WPI Awards Seed Grants to Early-Stage Research Projects

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WPI has awarded $203,457 in grants from the Gapontsev Family Collaborative Venture Fund to three faculty-led teams focusing on research into energy-saving window coatings, advanced sensors to detect chemical and biological substances, and a wound-healing, antibacterial biomaterial that is activated by light.

The one-year awards will fund early-stage, interdisciplinary research that could lead to bigger projects, external collaborations, and future funding proposals.

“Seed grants provide critical early support for projects with great potential,” says Bogdan Vernescu, vice president and vice provost for research and innovation. “I am delighted to congratulate the recipients of these awards, and I want to thank the VPG Foundation for catalyzing discovery and innovation at WPI through their support.”

The Gapontsev Family Collaborative Venture Fund was made possible through the generosity of the VPG Foundation, which was established by the family of Valentin Gapontsev, founder of IPG Photonics. He received an honorary doctor of engineering degree from WPI in 2001 in recognition of his contributions to the field of photonics and the photonics industry. The VPG Foundation gift of $645,000 supports “Beyond These Towers,” WPI’s most ambitious and comprehensive campaign since its founding in 1865.

The new awards represent the third round of funding from the Gapontsev Family Collaborative Venture Fund.

Gapontsev Family Collaborative Venture Fund Awards

“The Glass with Sass: Flavylium-Coated Windows Fighting Energy Loss”

An array of photos shows the researchers involved in a project led by Anita Mattson, including Mattson, Soroush Farzin, Christopher Lambert, Doug Petkie, and Suzanne Scarlata.

From left, Anita Mattson, Soroush Farzin, Christopher Lambert, Doug Petkie, and Suzanne Scarlata

Anita Mattson, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is principal investigator (PI) for the project, which was awarded $63,457. Co-PIs are Soroush Farzin, assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering; Teaching Professor Christopher Lambert and Richard T. Whitcomb Professor Suzanne Scarlata, both of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Doug Petkie, professor and head of the Department of Physics.

“Hybrid Biomimetic Materials for Light-Activated Drug Delivery”

A photo array show researchers led by Jeannine Coburn, including Coburn, Dmitry Korkin, and Lyubov Titova.

From left, Jeannine Coburn, Dmitry Korkin, and Lyubov Titova

Jeannine Coburn, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, is PI on the project, which was awarded $70,000. Co-PIs are Dmitry Korkin, who holds the Harold L. Jurist ’61 and Heather E. Jurist Dean’s Professorship in Computer Science, and Lyubov Titova, professor in the Department of Physics.