Statewide research incubator, RI-NEST, awards $70K in inaugural seed grant funds 

KINGSTON—The Rhode Island Network for Excellence in Science & Technology (RI-NEST) proudly announces its first-ever cohort of Seed Grants, providing up to $70K in funding to support innovative research at institutions of higher education across the state.

Funded through the U.S. National Science Foundation, RI-NEST is a $8 million initiative over four years that will strengthen research infrastructure and capacity in RI and position the state to develop transdisciplinary, use-inspired research, as well as societal and economic growth into the future.

Seed grant funding aims to catalyze projects that strengthen Rhode Island’s research ecosystem through unique partnerships among academia, industry, the Narragansett Indian Tribe, and community organizations. Projects that aligned most closely with Rhode Island’s Science & Technology Plan, as well as RI-NEST’s strategic goals, were selected. 

These projects represent faculty already conducting high-impact research in coastal resilience, cyber-infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and other diverse STEM fields. RI-NEST’s ultimate objective is to fund projects that lead to larger, more sustainable efforts over the next four years, bringing in additional funding for research into the state. 

SELECTED PROJECTS

Abdelatti, Marwan, Providence College, “GPU-accelerated Kalman filters for edge cyber-physical systems” 

Collaborators: Abdeltawab Hendawi, University of Rhode Island

Modern Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), like smart grids, medical monitoring devices, and industrial automation, need to constantly track and predict their surroundings in real time. Kalman Filters (KFs) are the gold standard for this task, but their high computational demands often overwhelm traditional processors (CPUs), leading to high latency and reduced accuracy, especially for on-device applications or “edge computing”. This need is a primary driver for the edge computing market, which is projected to reach over $327 billion by 2033. While some solutions use powerful graphics processors (GPUs), they often fail to fully exploit the GPU’s potential. This project will address this gap by developing an efficient GPU-accelerated KF framework for scalable real-time state estimation across various edge computing applications.  

Espinosa, Avelina, Roger Williams University, “Using electrochemical geno-sensing techniques to train the next generation of Rhode Island innovators: A high school to college and industry biotechnology program.” 

Collaborators: Alison Marn & Jennifer Pearce, Roger Williams University, David Upegui, Central Falls High School, Christopher Munzert, Mount Hope High School, Ellen Fritz, Rhode Island School of Design, Lilia Holt & Hailey Brathurst, RI Life Science Hub

This use-inspired proposal broadens the electrochemical genosensing SURF research previously funded by RI-NEST in 2024. From Fall 2025 to Summer 2026, this project will develop a pilot ‘biotechnology training pathway,’ connecting RI high school teachers/students, college mentors/students, biotechnology master’s interns at Roger Williams University, and RI Life Science Hub-associated industries to strengthen the state’s societal and economic growth. The project’s objectives are: 1. Establish a transdisciplinary training team and design the electrochemical genosensing training program, 2. Develop virtual-reality (VR) simulations and supporting tools to train instructors and their students to use electrochemical genosensing technologies, and 3. Implement and assess the electrochemical genosensing training program with high school educators and students.

Jais, Taylor, Rhode Island School of Design, “Rematerializing coastal resilience: Phragcrete as a living shoreline” 

Collaborators: Lu Yoder, Independent Machinist, Emily Vogler & Sophia Kaplan-Buciarelli, Rhode Island School of Design, Benjamin Bailey, Chloe Kahn, & Corey Watanabe, Independent Landscape Architects, BRACKISH Community Workshop, Geochemical Department @Brown, RI Department of Environmental Management

Rhode Island’s 400 miles of coastline face impending threats from projected sea level rise of up to 7.2 feet by 2100 and intensifying storm events, according to NOAA. Current concrete seawall responses, notes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, exacerbate erosion and eliminate habitat while contributing to cement’s status as the third largest industrial pollution source globally. Meanwhile, coastal wetlands that naturally buffer shorelines disappear at a rate of seven football fields per hour in the USA. This transdisciplinary project addresses these converging crises through Phragcrete: a living shoreline material that transforms the “invasive” Phragmites australis plant species into an ecologically integrative biomaterial alternative to traditional coastal armoring that supports biodiversity, ecological care, and community resilience. Having developed and tested initial Phragcrete formulations, this group is positioned to begin scaling this innovative biomaterial for field implementation. 

Mankodiya, Kunal, University of Rhode Island, “Dialysis chatbot: Empowering dialysis patients with an accessible AI chatbot for informed self-management” 

Collaborators: Ankur Shah, Brown University

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a home-based kidney failure therapy that uses the patient’s peritoneal membrane as a natural filter to remove accumulated uremic toxins and excess fluid, improving early mortality and greater quality of life while also providing significant cost savings. A significant education gap among patients, however, exists in PD management that undermines optimal access and outcomes. Currently, most dialysis education is delivered by Large Dialysis Organizations which inherently represent commercial perspectives that may influence educational content and priorities. This project will design and pilot-test an AI‑driven “Dialysis Chatbot” tailored to bridge dialysis care gaps in RI and empower patients. The chatbot will deliver clear, accessible dialysis education, including information on treatment modalities, nutrition guidance, and comorbidity management. 

Meyerson, Laura, University of Rhode Island, “The TEK path: Indigenous plantings and training at URI’s Peckham Silvopasture” 

Collaborators: Lorén Spears, Silvermoon Mars Larose, Samantha Cullen-Fry, Laurel Spears, Tomaquag Museum, Coleman Replogle, Peckham Farm, Don Ruggieri, University of Rhode Island

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) reflects generations of Indigenous stewardship rooted in reciprocal relationships with land & water. It provides critical insights into biodiversity, seasonal cycles, habitat management, & sustainable use of native species. While TEK is recognized as essential to agriculture, restoration, adaptation, & land-based education, how TEK plantings affect native biodiversity across multiple taxa is an understudied key question for ecology & agriculture. This project establishes a research partnership between URI & the Tomaquag Museum to implement a TEK-informed planting & to quantify resulting changes to biodiversity at Peckham Farm. This living & working outdoor research site & exhibit will complement the new location of the Tomaquag Museum on the URI campus & the newly established silvopasture at the farm. 

Ruggieri, Don, University of Rhode Island, “Birds, bats, and bees, oh my! Using digital technologies to quantify wildlife species diversity among regenerative agricultural sites.” 

Collaborators: Cassius & Dawn Spears, Ashawaug Farm, Coleman Replogle, Peckham Farm, Laura Meyerson, University of Rhode Island, Southern Rhode Island Conservation District

Regenerative agriculture is a sustainable farming approach that actively restores nature, and increases biodiversity and includes silvopasture, the integration of livestock and trees on the same piece of land.  This project will address the question of whether regenerative agriculture creates better wildlife habitat than traditional pasture and planting. The project will use Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) to record bird and bat calls, and camera traps to quantify faunal use at Peckham and Ashawaug farms. Such digital technologies are increasingly critical for biodiversity monitoring, especially for rare and/or cryptic species, species not commonly monitored, and for targeting multiple species (e.g., bats, birds, coyotes, deer) to capture big picture wildlife diversity. Combining camera traps and ARUs is a highly effective, minimally invasive way to quantify wildlife diversity. 

Trandafir, Simona, University of Rhode Island, “Linking Rhode Island local food supply and consumer demand: Integrating spatial food flow mapping with consumer demand survey”

Collaborators: Patrick Baur, University of Rhode Island, Natalie Meyer, University of Rhode Island, RI Department of Environmental Management

Rhode Island’s redesigned “RI Grown” local food label aims to increase consumer recognition of locally produced food and strengthen farm-to-market connections. While the state has robust datasets on agricultural production, there is currently no integrated analysis linking what and where local food is produced and retailed with consumer purchasing preferences for locally branded products. Without linking supply and demand, Rhode Island risks misallocating resources, underutilizing its agricultural capacity and missing opportunities to expand the reach and effectiveness of the RI Grown label. This project will connect two complementary research efforts, —a completed spatial food flow map and a preliminary statewide consumer preference survey, into a cohesive, policy-relevant study assessing the market potential and alignment of the RI Grown label. This work will not only guide Rhode Island’s local food strategy but also offer a model that other states can adapt as they work to build a stronger regional food system.

For more information about RI-NEST and its Seed Grant program, visit our website, sign up for our monthly newsletter,  or contact Communications & Outreach Coordinator Shaun Kirby at skirby@uri.edu.