NEWPORT, R.I. - Dr. JD Swanson, assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, has received a $199,759 collaborative research grant from the Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council to predict and monitor harmful macroalgal blooms in Narragansett Bay.
Swanson is collaborating on the project with Dr. Carol Thornber, associate professor of biological sciences at the University of Rhode Island. They will use the grant to assess the econological and genomic aspects of the formation of macroalgal blooms in response to climate change in the bay.
STAC research grants are designed to facilitate collaborative research in Rhode Island and encourage entrepreneurship and new company creation by bringing technologies and discoveries into the marketplace.
This year, the council awarded more than $1.4 million to eight projects representing 20 scientists and nine educational institutions, hospitals and companies throughout the state.
Award recipients include academic and industry scientists pursuing research in aquaculture diseases, climate change, chronic wound healing and other areas of cutting-edge exploration. In addition to Salve Regina and URI, winning teams include scientists from Brown University, Rhode Island College, Roger Williams University, Rhode Island Hospital, the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program and two private companies.
To date, STAC investments in collaborative research have yielded a return of nearly $36 million back to the state in the form of grants for continued research, new equipment, commercialization of new products and venture funding for new companies.