Sensor Development

In brief, we develop new approaches for deploying sensors in air, water, soil, and plants and test novel technologies for sensing environmental processes. We collaborate with the private industry through the US Department of Energy Small Business and Innovation (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. For example, we have deployed a novel dissolved oxygen sensor under rugged and dynamic coastal conditions for >5 years to test its robustness in a challenging field environment. The sensor, developed by Opti-O2, holds a calibration for substantial periods of time, reducing maintenance needs. Other recent SBIR partners include OptoKnowledge, who we worked with to develop a field portable stable isotopic methane analyzer, and Leiden Measurement Technology, who we are working with to develop advanced solutions for phosphate monitoring at the interface of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

We welcome new collaborations and have permitted field sites as well as on-site wet labs and mesocosm tanks for testing instrumentation across a range of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments.