A miniature ocean-sensing tag developed by University of Connecticut researchers and their collaborators could make it easier to monitor ocean conditions using small fish and other mobile platforms. The work, led by Xueju “Sophie” Wang, an associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, was published in Science Advances. 

The paper, “A pressure-tolerant, miniature ocean-sensing tag with acoustic telemetry for real-time CTD monitoring,” describes a soft, lightweight system that measures ocean conditions and transmits data underwater using sound. The tag reduces the size and weight of conventional ocean-sensing devices by two orders of magnitude and could offer a lower-cost alternative. UConn MSE PhD student Shao-Hao Lu is the paper’s first author. The PNNL collaborators include Jun Lu, Aljon Salalila, and Zhiqun Daniel Deng, who co-led the study with Wang. 

 

“[Marine biologists] are pretty interested in the technology because of its potential low cost and also its small lightweight feature for integration with ocean animals,” Wang said. “I believe it’ll be … for the benefit of the field.” 

 

Lower costs could make ocean monitoring more accessible. Conventional systems can cost thousands of dollars, Wang said, while her team’s tag could potentially bring that cost down to a few hundred dollars. She is also working with the patent office to explore commercialization. 

 

Many conventional ocean sensors rely on heavy metal pressure housings, often made of titanium, to withstand the harsh underwater environment. Those housings add weight and cost and can limit use on smaller marine animals. The new tag uses a soft, flexible casing and weighs just 4.90 grams, including its adjustable watch band. The team demonstrated attachment to a juvenile Chinook salmon, for which the tag represented 1.81% of body weight—below the commonly used 2% guideline for tag burden.

 The tag measures conductivity, temperature, and depth, collectively known as CTD. Conductivity helps determine seawater salinity, while pressure indicates depth. Together, these measurements provide essential information for understanding ocean conditions, modeling currents and supporting maritime operations, Wang said. 

The system combines millimeter-scale sensors with a battery-powered printed circuit board and an acoustic transducer in a soft elastomer casing. Some earlier flexible sensing systems used Bluetooth, whose signals weaken rapidly underwater and require an animal to surface for data transmission. This tag instead sends data through sound waves, allowing measurements to reach underwater receivers while the tag remains submerged. 

 

The researchers tested the sensors in artificial seawater under repeated bending, changing pressure, and prolonged high-pressure conditions. In the laboratory, the sensors operated at pressures equivalent to a depth of approximately 1,500 meters. In separate field trials in the Salish Sea, tags mounted on a metal pole recorded ocean conditions and transmitted measurements to underwater receivers. Their readings closely matched those from a commercial CTD instrument. Wang credits UConn’s Institute of Materials Science (IMS) with providing a convenient setting for the work. 

 

 “Here at IMS, all the facilities are in the same building, which is really convenient for research,” Wang said. 

 

The research grew out of Wang’s first project as a faculty member at UConn, following a proposal to the Office of Naval Research (ONR). She has received several ONR grants to support the work over the past few years. The project reflects her group’s broader focus on soft materials and flexible electronics for ocean and medical applications. 

 

“After I came to UConn, I basically established my group in the field of soft materials, flexible electronics, for ocean and medical applications,” she said. “This soft ocean sensor can be integrated with many platforms like ocean animals, soft robotics, profilers and health monitoring”. 

 

The potential applications extend beyond fish tagging. By combining soft sensors with underwater acoustic communication, the platform could support ocean monitoring through animal-borne tags, soft robots, and other compact underwater systems. 

Smoke from distant forest fires blows into our communities for days at a time. Most neighbors have multiple gas-powered lawn care products that pollute at a higher rate than cars. The quality across the nation has struggled as 44% of Americans live in places with failing grades for unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the “State of the Air” report published by the American Lung Association. Under the guidance of IMS Polymer Faculty member Douglas Adamson, students from his lab have created AeroGraphiX, a company developing high-tech High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters.

AeroGraphiX uses materials with properties unique to the industry. The filter fibers have a graphene coating which makes them conductive and allows them to maintain an electric charge to increase efficiency. It also allows the filters to include real-time monitoring. Standard air filters can retain moisture and therefore act as catalysts for microbes, however, AeroGraphiX materials are being evaluated for anti-microbial and anti-viral properties. AeroGraphiX materials are also scalable, therefore making them practical for large scale industrial production. These unique properties inspired Dr. Adamson to file a Patent with Robert Minh Lu Williams. Meanwhile, Deep Srivastava and Brenden Ferland have created the company, AeroGraphiX, to further develop the materials and build a commercial product.

The AeroGraphiX team has gained attention as well as funding support from the Entrepreneurship Fellowship Prototyping Grant, Amazon AWS Credits, University of Connecticut CCEI – Get Seeded Award, UConn CCEI Summer Accelerator, Regional NSF iCorps, and UConn 3rd Innovative Health Pitch Fest 2026.

The AeroGraphiX Leadership Team:

· Deep Srivastava – Chemistry Ph.D. Candidate – Chief Executive Officer

· Brenden Ferland – Polymer Science Ph.D. Candidate – Chief Technology Officer

· Robert Minh Lu Williams – Chief Scientific Officer and co-inventor

· Polymer Program faculty member, Prof. Douglas Adamson – Co-Founder, Co-Inventor, & Chief Scientific Advisor

By Osker Dahabsu

This past summer, Antigoni Konstantinou, a PhD Candidate in the IMS Materials Science Program, spent her summer at GE Vernova’s Advanced Research Center in Niskayuna, NY — a company whose roots trace back to Thomas Edison! Working on generator and transformer insulation materials, Antigoni brought a background in materials science and expertise in high voltage insulation materials to a team tackling real industrial challenges in energy technology. 

The summer was packed with unforgettable moments: running first-time high-potential tests up to 70kV, touring a generator manufacturing facility in downtown Schenectady, and sitting down one-on-one with researchers whose published papers Antigoni had studied long before meeting them in person. 

What stood out most, though, were the people. Antigoni worked closely with mentors who were genuinely invested in her growth, offering guidance, encouragement, and the kind of support that turns a good internship into a great one. That mentorship didn’t just shape the experience — it shaped the research itself and reinforced her passion for materials science and its role in powering the future of energy. 

By Antigoni Konstantinou

 

Storrs, CT — May 21, 2026 — The University of Connecticut’s Institute of Materials Science (IMS) hosted its annual Industrial Affiliates Program (IAP) Meeting on May 21, bringing together faculty, researchers, students, and industry partners to highlight cutting-edge research, expanding capabilities, and the continued importance of collaboration between academia and industry. 

The event opened with remarks from Dr Hatice Bodugoz Senturk, the co-director of the Industrial Affiliates Program for more than a decade. Hatice  welcomed attendees and recognized the collective efforts of faculty, staff, technical teams, and students in organizing the meeting. She also acknowledged the retirement of longtime contributor Rhonda Ward who is enjoying retirement after joining IMS in 2013. Hatice introduced Breanna Robbins, her partner in supporting the IAP program, noting her strong technical expertise and collaborative leadership. 

Breanna provided an overview of IMS’s growing technical capabilities, emphasizing the institute’s ability to integrate multiple analytical techniques to solve complex industry challenges. She noted that many projects require two or more methods, underscoring the depth and flexibility of IMS resources. Attendees were also introduced to new instrumentation, including advanced microscopes and a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system currently being installed, further strengthening the institute’s research and industry support infrastructure. 

Dr. Steven Suib, Director of IMS, highlighted the institute’s continued growth and research impact. He outlined recent investments in advanced equipment and reaffirmed IMS’s commitment to maintaining compliance with federal standards such as EAR, CUI, and ITAR. Suib also emphasized the value of interdisciplinary collaboration across UConn, pointing to opportunities that bring together materials science, polymer research, and biological sciences to drive innovation. The IAP program continues to expand, now comprising 38 members across a range of industries. 

Faculty presentations showcased a broad range of expertise and emerging research areas. Dr. Avinash Dangare, Head of Materials Science and Engineering, discussed research on materials under extreme conditions, including the use of high-energy laser systems to study material behavior. Dr. Miu-Ping Nieh highlighted the continued growth of UConn’s Polymer Program and introduced a new international collaboration with the South China University of Technology (SCUT), set to begin in Fall 2026. 

Additional presentations featured advancements in micro-mechanical testing by Dr. Seok-Woo Lee, enabling more precise modeling of material performance, and entrepreneurship-focused research by Dr. Mingyu Qiao, who shared insights from his startup experience, including securing $6 million in federal SBIR funding. Dr. Menka Jain presented her work on energy-related and quantum materials, emphasizing their importance in next-generation technologies. 

 

The keynote address was delivered by Kirti Patel, Chief Manufacturing Officer for the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. Patel highlighted Connecticut’s strong economic growth, driven in part by engineering, research and development, and healthcare sectors. He emphasized the critical role programs like IAP play in connecting academic research with industry needs, supporting workforce development, and driving innovation. 

A key theme of Patel’s remarks was the need to reduce “friction” — barriers such as limited awareness, inefficient processes, and unclear value propositions. He encouraged organizations to more clearly communicate their capabilities, proactively engage industry partners, and identify measurable outcomes that demonstrate value. Addressing workforce shortages and retaining talent within the state were also identified as ongoing priorities for the State of Connecticut as it continues to support manufacturing as a major growth area for Connecticut and the region. 

The meeting concluded with closing remarks from the co-directors, Hatice and Breanna, who thanked attendees and reinforced the importance of continued engagement and partnership. 

The 2026 IAP Annual Meeting highlighted IMS’s role as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and workforce development, underscoring its impact on both academic research and the broader industrial community. 

 

Written by Terry Barber-Tournaud 

Edited by Breanna Robbins and Hatice Bodugoz Senturk