People

Principal Investigator

Brennan T. Phillips, PhD (Google Scholar)

Assistant Professor in Ocean Engineering

Graduate School of Oceanography (Limited Joint Appointment)

Brennan Phillips specializes in the development and application of novel instrumentation for oceanographic research. His current research topics include low-light imaging of deep-sea biology and bioluminescence, soft robotic manipulators, hydraulic systems, distributed sensing, and low-cost, lightweight methods for ocean exploration. Dr. Phillips is a National Geographic Explorer and has participated in and/or lead dozens of oceanographic research expeditions around the world.

Dr. Phillips received his BS in Ocean Engineering from URI, an MS in Oceanography from the University of Connecticut, and a PhD in Oceanography from URI/GSO. Prior to joining the faculty at URI, Dr. Phillips served as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Harvard Microrobotics Laboratory and was the lead ROV engineer/pilot for Dr. Robert Ballard. He is a passionate teacher and enjoys surfing, running, and spending time with his family.

Graduate Students

Rendhy Moreno Sapiie

Rendhy Sapiie received his BS in Oceanography from Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, completed his MS in Ocean Engineering (May 2018) and is continuing for a PhD with specialization in Acoustics and Ocean Robotics and Instrumentation. Currently, his research is analyzing sound emitted from underwater platforms. He is an outdoor enthusiast; from mountaineering to SCUBA diving.

Russell Shomberg

Russ received his Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Boston University. His research focuses on applications for low power deep sea robotics and sensors. He is currently working on a water based hydraulic engine for soft robotic manipulators.

Alexander Yin

Alex received his BS in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Material Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and his MS in Mechanical Engineering with a focus in Robotics at Boston University. He is currently working towards his PhD in Ocean Engineering with a focus on Ocean Robotics and Instrumentation. His research focus is primarily focused on Soft Robotic Actuators and Bio-inspired design. His aim is to gain a deeper understanding of nature and implement that knowledge through robots.

Johann Becker

Johann Becker completed his degrees in Ocean Engineering and Marine Biology in May 2018 and is now an MS student in Ocean Engineering. His interests lie in the development and utilization of deep sea technologies to better understand ocean communities and their interactions with the environment. With his free time, Johann enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking, rock climbing and scuba diving.

Michael Daeffler

Mike received his Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the US Coast Guard Academy and his Masters’ in Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan. His interests are in low cost marine robotic solutions and is currently focusing on soft robotic actuator design and control. Mike is a licensed Professional Engineer. He enjoys spending time with his family and exploring the outdoors.

Breanna Motsenbocker

Breanna received her BS in Environmental and Ecological Engineering from Purdue University. She is currently working towards her MS in Ocean Engineering. Her research focuses on underwater imaging systems for deep sea application. In her free time she enjoys scuba diving and running.

Alexandra Runyan (Google Scholar)

Alexa received her BS in Marine Science with a minor in Physics and a certificate in Data Science from the University of Hawai’i at Hilo. Now an MS student in Ocean Engineering, she is interested in the development of novel technologies for deep-sea exploration to satisfy her curiosity of the unknown. In her free time, Alexa connects with nature through scuba diving, hiking, and outdoor yoga.

Jason Noel

Jason earned his BS in Ocean Engineering and Minor in Oceanography in 2022, and is now an MS student. His research is focused on the fiber optic reel system. Outside of the lab he likes fishing and woodworking.

Christine de Silva

Christine de Silva is a Blue MBA student at URI. She has spent the majority of her recent years studying how the various shark species of the Northwest Atlantic influence local food webs. Christine believes science is meant for the public and brings her business expertise, art, and passion for the ocean together to spread science to a wider audience.

Undergraduates

Brian Leong

Brian is earning his BS in Ocean Engineering (class of ’24) and is from Darmouth, MA. He handles a lot of the day-to-day activities in the lab and is also working on the fiber optic reel system.

Sarah Mayer

Sarah is earning her BS in Ocean Engineering on the Robotics Track, with minors in Robotics and Math (class of ‘24). She is from East Lyme, CT. She works with the DEEPi camera and also received a 2023 URI undergraduate research grant to design a sampling system to use with the fiber optic reel system. The goal is to examine sediment samples from various bodies of water for microplastics, utilizing low cost technology.

Lab Alumni

Nicholas P. Chaloux

Nick is from Newtown, Connecticut majoring in Ocean Engineering, and graduated with a BS in OCE in 2019 and an MS in OCE in 2022. He’s very interested in the development of novel deep sea technologies and their integration into the world of underwater robotics. With his free time he loves to sail and play ice hockey.

Maddy Kistler

Maddy completed a double major in Ocean Engineering and Biological Sciences in 2022, and is now in a PhD program at Northeastern University. Her research focuses on designing bio-inspired deep sea pressure vessels. She has a passion for teaching and learning about invertebrates and their ecology. In her free time, Maddy enjoys reading and hiking.

Karla Haiat

Karla is from Mexico City and received her Dual BS in Ocean Engineering and Marine Biology in May 2020. Her interests include integrating technology into the fields of ocean sciences, and the development of innovative instrumentation for oceanographic and ocean exploration research. Karla was a 2019 Summer Intern working in the Sharkcam lab at WHOI, was a 2018 Summer Engineering Intern at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), and was a summer intern at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution.