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 … Continued
Mixed-media artist and designer Bailey Ferguson combines her passion for the social common good with a strong design philosophy to effectively communicate an idea across disciplines. Ferguson earned a BFA in Studio Art (2008) from the University of Denver and a secondary BFA in Communication Design (2012) from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She also … Continued
Alana Sherman serves as the Electrical Engineering Group Leader at MBARI. Alana has been working at MBARI since 2003. Over that time, she has worked on a variety of scientific instruments and underwater vehicles. Included in that group are: the Benthic Rover, a seafloor rover that transects the abyssal plane autonomously for up to a … Continued
As a PhD Candidate at the Harvard Microrobotics Lab, I study soft robotic hands for a variety of real-world applications. From deep-sea sampling to precise grasping, to in-hand manipulation, my work focuses on the application of traditional robotics concepts to soft-bodied systems. Outside the lab, I enjoy coordinating and participating in STEM outreach, playing drums, and working … Continued
Brendan is a second-year graduate student working towards his Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering at the University of Rhode Island. Brendan holds the B.Sc. (’18) and M.Sc. (’19) degrees from the same institution and is currently pursuing the following research projects: (1) fiber optic distributed sensing for hydrodynamic parameter estimation via fiber Bragg gratings; (2) development … Continued
Russell Shomberg is a Masters student in the Department of Ocean Engineering at University of Rhode Island. He 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 … Continued
Kakani Katija is a Bioengineer dedicated to developing underwater technologies to better observe biological and physical processes where they happen in the ocean. Her research and engineering development efforts have contributed to our understanding of nutrient cycling, biologically induced mixing of the oceans, the ecology of gelatinous and soft-bodied invertebrates in deep-sea environments, and bioinspired … Continued
Dr. Amy Baco-Taylor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at Florida State University. Amy’s general research interests are in the evolution, ecology, and connectivity of benthic marine organisms. There will always be an imperative for basic research, but the reality of rising anthropogenic impacts on the world’s oceans … Continued
Dr. Amy Baco-Taylor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at Florida State University. Amy’s general research interests are in the evolution, ecology, and connectivity of benthic marine organisms. There will always be an imperative for basic research, but the reality of rising anthropogenic impacts on the world’s oceans … Continued
