2024 Call for Seed Grant Proposals

Scientific Area: Climate Science & Climate Change

Abstract: This research proposal aims to address uncertainties surrounding the carbon sequestration potential of abandoned croplands, a strategic focus for climate change mitigation that avoids conflicts with food security and offers co-benefits such as enhanced biodiversity and climate preparedness. We propose to map cropland abandonment globally and quantify aboveground biomass and soil carbon accumulation under different restoration scenarios (active vs passive restoration). Using a combination of remote sensing, GIS mapping, and meta-analysis techniques, we will identify regions with the highest carbon sequestration potential and assess the impacts of various factors on carbon accumulation rates. The outcomes of this research will contribute to the development of evidence-based policies and strategies for climate change mitigation and land management, highlighting the most effective restoration approaches to maximize carbon sequestration, biodiversity enhancement, and climate preparedness.

MIT PI:
Dara Enkekhabi, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

MIT Co-PI:
Dr. Daniel Short Gianotti, Research Scientists, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

PT PI:
Dr. Isabel Franco Trigo, Instituto Portugues do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA)

Scientific Area: Digital Transformation in Manufacturing

Abstract: Additive manufacturing is a process for fabricating 3D parts from a digital model. For polymers, complex parts are fabricated by Fused Deposition Modeling based on a digital specification of the desired form. However, the material properties are not well-controlled. Semicrystalline polymers are thus particularly difficult to process. To fabricate useful products, it is necessary to understand how the rheology and crystallization kinetics depend on molecular structure and are coupled during processing. In collaboration with experimental efforts of the INOV-AM and Bioshoes4ALL programs to characterize the evolution of semicrystalline morphology in situ, we will develop a state-of-the-art multiscale model that describes the coupling of the polymer rheology to flow-induced crystallization along the print road and predicts the development of semicrystalline morphology as a function of material and process parameters. Use of the model will enable better control of material properties and facilitate the development of new feedstocks and model-based control systems.

MIT PI:
Gregory C Rutledge, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering

PT PIs:
INOV-AM
Prof. Pedro. Martinho, Professor of Engineering, School of Technology and Management, member of CDRSP, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria

Bioshoes4All
Prof. Joao Matias, Adjunct Professor of Engineering, School of Technology and Management, member of CDRSP, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria

Prof. Geoffrey R. Mitchell, Researcher, Centre for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (CDRSP-IPLEIRIA)

Prof. Paula Pascoal-Faria, Professor of Mathematics, School of Technology and Management, member of CDRSP, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria

Scientific Area: Earth Systems: Oceans to Near Space

Abstract: There are a variety of high-impact opportunities in Portugal to leverage advanced membrane technologies for desalination, ion recovery, and power generation. Unfortunately, current membrane materials lack the structural and functional-group characteristics needed to enable these technologies, so this proposal aims to infuse new materials concepts into membrane technology to address the water–mineral–energy nexus. The two research teams are uniquely positioned for this work. The Smith lab is a world leader in membrane materials but has not focused significant prior effort on aqueous separations. In contrast, the Crespo group has a longstanding effort in aqueous separations for desalination, lithium recovery, and energy generation. Taken together, this proposal will leverage a unique series of membrane materials developed by the Smith lab to address major application challenges in water, minerals, and energy through a robust collaboration and exchange with the Crespo group.

MIT PI:
Zachary P. Smith, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering

PT PI:
Prof. João Crespo, Full Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, NOVA University Lisbon

Scientific Area: Earth Systems: Oceans to Near Space

Abstract: Building on their complementary expertise and capabilities, the MIT META Lab and the Portuguese Fibrenamics team will develop degradation-resistant polyolefin-algae composite fibers and fabrics. These composite textiles will be fabricated via a combination of melt-, wet-, and electrospinning as well as knitting, and will provide passive cooling, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, radiation shielding, and carbon dioxide sequestering properties. The experimental development process will be guided and aided by the ab-initio and thermo-mechanical modeling as well as AI-enabled optimization algorithms. The new technology will help to address microplastic pollution at its source and will open many applications in healthcare, aero-space, high-performance athletics, and consumer textiles. The project will complement and support the ongoing “Pacto Bioeconomia Azul” Project led by the Fibrenamics team and funded via the EU Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PRR) program, which aims to develop new products, processes, and services resulting from incorporation of blue bioeconomy products into value chains.

MIT PI:
Svetlana Boriskina, Principal Research Scientist, Department of Mechanical Engineering

PT PI:
Raul Fangueiro, President of the Board Fibrenamics, Universidade do Minho

Scientific Area: Sustainable Cities

Abstract: The embodied carbon in concrete building construction is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions; its primary ingredients of cement and steel produce 2.7 GT of CO2e emissions annually (7% of total global emissions) [1] and are challenging to decarbonize on the supply side. In response, a major pathway to carbon mitigation in buildings is demand-side reduction: by building more efficiently and intelligently, it is possible to provide new construction for substantially less emissions than business-as-usual approaches. In previous work by the PI and others, techniques to minimize emissions through optimization of reinforced concrete structures are shown to save up to 80% of carbon compared to typical construction methods [2]. Existing work has mainly focused on reducing the volume of concrete (and thereby cement) through surface articulation and shaping of structural elements to remove unnecessary material, and on cost-effective means of creating formwork for complex, shape-optimized building components through techniques such as additive manufacturing [3]. A remaining key challenge lies in the reinforcement used to give tensile resistance to concrete structures, almost always achieved through cold-bent steel reinforcing bars (rebars). While rebar is small compared to concrete by volume, its emissions footprint is substantial, often contributing half or more of the embodied carbon of typical reinforced concrete construction. Furthermore, steel rebar requires excess concrete to protect it against corrosion (e.g. 5cm or more of required concrete “clear cover”), which is nonstructural but contributes substantial emissions. Finally, the construction of rebar cages (or networks) for minimal and complex concrete forms is cumbersome, time-consuming, and suffers from low precision. This project seeks to investigate an alternative approach to low-carbon reinforcement for structural concrete, based on flexible fiber tensile systems that can be precisely manufactured, prestressed, and incorporated into shape-optimized precast concrete structural components. Using existing expertise from MIT in reinforced concrete optimization and tensile network simulation, and from the University of Minho’s Fibrenamics group in fiber science and materials engineering, the interdisciplinary team will collaborate to develop and test this alternative construction approach, and to benchmark its environmental performance and cost compared to typical steel-reinforced concrete.

MIT PI:
Caitlin Mueller, Associate Professor, Departments of Architecture and Civil and Environmental Engineering

PT PI:
Raul Fangueiro, Professor, University of Minho and President of the Board, FIBRENAMICS – Institute of Innovation in Fiberbased Materials and Composites

Scientific Area: Quantum and Nano Sciences

Abstract: Quantum spin Hall effect (QSHE) a fascinating topological phenomenon that could happen when electrons are confined in two-dimension (2D). It plays an important role in understanding fundamental topological physics principle in materials, as well as in engineering low-power electronic and quantum computation device applications.

In this project, we will attempt to realize QSHE in heterostructures formed by atomically thin 2D materials. We will employ electron transport measurements at cryogenic temperatures and search for the quantized conductance as evidence of QSHE. We will get theory support from Dr. Joaquín Fernández-Rossier at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Portugal, to design experiments and understand the data obtained. In addition, the experimental group of Sascha Sadewasser will contribute with the growth of as a substrate materials using molecular beam epitax. We will arrange exchanges of staff and students to facilitate realizing the goal of this project. 

Beginning with this seed project, we expect to establish a long-term collaboration to generate impacts in higher-education, fundamental physic research, and industrial application in MIT and in Portugal.

MIT PI:
Long Ju, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics

PT PIs:
Joaquín Fernández-Rossier, International Iberian
Nanotechnology Laboratory, group leader of Theory of Quantum Nanostructures and tenured staff researcher, Portugal

Sascha Sadewasser, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Leader of the Laboratory for Nanostructured Solar Cells

Scientific Area: Artificial Intelligence, Energy-efficient computing

Abstract: The goal of this project is to leverage ionic computing as a highly promising and novel opportunity to enable the needed, revolutionary improvements in computing energy efficiency. If current trends continue, the global power requirements for computing will reach global primary power production capacity by 2040. The goal for the field at present is to improve the energy efficiency of computing by more than a million fold. This project will advance a novel ionic computing device (sketched below), that we call Electrochemical Ionic Synapse (EIS), that is inspired from how our biological synapses function. In order to reduce the operating voltage while operating at nano-second speed regime, we will explore promising materials based on CeO2. Use of a good proton conductor (nano-porous CeO2 electrolyte), together with a doped CeO2 channel (Pr-doped CeO2 in particular) will enable a highquality interface with low resistance to proton transfer. High proton conductivity of the electrolyte and low interface resistance promise to improve the energy efficiency as well as reduce the operating voltage and improve the endurance of the EIS devices. Ultimately, this project will advance a novel device technology, to reduce the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of computing, while advancing the abilities of artificial intelligence hardware.

MIT PI:
Bilge Yildiz, Professor, Departments of Nuclear Science and Engineering

PT PI:
José P. B. Silva, Assistant Researcher at CF-UM-UP, Portugal

Scientific Area: Biotechnology and Health Applications

Abstract: Understanding the biophysical properties of lipids is vital for advancing molecular medicine. Lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs), used in COVID-19 vaccines, exemplify this potential. However, broader use of LNPs for gene therapy and drug-delivery is hindered by chemical stability and inefficient drug-release. This research addresses these challenges through two objectives. AIM-1 characterizes the supramolecular organization of phosphatidylinositol (PI) in lipid membranes. Using Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (ssNMR), we will elucidate PI’s effects in membrane destabilization to enhance drug-delivery efficiency. AIM-2 explores the unique properties of extremophile Archaea lipids for future medical and biotechnological innovations. Lipids from Sulfolobus species, stable under extreme conditions from the volcanic Azores terrain, will be analyzed using ssNMR to investigate their intriguing membrane properties. Our integrated approach will uncover novel lipid biophysics for next-generation LNPs. Additionally, exploring new extremophile organisms creates opportunities for biotechnology and bioremediation applications, and provides clues into how life may exist on other planets.

MIT PI:
Joao Medeiros Silva, Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Chemistry

MIT Co-PI:
Mei Hong, Full Professor, Department of Chemistry, MIT

PT PIs:
Nelson Jose Simoes, Full Professor, Faculty of Sciences and
Technology, University of the Azores

Duarte Nuno Toubarro, Assistant Professor, Biotechnology
Center of Azores, University of the Azores

Scientific Area: Earth Systems: Oceans to Near Space

Abstract: Long endurance autonomous ocean monitoring systems such as profiling floats and ocean gliders, which can measure at multiple depths, use buoyancy engines to drive them. These engines are typically based on changes in flotation volume driven by hydraulic pumps which are, in turn, powered by lithium batteries. These systems are highly efficient but are severely limited by the storage capacity of the batteries. Because of this, ocean monitoring systems often require surface support ships costing upwards of $75,000/day. The costs of these ships are so prohibitive that many ocean monitoring systems, though very expensive themselves, are often designed to be disposable as it is cheaper to send them on one-way missions rather than try to recover them. Thus, even small improvements in operational life of these systems have an enormous impact on our ability to monitor the ocean.

The current proposal aims to extend typical operational life by a factor of three by developing a new type of buoyancy engine that relies on an extremely dense aluminum-based energy storage method developed here at MIT.

MIT PI:
Douglas P. Hart, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering

PT PI:
Joao Sousa Tasso, FEUP UPorto
EU Horizon program funded research, Diversea project and
Center for Atlantic operations, Portuguese Recovery and Resilience
Funds.