Research & Publications

URIL GITHUB REPOSITORY

 

Research Themes:

  • Deep-sea biology, sensing and exploration, which motivates all of our research
  • Lightweight, low-cost technology to reduce operational complexity, improve efficiency of innovation, and expand global capacity
  • Distributed fiber optic sensing, for high spatiotemporal resolution observations of temperature and acoustics
  • Low-light imaging, to reduce biological disturbance to and to observe bioluminescence
  • Manipulator and sampling systems, to make delicate and novel biological collections

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publications (lab members in bold)

  • Motsenbocker, B. E.; Noyes, T.J.; Runyan, A.T.; Shomberg, R.; Phillips, B.T.  PresTo: A liquid-filled camera for low-cost imaging in the deep sea.  (2024) Deep-Sea Research I, V.206 104263.  DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr.2024.104263.
  • Burns, J.; Becker, K.; Casagrande, D.; Daniels, J.; Roberts, P.; Orenstein, E.; Vogt, D.; Teo, Z.E.; Wood, R.; Yin, A.; Baptiste, G.; Gruber, D.; Katija, K.; Wood, R.; Phillips, B.T. “An in situ digital synthesis strategy for the discovery and description of ocean life.” (2024) Science Advances, 10:3 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj4960
  • Karp, M.; Edie, S.; Phillips, B. “Investigations into 3D-printed nautiloid-inspired pressure housings.” (2023) Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, doi: 10.1088/1748-3190/acfeb8
  • Claassens, L.; Phillips, B.; Ebert, D.A.; Delaney, D.; Henning, B.; Nestor, V.; Iliau, A.; Giddens, J. “First records of a sleeper shark Somniosus sp. in the Western Tropical Pacific.” (2023) Journal of Fish Biology.DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15487
  • Yin, A.; Shomberg, R.; Noel, J.; Daeffler, M.; Licht, S.; Phillips, B. “Rapid design and production of soft actuators using dynamic modeling and additive manufacturing for underwater soft actuators.” (2023) IEEE American Control Conference, San Diego, CA May 31-June 2 2023.
  • Smith, L.M., Cimoli, L., LaScala-Gruenewald, D., Pachiadaki, M., Phillips, B., Pillar, H., Stopa, J.E., Baumann-Pickering, S., Beaulieu, S.E., Bell, K.L., Harden-Davies, H., Gjerde, K.M., Heimbach, P., Howe, B., Janssen, F., Levin, L.A., Ruhl, H.A., Soule, A., Stocks, K., Vardaro, M.F., Wright, D.J. The Deep Ocean Observing Strategy: Addressing Global Challenges in the Deep Sea Through Collaboration. (2022) Marine Technology Society Journal, 56(3), pp.50-66. https://doi.org/10.4031/MTSJ.56.3.11
  • Capalbo, C.; Tomaino, D.; Bruno, F.; Rizzo, D.; Phillips, B.; Licht, S. “A soft robotic gripper with neutrally buoyant jamming pads for gentle yet secure grasping of underwater objects.” (2022) IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, doi: 10.1109/JOE.2022.3156746.
  • Amon, D.J.; Rotjan, R. D.; Kennedy, B.R.C.; Alleng, G.; Anta, R.; Aram, E.; Gjerde, K.; Gobin, J.; Edwards, T.; Ford-Creary, M.; Henderson, L.; Hinds, R.; Hope, A.; Phillips, B.; Khan Ali, R.; Lanser, S.; Lewis, K.; Lochan, H.; MacLean, S.; Mwemwenikarawa, N.; Rimon, B.; Sarjursingh, S.; Tekiau, A.; Teemari, T.; Turchik, A.; Vallès, H.; Waysang, K.; Bell, K.L.C. “My Deep Sea, My Backyard: A pilot study to build capacity for global deep-ocean exploration and research.” (2022) Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. B. V.377:1854.  https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2021.0121
  • Sparks, J.S.; Chaloux, N.; Schelly, R.C.; Gruber, D.F.; Sparks, T.S; Phillips, B.T. “Description of a New Species of Rariphotic Parapercis (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from the Solomon Islands.” (2021) American Museum Novitates 3978, 1-12.  https://doi.org/10.1206/3978.1
  • Krechmer, J.; Phillips, B.; Chaloux, N.; Shomberg, R.; Daube, C.; Manchanda, G.; Murray, S.; McCarthy, A.; Fonseca, R.; Thakkar, J.; Loose, B.; Herndon, S.; Jayne, J.; Worsnop, D.; Canagaranta, M. “Chemical emissions from cured and uncured 3D-printed ventilator patient circuit medical parts.”  ( 2021) ACS Omega, 6, 30726-30733
  • Phillips, B.T; Chaloux, N.; Shomberg, R.; Muñoz-Soto, A.; Owens, J. “The Fiber Optic Reel System: A compact deployment solution for tethered live-telemetry deep-sea robots and sensors.” (2021) MDPI Sensors, 21(7), 2526
  • Chaloux, N.; Phillips, B.T.; Gruber, D.F; Schelly, R.C.; Sparks, J.S. (2021) “A novel fish sampling system for ROVs.” Deep-Sea Research I  v. 167.
  • Phillips, B.T. (2020) “New Techniques in Applying Additive Manufacturing to Deep-Sea Ocean Exploration.” (Invited Editorial) The Journal of Ocean Technology 15:1
  • Phillips, B.T.; Allder, J.; Bolan, G.; Nagle, R.S.; Redington, A.; Hellebrekers, T.; Borden, J.; Pawlenko, N.; Licht, S. “Additive manufacturing aboard a moving vessel at sea using passively stabilized stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing.” (2020) Additive Manufacturing, 31:100969
  • Phillips, B.T.; Licht, S.; Haiat, K.; Bonney, J.; Allder, J.; Chaloux, N.; Shomberg, R.; Noyes, T.  “DEEPi: a miniaturized, robust, and economical camera for deep-sea exploration.”  (2019) Deep-Sea Research I, 153:103-106.
  • Gruber, D.F.; Phillips, B.T.; O’Brien, R.; Boominathan, V.; Veeraraghavan, A.; Vasan, G.; O’Brien, P.; Pieribone, V.; Sparks, J. “Bioluminescent flashes drive nighttime schooling behavior and synchronized swimming dynamics in flashlight fish.” (2019) PLoS ONE 14(8):e0219852  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219852
  • Phillips, B.T.; Shipley, O.N.; Halvorsen, J.; Sternlicht, J.K.; Gallagher, A.J. (2019) “First in situ observations of the sharpnose sevengill shark (Heptranchias perlo), from the Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas.” J. Ocean Science Foundation 32:17-22.
  • Phillips, B.T.; Becker, K.P.; Kurumaya, S.; Galloway, K.C.; Whittredge, G.; Vogt, D.; Teeple, C.; Rosen, M.H.; Pieribone, V.A.; Gruber, D.F.; Wood, R.J. (2018) “A dexterous, glove-based teleoperable low-power soft robotic arm for delicate deep-sea biological exploration.” Scientific Reports 8:14779.
  • Vogt, D.M.; Becker, K.P.; Phillips, B.T.; Graule, M.A.; Rotjan, R.D.; Shank, T.M.; Cordes, E.E.; Wood, R.J.; Gruber, D.F. (2018) “Shipboard design and fabrication of custom 3D-printed soft robotic manipulators for the investigation of delicate deep-sea organisms.” PLOS One, 0200386.
  • Teoh, Z.E.; Phillips, B.T.; Becker, K.P.; Weaver, J.; Gruber, D.; Hoberman, C.; Whittredge, G.; Wood, R. (2018) “Rotary-actuated folding polyhedrons for midwater sampling.” Science Robotics, Vol. 3, Issue 20, eaat5276. DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.aat5276
  • Gruber, D.F.; Phillips, B.T.; Marsh, L.; Sparks, J.S. (2018) In situ observations of the meso-bathypelagic scyphozoan, Deepstaria enigmatica (Semaeostomeae: Ulmaridae). American Museum Novitates, n.3900. http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1206/3900.1
  • Carey, S.; Wishner, K.; Siebe, C.; Kelley, K.; Phillips, B.; Roman, C.; Lubetkin, M.; Dominguez, E.M. (2018) Exploring and mapping the Revillagigedo Archipelago World Heritage Site in Mexico. In New Frontiers in Ocean Exploration. Editors: Raineault, N.; Flanders, J.; Bowman, A. Oceanography 31:1. doi:10.5670/oceanog.2018.supplement.01
  • Salinas de Leon, P.; Phillips, B.T.; Ebert, D.A., Shivji, M.; Cerutti-Pereyra, F.; Ruck, C.; Fisher, C.; Marsh, L. (2018) Deep-sea hydrothermal vents as natural egg-case incubators at the Galapagos Rift. Scientific Reports 8:1788. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-20046-4
  • Kurumaya, S.; Phillips, B.T.; Becker, K.P.; Rosen, M.H.; Gruber, D.F.; Galloway, K.C.; Suzumori, K.; Wood, R.J. (2018) A modular soft robotic wrist for underwater manipulation. Soft Robotics, April 2018 issue.
  • Phillips, B.T.; Gruber, D.F., Vasan, G., Pieribone, V.A., Sparks, J.S., Roman, C.N. (2016) “First evidence of bioluminescence on a ‘black smoker’ hydrothermal vent” Oceanography, 29:2 doi:10.5670/oceanog.2016.27
  • Phillips, B.T.; Dunbabin, M.; Henning, B.; Howell, C.; DeCiccio, A.; Flinders, A.F.; Kelley, K.A.; Scott, J.J., Albert, S.; Carey, S.; Tsdadok, R.; Grinham, A. “Exploring the ‘Sharkcano’: Biogeochemical observations of the Kavachi submarine volcano (Solomon Islands.” Oceanography 29:4 doi: 10.5670/oceanog.2016.85
  • Phillips, B.T. “Beyond the vent: new perspectives on hydrothermal plumes and pelagic biology.” Deep-Sea Research II doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2016.10.005
  • Phillips, B.T., Gruber, D.F., Vasan, G., Roman, C.N., Pieribone, V., Sparks, J.S. (2016) “Observations of in situ deep-sea marine bioluminescence with a high-speed, high resolution sCMOS camera.” Deep-Sea Research I, 111. 102-109 doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2016.02.012 ,*cover image*
  • Galloway, K.C.; Becker, K.; Phillips, B.T.; Kirby, J.; Licht, S.; Tchernov, D.; Wood, R.J.; Gruber, D.F. (2016) “Soft robotic grippers for biological sampling on deep reefs.” Soft Robotics, 3:1 doi:10.1089/soro.2015.0019 ,*cover image*
  • Carey, S., Ballard, R., Bell, K. L., Bell, R. J., Connally, P., Dondin, F., Fuller, S., Gonbin, J., Miloslavish, P., Phillips, B.T., Roman, C., Seibel, B., Siu, N., Smart, C. (2014). Cold Seeps associated with a submarine debris avalanche deposit at Kick’em jenny volcano, Grenada (Lesser Antilles). Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2014.08.002
  • Carey, S., Bell, K. L., Sparks, S., Stinton, A., Ausubel, J., Phillips, B. T., … & Rodrigue, K. “Impact of Volcanic Eruptions on the Seafloor Around Montserrat, West Indies.” In Bell, K.L.C., M.L. Brennan, and N.A. Raineault, eds. 2014. New frontiers in ocean exploration: The E/V Nautilus 2013 Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean field season. Oceanography 27(1), supplement.
  • Dover, C.V.; Bell, K.L.C.; Marsh, L.; German, C.; John, B.; Cheadle, M.; Vecchione, M.; Amon, D.; Ball, B.; Copley, J.; Smart, C.; Fuller, S.A.; Phillips, B.T.; Cantner, L.; Auscavitch, S.; Ballard, R.D. (2014) “Exploration of the Mid-Cayman Rise”, in Bell, K.L.C., M.L. Brennan, and N.A. Raineault, eds. 2014. New frontiers in ocean exploration: The E/V Nautilus 2013 Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean field season. Oceanography 27(1), supplement.
  • Phillips, B.T.; Newman, J.; Gregory, T.S. (2011) “E/V Nautilus Vehicles”, in Bell, K.L.C., and S.A. Fuller, eds. 2011. New Frontiers in Ocean Exploration: The E/V Nautilus 2010 Field Season. Oceanography 24(1), supplement.
  • Phillips, B.T. (2012). “Practical Techniques to Increase Fiber-Optic Performance.” (Editorial) Sea Technology, 53(7), 7-7.
  • Phillips, B.T.; Kremer, P.; Madin, L.P. (2009) “The contribution of Salpa thompsoni to vertical flux in the Southern Ocean.” Marine Biology 156:455–467 doi:10.1007/s00227-008-1099-4
  • Phillips, B.T. and Bonavenia, A.J. “An MTS Student Chapter Hosting a High School ROV Competition: A Model for Technology Education” Proceedings of The Marine Technology Society Oceans Meeting, 2005. doi:10.1109/OCEANS.2005.1639857

Conference Presentations & Posters:

  • Yin, A.; Shomberg, R.; Noel, J.; Daeffler, M.; Licht, S.; Phillips, B. “Rapid design and production of soft actuators using dynamic modeling and additive manufacturing for underwater soft actuators.” (2023) IEEE American Control Conference, San Diego, CA May 31-June 2 2023.
  • Becker, J.; Beinart, R.; Soule, A.; Phillips, B. “High Spatiotemporal Observations of Temperature Variability at a Diffuse-Flow Hydrothermal Vent Field using Fiber Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing” AGU Annual Meeting, December 2022, Oral Presentation
  • Phillips, B.T.; Teoh, Z.E.; Becker, K.P.; Whittredge, G.; Weaver, J.; Hoberman, C.; Gruber, D.; Wood, R.J. “The RAD Sampler: Rotary-actuated folding polyhedrons for midwater investigation of delicate marine organisms.” AGU/ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting, February 2020, oral presentation.
  • Bell, K.C.L; Rotjan, R.; Amon, D.; Kennedy, B.; Phillips, B.; Turchik, A.  “My Deep Sea, My Backyard: building deep sea capacity in big ocean developing states.” Poster, AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting, February 2020.
  • Phillips, B.T.; Salinas-de-Leon, P.; Ebert, D.A., Shivji, M.; Cerutti-Pereyra, F.; Ruck, C.; Fisher, C.; Marsh, L.  “Deep-sea hydrothermal vents as natural egg-case incubators at the Galapagos Rift.” Deep Sea Biology Meeting 2018, oral presentation.
  • Phillips, B.T.; Salinas-de-Leon, P.; Ebert, D.A., Shivji, M.; Cerutti-Pereyra, F.; Ruck, C.; Fisher, C.; Marsh, L.  “Deep-sea hydrothermal vents as natural egg-case incubators at the Galapagos Rift.” Deep Sea Biology Meeting 2018, oral presentation.
  • Sasson, K.H.; Phillips, B.T.; Carey, S.; Kelley, K.; Roman, C.N.; Siebe, C.; Domínguez, E.M.; Marsh, L.; Wishner, K.F. “Oxygen minimum zones and vertical zonation of benthic fauna in the Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico.” Deep Sea Biology Meeting 2018, poster.
  • Phillips, B.T.; Vogt, D.; Whittredge, G.; Kurumaya, S.; Becker, K.P.; Teeple, C.; Galloway, K.C.; Gruber, D.F.; Wood, R.J. “A soft robotic manipulator system for deep-sea biological sampling.” New England Manipulation Symposium, June 9, 2017; Northeastern University, Boston, MA (Oral presentation).
  • Phillips, B.T.; Vasan, G.; Pieribone, V.; Sparks, J.; Berkenpas, E.; Henning, B.; Turchick, A.; Wood, R.; Gruber, D. “Advancements in observing light-stimulated bioluminescence in the deep-sea water column.” ASLO 2017 Aquatic Sciences Meeting, February 2017 (Oral presentation).
  • Phillips, B.T.; Galloway, K.C.; Becker, K.P.; Wood, R.J.; Gruber, D.F. “Soft robotic grippers: a new technology for delicate sampling of deep-sea coral reefs.” 6th International Symposium on Deep-Sea Corals, September 2016. Oral Presentation.
  • Phillips, B.T. “Lightweight deep-sea exploration in the Solomon Islands.” National Geographic Explorers Symposium 2016. (Invited speaker).
  • Phillips, B.T. “Hydrothermal plumes and deep-sea pelagic biology: insights, challenges, and a new bioluminescence-based method for observing zooplankton distribution” Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Biology Seminar, February 2016. (Invited speaker)
  • Phillips, B.T. “Hydrothermal plume biology: assimilating 30 years of independent observations of microbiology, zooplankton, and tertiary consumers associated with hydrothermal plumes.” VentBase 2016 Workshop, Horta, Portugal, Oral presentation.
  • Phillips, B.T.; Gruber, D.F.; Vasan, G.; Roman, C.N.; Pieribone, V.A. “Turn up the lights: Deep-sea in situ application of a high-speed, high-resolution sCMOS camera to observe marine bioluminescence.” AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting 2016, Oral presentation.
  • Phillips, B.T.; Albert, S.; Carey, S.; DeCiccio, A.; Dunbabin, M.; Flinders, A.F.; Grinham, A.R.; Henning, B.; Howell, C.; Kelley, K.A.; Scott, J.J. “Exploring the ‘Sharkcano’: Biogeochemical observations of the Kavachi submarine volcano (Solomon Islands) using simple, cost-effective methods.” AGU Fall Meeting 2015, Poster.
  • Phillips, B.T. “Deep-sea mining and its potential impact on the biology of hydrothermal and volcanic plumes” Deep-Sea Biology Symposium 2015, Oral presentation.
  • Phillips, B.T. “Science and Its Publics”, Harvard University: Science, Technology and Society Workshop, April 2015 (Invited panelist)
  • Kremer, P; Harbou, L v; Phillips, B.T.; Madin, L.P. “Estimating grazing rates for the salp Salpa thompsoni.” AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting 2010, Oral presentation.
  • Phillips, B.T. and Kremer, P. (2007) “The contribution of salps to vertical flux in the Southern Ocean.” ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting 2007, Oral presentation.
  • Phillips, B.T.; Kremer, P.; Madin, L.P.; Godfrey, J.; Horgan, E. (2005) “Blue-Water Diving for Salps in the Southern Ocean.” AAUS Scientific Diving Conference, student poster and oral presentation.