Key Takeaways:
- The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund has awarded funding to four research projects in the natural sciences and engineering.
- The projects focus on small molecule structure determination, sustainable energy storage, natural hydrogen gas generation, and tropical marine ecosystem mitigation.
- The fund aims to support innovative and transformative research that can have a significant impact on a field of study.
- The winning projects were selected by an anonymous panel of faculty reviewers and have the potential to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and the environment.
Introduction to the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund
The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund was established in 2009 through a gift from Eric and Wendy Schmidt. The fund’s goal is to enable researchers to make significant breakthroughs in the natural sciences and engineering, rather than incremental advances. Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google and Executive Chairman of Alphabet Inc., and Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences and president of The Schmidt Family Foundation, created the fund to support innovative and transformative research. The fund is administered by Princeton University, where Eric Schmidt earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1976.
New AI System for Small Molecule Structure Determination
One of the funded projects aims to develop an algorithm that can automate the process of determining small molecule structure from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral analysis. The researchers, Ellen D. Zhong and Mohammad R. Seyedsayamdost, have already developed a machine learning algorithm that can reliably translate one-dimensional NMR spectra of five-residue peptides into precise molecular structures. The current project will expand this approach to include broad classes of small molecules of various sizes and structure types. The researchers anticipate that the open-source release of this algorithm will significantly benefit scientists in many disciplines and transform drug discovery.
Soft, Flexible Materials for Next-Generation Batteries and Electronics
Another project focuses on advancing sustainable battery design through the development of improved hydrogel electrolytes. The researchers, Rodney Priestley and Craig Arnold, aim to evaluate hydrogels produced through a new method that replaces water with a green Deep Eutectic Solvent consisting of choline chloride and glycerol. The team will assess the viability and commercial potential of the improved hydrogels by testing their performance in zinc- and lithium-based prototype batteries. The proposed hydrogel-based energy storage system represents a breakthrough in sustainable battery technology, with potential applications in the renewable energy, transportation, and soft robotics industries.
Natural Hydrogen Generation for Clean Energy
A third project aims to study mineral-driven hydrogen (H2) generation and test strategies to accelerate this process. The researchers, Catherine Peters, Satish Myneni, and Emily Carter, propose research in three areas, including identifying reaction conditions and cascading pathways to achieve near 100% iron oxidation, examining molecular-level processes that control macro-scale kinetic and thermodynamic properties of H2-generating mineral reactions, and investigating the conditions necessary for H2 generation with simultaneous carbon dioxide mineralization. Discovering how to couple and control these processes could make natural H2 production carbon-negative rather than simply carbon-neutral.
Underwater Robots for Coral Reef Conservation
The fourth project involves designing, building, and testing a low-cost autonomous vehicle system to measure hydrographic data in challenging coastal environments. The researchers, Curtis Deutsch and Noelle Lucey, will use the SeaWASP (Winched Autonomous Sensor Profiler) system to collect data on coral reefs, which will be used to train machine learning algorithms to relate local variability measurements to broader ocean and meteorological conditions and to map the effects of key stressors. The team will also use observational data to build a trait-based habitat model that can provide real-time assessments of reef health and forecasts of near- and long-term threats, with the goal of facilitating adaptive practices and policies to mitigate these threats.
Conclusion and Future Implications
The four research projects funded by the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund have the potential to make significant breakthroughs in their respective fields. The projects focus on innovative and transformative research that can have a meaningful impact on people’s lives and the environment. The fund’s support for these projects demonstrates the importance of investing in cutting-edge research and development to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. As the researchers continue to work on their projects, it is likely that their findings will have far-reaching implications for fields such as medicine, energy, and conservation.