From mapping the human gut-brain connection to creating safer cancer nanotherapies, the latest Expanded SPROUT Awards from Cornell Engineering are exploring breakthroughs in microbiome science, quantum materials and biomedical engineering.
The SPROUT – which stands for Support for Promising Research Opportunities and Unconventional Teams – program launched in 2022. The annual awards aim to fill a funding gap and provide encouragement for emerging collaborations, especially those that involve unexpected combinations of people and ideas.
In 2025, following the standard round of SPROUT submissions, Cornell Engineering leadership announced an Expanded SPROUT program, which is designed to encourage the expansion of the college’s research footprint at a time of potentially limited federal support. Expanded SPROUTs prioritized, but were not restricted to, research projects that were paused due to a federal stop-work order.
“I am so glad that our flexible SPROUT program was able to meet the moment when circumstances forced our college to be creative and adaptable in exploring potential paths forward for important research projects,” said Lois Pollack, associate dean for research and graduate studies at Cornell Engineering. “These awards are enabling our faculty to pursue bold pivots and to apply fresh perspectives to ongoing interdisciplinary research.”
This year’s winning projects for Expanded SPROUT Awards are:
Uncovering mathematical insights into the human gut microbiome
Different strains of gut microbes affect metabolism, immunity and brain function by making neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). These chemicals can travel from the gut to the brain, influencing mood and performance. The project aims to use AI and math models to understand how gut microbes make neurotransmitters like GABA, and how this impacts brain function and performance.
This project brings together the expertise of Ilana Brito, associate professor in the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, and Christopher Earls, the J. Preston Levis Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Controlling metal cation uptake by highly engineered ultrasmall fluorescent core-shell silica nanoparticles to induce ferroptosis in the tumor microenvironment
Cornell researchers are developing tiny glowing nanoparticles called “C’dots” to treat cancer. These particles can carry metals like iron into tumors, where they trigger a special type of cell death called ferroptosis. The team is testing how different metals work and how to improve particle design, with the goal of creating safer, more effective cancer treatments without relying on toxic drugs.
The goal of this collaborative project – jointly spearheaded by Ulrich Wiesner, the Spencer T. Olin Professor of Engineering in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Michelle Bradbury, professor of radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine – is to understand and improve how C’dots take up and release metal cations like iron – and then use that knowledge to engineer particles that more effectively trigger cancer cell death. The researchers aim to create new, safer, drug-free nanotherapies that could improve cancer treatment outcomes and eventually be translated into the clinic.
Engineering one-dimensional quantum phases in 1D-moiré graphene superlattices
Cornell researchers are creating special “1D-moiré” patterns by combining graphene with another crystal, molybdenum trioxide. These patterns trap electrons, so they act in one dimension, letting scientists study unusual quantum behaviors like spin-charge separation and exotic superconductivity. Using advanced imaging, growth methods and electrical tests, the team aims to build clean, tunable platforms to unlock new knowledge about quantum matter.
Kenji Yasuda, assistant professor in the School of Applied Engineering and Physics, and David Muller, the Samuel B. Eckert Professor of Engineering in the School of Applied Engineering and Physics, are working to engineer and study 1D-moiré graphene systems that reveal new quantum behaviors, advancing both basic science and future technologies like quantum electronics.
Epitaxial nitride superconducting qubits
Today there is a poor understanding of what structural or chemical defects are limiting the coherence time of superconducting qubits – one of several key approaches to building quantum computers. This project combines material growth, device fabrication and optical studies to find and remove defects that shorten qubit lifetimes.
Proposed by Debdeep Jena, the David E. Burr Professor of Engineering in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Farhan Rana, the Joseph P. Ripley Professor of Engineering in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the research aims to discover and eliminate defects in superconducting qubits, extend their coherence times by one-thousand times, and enable large-scale, competitive quantum computers.
Optimizing metrics for transport homogenization: subsurface energy systems predictive models
Enhanced geothermal systems and other subsurface energy technologies depend on understanding the thermo-hydro-chemo-mechanical behavior of rock. Linking chemically induced microstructure changes and pore deformation to measurable physical and mechanical properties is challenging because fluid flow and rock deformation are influenced by distinct microstructural features. Efficient mathematical models are needed to predict behavior at the sub-metric scale without resolving every micron-scale detail, which is computationally prohibitive.
The project, led by Chloé Arson, professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and Yunan Yang, the Goenka Family Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics in the College of Arts and Sciences, aims to predict how fluids move through underground rocks using microstructure data, numerical simulation, geomechanics, math and AI to improve energy systems and make them safer and more efficient.
Toxicant-free antifouling marine coatings based on active additives
The amount of ocean transport is remarkably high and fouling induced drag leads to enormous additional costs in increased fuel use and substantial production of increased CO2. Using peptoid chemistry and testing, the belief is that silicone-based coatings with added antioxidants, pH buffers and hydrophilic components will stop marine plants and animals from sticking to ship hulls.
This work, headed by Christopher Ober, the Francis Norwood Bard Professor of Metallurgical Engineering in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, seeks to create non-toxic coatings for ships that prevent marine growth, saving fuel, reducing pollution and improving marine surface performance.
Virtual reality for advanced behavioral modeling in engineering systems
The increasing complexity of engineered systems, from transportation networks to energy-efficient buildings, necessitates a deeper understanding of human behavior and decision-making within these environments. Traditional modeling approaches often rely on stylized representations of user preference, potentially overlooking critical behavioral nuances and contextual factors.
The goal of this project, which is spearheaded by Ricardo Daziano, professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Systems Engineering Program, and So-Yeon Yoon, professor in the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, is to use virtual reality and advanced statistical modeling to better understand how people behave and make decisions in complex engineered systems, starting with crowded transportation, so that future systems can be designed to be more efficient, sustainable and user-friendly.
Zwitterionic lipid polymers in lipid nanoparticles for enhanced mRNA delivery and reduced immunogenicity
Lipid nanoparticles are the main carriers used in mRNA vaccines, but they can sometimes trigger immune responses. This project aims to design and test new zwitterionic lipid polymers that improve mRNA delivery while minimizing unwanted immune reactions, paving the way for more effective vaccines and gene therapies.
This project brings together the expertise of Shaoyi Jiang, Robert Langer ’70 Family and Friends Professor in the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, and Qiuming Yu, professor in the R.F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
Pseudo-markets for public resource allocation
Automated systems based on non-monetary mechanisms are being increasingly used for sharing public resources. Scientists first used them to manage access to big equipment like telescopes and particle accelerators. Some schools have experimented with using them for allocating course seats, and companies are increasingly using them to control access to cloud computing. As AI services grow, having smart ways to coordinate who gets resources will be even more important for keeping things efficient.
This proposal will build on a current collaboration between Siddhartha Banerjee, associate professor in the School of Operations Research and Information Engineering, and Éva Tardos, the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor in the Department of Computer Science and the School of Operations Research and Information Engineering, for developing new micro-foundations and new mechanisms with strong efficiency and fairness guarantees for allocating shared resources.
Spatiotemporal control of bacillus subtilis spores germination for off-Earth biotechnologies
Bacillus subtilis spores are extremely tough, surviving harsh conditions like those in space. They can stay dormant until triggered to grow into active cells, making them useful for space biotechnology like biosensing and manufacturing. Scientists want to control when spores activate, but spontaneous germination can happen unexpectedly, making long-term use tricky. Understanding how spores germinate and grow in space is still limited.
This work – jointly spearheaded by Andrea Giometto, assistant professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Meredith Silberstein, associate professor in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering – will generate quantitative tools and genetic constructs for bacterial spore engineering for use in off-Earth manufacturing, sensing and remediation. The interdisciplinary approach also supports strategic goals in engineering for sustainability, autonomous systems, and predictive and synthetic biology.
Terahertz pump-induced thermal switch in topological semimetals
Topological semimetals have special quantum properties useful for electronics and quantum computing. Using terahertz lasers, scientists can change their structure to control heat flow by altering electron-phonon interactions. This could create fast, light-controlled thermal switches.
Zhiting Tian, professor in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Ankit Disa, assistant professor in the School of Applied Engineering and Physics, are working to use terahertz laser pulses to control the structure of Weyl semimetals, changing electron-phonon interactions to create high-speed thermal devices controlled by light.
Patrick Gillespie is a communications specialist for Cornell Engineering.