University of Rhode Island to Advance Deep-Sea Research with $2.2 Million Grant
KINGSTON, R.I. – June 2, 2025 – A multidisciplinary team led by Brennan Phillips, Professor of Ocean Engineering and Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island (URI), has secured a $2.2 million grant from the Ocean Shot Research Grant Program to revolutionize the study of delicate deep-sea organisms. The program, backed by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation’s Ocean Policy Research Institute and The Nippon Foundation, aims to foster innovative oceanic research.
The team, which includes prominent experts like John Burns from Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and Robert Wood from Harvard University, will enhance their previous designs with cutting-edge technology. Phillips intends to collaborate closely with Wood’s Microrobotics Laboratory to develop a biopsy and preservation device that can non-destructively sample gelatinous marine organisms.
Phillips highlights the significance of timely specimen collection and preservation, noting that capturing and preserving a small tissue sample quickly can yield rich genetic data, including insights into the animal’s health and metabolism.
Utilizing an innovative, origami-inspired robotic device, the researchers will aim for a “catch and release” technique that allows organisms to be safely sampled and returned to their habitat. The team will also leverage artificial intelligence for processing imaging data, which will assist in the classification of potential new species.
Though the project is still in the planning stages, a working prototype is anticipated by this winter, with the inaugural expedition projected for late 2026 in the South Atlantic Ocean. Phillips expressed enthusiasm about tackling the challenges of deep-sea exploration, emphasizing URI’s commitment to transforming ambitious laboratory concepts into practical solutions for extreme ocean conditions.
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