RRF Seed Grant Awards

Eco-Sno Co-Design Project

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth DePoy (UMaine, School of Social Work and Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies) Partners: Scott (James) Hoisington (UMF, Outdoor Recreation Business Administration), Vince Cacesse (UMaine, Department of Mechanical Engineering), Stephen Gilson (UMaine School of Social Work and Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies), Len Kaye (UMaine Center on Aging) & Ryan Beaumont […]

Read more

Development of Intrac™: A Weight Bearing and Fitness Tracking System for Assistive Devices

Principal Investigator: Vincent Caccese (UMaine, Department of Mechanical Engineering) Partners: Elizabeth Depoy & Stephen Gilson (UMaine School of Social Work and Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies), Bernadette Kroon (USM Lewiston, Occupational Therapy Programs), & Ryan Beaumont (Mobility Technologies) Abstract: This project aims to develop, prototype, and test Intrac™, an automated, comprehensive weight bearing, balance and […]

Read more

Improving Maine’s Coastal Infrastructure Upgrade Decisions through High Frequency Nutrient Measurements in Casco Bay

Principal Investigator: Damian Brady (UMaine Darling Marine Center and School of Marine Sciences) Partners: Aaron Strong (UMaine, School of Marine Sciences), Karen Wilson (USM, Department of Environmental Science and Policy), Maine DEP, the Portland Water District, and Friends of Casco Bay Abstract: There is growing interest in the consequences of an increased human population on coastal water quality […]

Read more

Cellulose Nanofibers: A Novel Adjuvant for Veternary and Medical Applications

Principal Investigator: Deborah Bouchard (UMaine, Aquaculture Research Institute) Partners: Ian R. Bricknell (UMaine, School of Marine Sciences) Abstract: This proposal could lead to major advances in vaccine biotechnology and aquaculture. Many fish vaccines require powerful adjuvants to provide the degree and duration of protection required by fish farmers to protect their stocks. Most fish vaccines are currently […]

Read more

Cross-Laminated Timber Demonstration Building Design and Cost Analysis

Principal Investigator: James Beaupré (UMaine Foster Center for Innovation) Partners: Edwin Nagy (UMaine College of Engineering), Stephen Shaler (UMaine, School of Forest Resources), Ryan Wallace (USM, Maine Center of Business and Economic Research) Abstract: In an effort to accelerate the commercialization of cross-laminated timber (CLT) technologies utilizing native Maine wood species, a building design and […]

Read more

Development of Tools for Measuring the Costs of Feeding and Food Utilization in Eastern Oysters

Principal Investigator: Paul Rawson (Marine Sciences, UMaine) Partners: Carrie Byron (Marine Science, University of New England); Chris Davis (Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center) Abstract: Maine’s oyster culture industry has grown substantially since its inception four decades ago. Continued growth of the industry will rely on increasing the efficiency of production through improved and more uniform growth of […]

Read more

Development of additively manufactured highly porous implantable devices that promote post-surgical wound healing and a biological transcutaneous seal: Testing of implant material and internal pore geometry in a porcine model

Principal Investigator: James Weber (Food and Agriculture, UMaine) Partners: Ian Dickey (Eastern Maine Medical Center); David Neivandt (Chemisty & Biological Engineering, UMaine); Anne Lichtenwalner (Food and Agriculture, UMaine) Abstract: This project will complete a controlled in vivo study of University of Maine-designed medical implants in a porcine model of skin healing. If successful, the proposed study would […]

Read more

A Novel Approach to Prevent Super-chill in Atlantic Salmon

Principal Investigator: Ian Bricknell (Marine Sciences/ARI, UMaine) Partners: Deborah Bouchard (Cooperative Extension/ARI, UMaine); William Wolters (USDA National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center/NCWMA); Leighanne Hawkins (Cooke Aquaculture) Abstract: This project will investigate a novel approach to mitigating superchill in cultured Atlantic salmon. Superchill is a physiological collapse in salmon occurring during periods of extremely cold weather in Maine’s […]

Read more

Sustainable Bio-conservation Technology for Aqua-feed Production and Waste Management

Principal Investigator: Andrei Alyokhin (Biology and Ecology, UMaine) Partners: Tap Pryor (Acadia Harvest, Inc.); Michael Peterson (Mechanical Engineering, UMaine); Edward Bernard (Molecular & Biomedical Sciences, UMaine) Abstract: Maine’s aquaculture industry is the largest in the U.S. and is growing rapidly. However, it currently relies on aquafeeds made with fish meal and fish oil from wild-caught small fishes, […]

Read more

Energy Recovery Dehumidification (ERDH) for energy efficient increased drying capacity of high quality sea vegetables

Principal Investigator: Peter Van Walsum (Chemical & Biological Engineering/FBRI, UMaine) Partners: Balunkeswar Nayak (Food Science and Nutrition, UMaine); John Belding (Advanced Manufacturing Center, UMaine); Daniel Martinez (Environmental Science, USM) Abstract: Seaweed aquaculture is a global activity with an annual worth of $5.65 billion. We propose to investigate Energy Recovery DeHumidification (ERDH) as a highly energy efficient means […]

Read more