsor and advisors.
Students implement the project and are expected to spend approximately 80-100 hours on implementation. Depending on the proposal, students work onsite or remotely with the sponsor and check in weekly regarding progress. Sponsors are expected to give regular feedback to ensure project is moving in the right direction.
Students write their final paper and develop a presentation. At the end of the final quarter, sponsors, faculty, and students are invited to a showcase of all the capstone projects.
Sample Capstone Project
Interested in uncovering a use for unmanned aerial vehicle technologies, or drones, that might de-stigmatize the popular image they’ve acquired through their military use abroad? MScTRM capstone students sought to outfit a drone with a signal-detecting device capable of locating cellphone signals to improve the detection of humans following a major earthquake.
Capstone Advisors
Our capstone advisors comprise current and former instructors, including:
Edward G. Buikema, BA
Senior Consultant, Argonne National Laboratory
Edward G. Buikema is an instructor for the University of Chicago’s Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies and previously taught in the Master of Science in Threat and Response Management Program. He is an Associate Employee of the Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago and is...
L. Paul Lewis, MS, JD
Technical Programs Attorney, Risk and Infrastructure Sciences Center...
Mr. Lewis graduated from the Master of Science in Threat and Response Management program in 2011. He is a technical programs attorney in the Risk and Infrastructure Sciences Center, Global Security Sciences Division at Argonne National Laboratory. In this position, he leads multidisciplinary...
Ignacio J. Martinez-Moyano, PhD
Computational Social Scientist and Socio-Technical Systems Section...
Ignacio J Martinez-Moyano is a computational social scientist and socio-technical systems section leader in the Systems Science Center of the Global Security Sciences Division at Argonne National Laboratory. He is also a senior fellow at the Computation Institute of the University of Chicago and at...
Roland Varriale, MS
Cyber Security Analyst for Cyber Operations, Analysis, and Research...
Roland Varriale is a cyber security analyst for Cyber Operations, Analysis, and Research in Argonne National Laboratory’s Strategic Security Sciences Division. Roland has worked in various capacities from a business analyst to an intelligent transportation systems researcher and developer. He is...
Donald R. Zoufal, JD, MA
Safety and Security Executive, System Development Integration, LLC.
Donald Zoufal is currently a safety and security industry executive with System Development Integration, LLC. He has held a series of high-level public sector safety and security posts, including First Deputy for the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications and Deputy...