{"id":14,"date":"2010-01-12T11:22:56","date_gmt":"2010-01-12T16:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2025-08-26T11:15:38","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T15:15:38","slug":"research-projects","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/research-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-row-layout-id14_f8b85b-27 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id14_f8b85b-27 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id14_f8b85b-27 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 2fr) minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id14_f8b85b-27 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id14_f8b85b-27 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 2fr) minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id14_f8b85b-27 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id14_f8b85b-27 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-left-golden kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column14_42f170-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column14_42f170-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column14_42f170-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column14_42f170-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column14_42f170-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column14_42f170-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column14_42f170-ab{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column14_42f170-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column14_42f170-ab > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column14_42f170-ab\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading14_7c18a1-b2, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading14_7c18a1-b2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading14_7c18a1-b2\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading14_7c18a1-b2 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading14_7c18a1-b2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading14_7c18a1-b2\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading14_7c18a1-b2 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading14_7c18a1-b2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading14_7c18a1-b2\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading14_7c18a1-b2 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading14_7c18a1-b2\">Research projects at FIRST span basic research through applied development. Funding is received from federal, state, and industrial sources. Current topics of interest include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gas Sensors for Toxic Chemicals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Liquid Phase Chemical Sensors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BioSensors to Detect Pathogens<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sensors and Microsystems for Health Monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pesticide Detection in Food Products<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MEMS and Microsystems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thin Film Ceramic and Semiconductor Materials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High Temperature Materials and Sensors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Porous Materials and Selective Gas Adsorption \/ Filtration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nanomechanics and Tribology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Microwave Acoustic Devices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paper Coatings and Nanocellulose Materials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time of Flight Electron \/ Ion Detectors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modeling of Phase Transitions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Membranes for Battery Applications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column14_1c0ccf-9e > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column14_1c0ccf-9e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column14_1c0ccf-9e > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column14_1c0ccf-9e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column14_1c0ccf-9e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column14_1c0ccf-9e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column14_1c0ccf-9e{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column14_1c0ccf-9e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column14_1c0ccf-9e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column14_1c0ccf-9e\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image14_29da92-3a .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image14_29da92-3a size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2019\/01\/Copy-of-LASST09-web-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Researcher preparing sample for thin film growth\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-1303\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recent Grants<\/h3>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id14_69c2ce-e2 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id14_69c2ce-e2 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id14_69c2ce-e2 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-id14_69c2ce-e2 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id14_69c2ce-e2 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id14_69c2ce-e2 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id14_69c2ce-e2 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column14_aec134-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column14_aec134-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column14_aec134-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column14_aec134-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column14_aec134-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column14_aec134-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column14_aec134-0a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column14_aec134-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column14_aec134-0a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column14_aec134-0a\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p><strong>Air Force<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>LGX High Temperature Acoustic Wave Sensors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Microwave Acoustic Sensors for Condition Based Maintenance in Harsh Environments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors for Turbine Engines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Multifunctional SiAlON Films for High Temperature Applications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Army<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Automated System for Liquid Phase Detection of Toxic Compounds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Characterization of LGX Crystals for Military Electronic Systems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Department of Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Thermochemical Conversion of Woody Biomass to Fuels and Chemicals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Micro-Tribology: Friction and Wear in Advanced Materials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nitric Oxide \/ Ammonia Sensor for Combustion Control<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nitric Oxide Sensor for Early Detection of Pathogenic Exposure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Fluidic Microinstrument with Biomolecular Pump<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>National Science Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Accelerated Testing of Oxynitride Films for High Temperature Applications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lateral Field Excited Acoustic Wave Sensor for Peroxide Based Explosives<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nanoscale Sensing Device for Measuring the Supply of Iron<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acoustic Wave Filters for High Frequency Wireless Communication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exact Results in Model Statistical Systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Microsystem for Detection of Bacterial Endospores<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A New Class of Modified Mesoporous Silica Membranes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrated Fluorocarbon Microsensor System Utilizing Catalytic Modification<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Electrochemiluminescence at Microelectrodes During PCR Amplification of DNA<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column14_82d8be-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column14_82d8be-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column14_82d8be-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column14_82d8be-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column14_82d8be-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column14_82d8be-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column14_82d8be-0b{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column14_82d8be-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column14_82d8be-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column14_82d8be-0b\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p><strong>National Institutes for Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nanopore Gene Sequencing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>National Science Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Accelerated Testing of Oxynitride Films for High Temperature Applications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lateral Field Excited Acoustic Wave Sensor for Peroxide Based Explosives<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nanoscale Sensing Device for Measuring the Supply of Iron<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acoustic Wave Filters for High Frequency Wireless Communication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exact Results in Model Statistical Systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Microsystem for Detection of Bacterial Endospores<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A New Class of Modified Mesoporous Silica Membranes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrated Fluorocarbon Microsensor System Utilizing Catalytic Modification<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Electrochemiluminescence at Microelectrodes During PCR Amplification of DNA<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Navy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Advanced Development of a Chemical and Biological Sensor Suite<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Packard Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Microinstrument for Nucleic Acid Sequencing by Nanopores<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>U.S. Department of Agriculture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Organophosphate Pesticide Sensor for Foods<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>W.M. Keck Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Environmental Gas Sensors for Ice Core Research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Research projects at FIRST span basic research through applied development. Funding is received from federal, state, and industrial sources. Current topics of interest include: Recent Grants Air Force Army Department of Energy Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) National Science Foundation National Institutes for Health National Science Foundation Navy Packard Foundation [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":478,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":10,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-14","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/author\/"},"comment_info":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/478"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2764,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14\/revisions\/2764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}