Dr. Peters has been a leader in helping MIT develop multi-faculty, externally funded, multi-year research initiatives on: Health Effects of Fuels Utilization (NIEHS Center); Air Toxics (EPA Center); Chem Demil (ARO University Research Initiative); and Nanotechnology for Soldier Protection and Survivability (see ISN below), plus numerous research projects on clean fuels production and combustion (DOE; foundations; industry; NSF). In 2002 MIT appointed Dr. Peters Executive Director (Chief Operating Officer) of a brand new MIT research center, the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN), an Army UARC (University Affiliated Research Center). The ISN mission is to dramatically advance Soldier protection and survivability through fundamental research at the frontiers of nanotechnology and technology transfer. The ISN engages about 50 faculty members from 12 MIT academic departments, plus roughly 100 graduate students and 40 post-docs in over 35 basic research projects.  To enrich the research and facilitate tech transfer, the ISN partners with small businesses and major companies, and collaborates with Army Labs and Army Research, Development and Engineering Centers. An ISN program supporting research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions strengthens the ISN research portfolio and the human resource base for US science and technology.  Army funding of ISN basic (6.1) research is about $150 million over fifteen years.  There is also co-investment by industry and MIT, and annually-competed Army funding to help industry partners and Army Labs transition ISN basic research.

Dr. Peters is a member of the three-person senior leadership team responsible for ISN tactical and strategic planning; engaging new faculty; initiation, integration (scientific and programmatic), and marketing of new research initiatives; technology transfer; and partnering with the Army and industry.  Dr. Peters is also responsible for assuring timely and efficient ISN service to faculty, students, and post-docs, the Army, other research sponsors, and industrial partners. He implements MIT and ISN policies, recommendations of Army and MIT oversight boards, and decisions of the Director. He oversees ISN operations in Finance, Administration and Personnel; Outreach and Communications; Wet and Dry Laboratory Facilities; High Performance Computer Clusters; an annual Engineering Design/Prototype Building Competition for Undergraduate Students (MIT and USMA); ISN Headquarters; ISN Professional Research Staff; and ISN liaison with the DoD UARC and FFRDC communities and with the MIT offices of research contracting, corporate relations, human resources, intellectual property and technology licensing. 

Dr. Peters’ extra-mural professional service includes U.S. Government, industry, professional societies, and academia. His DoD contributions focus on technology assessment and forecasting including nanotechnology impact opportunities, e.g., participation in Future Warfare 20XX, Future Soldier Initiative War Gaming, and the TRADOC Mad Scientist 2010 Future Technology Seminar.  He co-chaired the Long-Range Options and Systems/Operations Task Group of the Naval Studies Board Committee on Shipboard Pollution Control, and served on the Panel on Transform the Institutional Army at the 2000 AUSA Symposium on the Revolution in Military Logistics & Combat Service Support Transformation. He has briefed the Army Science Board; the Research & Technology Panel of the Defense Science Board Task Force on DoD Energy Strategy; the Naval Research Advisory Committee: Lightening the Load – Summer Study 2007; the Air Force Research Laboratory Workshop on Readiness and Performance  Optimizing the 21st Century Warfighter; the Air Force Research Laboratory NanoScience and Technology Team; the Board on Army Science and Technology; and numerous other civilian and uniformed military personnel.