The Symbiotic Engineering and Analysis Lab develops interdisciplinary symbiotic solutions to advance sustainable offshore technologies vital to the growth of the Blue Economy* and the mitigation of climate change. The SEA Lab is led by Professor Maha Haji in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University.
The Symbiotic Engineering and Analysis Lab develops interdisciplinary symbiotic solutions to advance sustainable offshore technologies vital to the growth of the Blue Economy* and the mitigation of climate change. The SEA Lab is led by Professor Maha Haji in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University.
Research
Systems Engineering
Integrating systems to better provide mutually beneficial relationships with the oceans.
Mineral Extraction
Sustainably harvesting minerals from seawater, including uranium, cobalt, and lithium.
Offshore Energy
Harnessing and storing the energy at sea to meet the energy needs of tomorrow.
Aquaculture
Reliably and cost-effectively expanding aquaculture farms further offshore.
Research
Systems Engineering
Integrating systems to better provide mutually beneficial relationships with the oceans.
Mineral Extraction
Sustainably harvesting minerals from seawater, including uranium, cobalt, and lithium.
Offshore Energy
Harnessing and storing the energy at sea to meet the energy needs of tomorrow.
Aquaculture
Reliably and cost-effectively expanding aquaculture farms further offshore.
News
Marine Energy Collegiate Competition accepts SEA Lab team for prototyping and development
The Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC) funds teams from around the US to designing marine energy devices for Blue Economy applications. The SEA Lab plans to prototype a wave-driven desalination device, considering mechanical, chemical, economic, and social disciplines. The team will compete in spring 2025. Check out the news release here.
May 30, 2024
Prototyping team awarded TEAMER funding for experimental campaign at Oregon State
The prototyping team was awarded funding from the Department of Energy’s Testing and Expertise for Marine Energy (TEAMER) program. The team will conduct wave energy converter (WEC) farm experiments at Oregon State’s Directional Wave Basin. The experiments will test methods to increase power production and study far-field environmental effects of the WEC farm. This month-long campaign will be a collaboration between the SEA Lab and the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory. Read more here.
May 15, 2024
PhD student Kapil Khanal selected for Argonne Training Program on Extreme-Scale Computing
PhD student Kapil Khanal was selected for the highly competitive Argonne Training Program on Extreme-Scale Computing (ATPESC). ATPESC provides intensive, two weeks of training on the key skills, approaches, and tools to design, implement, and execute computational science and engineering applications on current high-end computing systems and the leadership-class computing systems of the future.
May 15, 2024
Wave energy converter prototypes featured in Cornell Chronicle
Undergraduates Aisha Brundan and Kavya Mittha and graduate students Nate DeGoede and Olivia Vitale are featured in the Cornell Chronicle for their work with wave energy converter (WEC) prototypes. The prototypes include a heaving point-absorber WEC and an oscillating surge WEC. The article highlights the tank testing of the newest SEA Lab prototype. Read more here.
Feb 29, 2024
Becca McCabe featured in Cornell Chronicle article about sensory rooms for neurodivergent students
Becca is the president of the Student Neurodiversity Alliance at Cornell and advocates for the Learning Strategies Center’s new sensory room. A sensory room is a space for all students to escape sensory overload. Check out the article here.
Dec 11, 2023
Integrated Pumped Hydro Reverse Osmosis System Featured in Cornell Chronicle
Graduate student Matthew Haefner published in Applied Energy on the Integrated Pumped Hydro Reverse Osmosis System (IPHROS). IPHROS is a system where fresh water production and energy storage are symbiotically coupled. The work was highlighted in the Cornell Chronicle, linked here.
Dec 6, 2023
News
Marine Energy Collegiate Competition accepts SEA Lab team for prototyping and development
The Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC) funds teams from around the US to designing marine energy devices for Blue Economy applications. The SEA Lab plans to prototype a wave-driven desalination device, considering mechanical, chemical, economic, and social disciplines. The team will compete in spring 2025. Check out the news release here.
May 30, 2024
Prototyping team awarded TEAMER funding for experimental campaign at Oregon State
The prototyping team was awarded funding from the Department of Energy’s Testing and Expertise for Marine Energy (TEAMER) program. The team will conduct wave energy converter (WEC) farm experiments at Oregon State’s Directional Wave Basin. The experiments will test methods to increase power production and study far-field environmental effects of the WEC farm. This month-long campaign will be a collaboration between the SEA Lab and the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory. Read more here.
May 15, 2024
PhD student Kapil Khanal selected for Argonne Training Program on Extreme-Scale Computing
PhD student Kapil Khanal was selected for the highly competitive Argonne Training Program on Extreme-Scale Computing (ATPESC). ATPESC provides intensive, two weeks of training on the key skills, approaches, and tools to design, implement, and execute computational science and engineering applications on current high-end computing systems and the leadership-class computing systems of the future.
May 15, 2024
Wave energy converter prototypes featured in Cornell Chronicle
Undergraduates Aisha Brundan and Kavya Mittha and graduate students Nate DeGoede and Olivia Vitale are featured in the Cornell Chronicle for their work with wave energy converter (WEC) prototypes. The prototypes include a heaving point-absorber WEC and an oscillating surge WEC. The article highlights the tank testing of the newest SEA Lab prototype. Read more here.
Feb 29, 2024
Becca McCabe featured in Cornell Chronicle article about sensory rooms for neurodivergent students
Becca is the president of the Student Neurodiversity Alliance at Cornell and advocates for the Learning Strategies Center’s new sensory room. A sensory room is a space for all students to escape sensory overload. Check out the article here.
Dec 11, 2023
Integrated Pumped Hydro Reverse Osmosis System Featured in Cornell Chronicle
Graduate student Matthew Haefner published in Applied Energy on the Integrated Pumped Hydro Reverse Osmosis System (IPHROS). IPHROS is a system where fresh water production and energy storage are symbiotically coupled. The work was highlighted in the Cornell Chronicle, linked here.
Dec 6, 2023
Selected Publications
Integrated Pumped Hydro Reverse Osmosis System optimization featuring surrogate model development in Reverse Osmosis modeling
M. W. Haefner and M. N. Haji
Applied Energy, 352, 121812, 2023
The power balancing benefits of wave energy converters in offshore wind-wave farms with energy storage
J. M. Kluger, M. N. Haji, and A. H. Slocum
Applied Energy, 331, 120389, 2023.
Autonomous control of a prototype solar-powered offshore autonomous underwater vehicle servicing platform via a low-cost embedded architecture
E. Rolland, M. N. Haji, and O. L. de Weck
Journal of Field Robotics, 1-20, 2023.
A review of technologies for direct lithium extraction from low Li+ concentration aqueous solutions
O. Murphy and M. N. Haji
Frontiers in Chemical Engineering, 4, 2022.
Selected Publications
Integrated Pumped Hydro Reverse Osmosis System optimization featuring surrogate model development in Reverse Osmosis modeling
M. W. Haefner and M. N. Haji
Applied Energy, 352, 121812, 2023
The power balancing benefits of wave energy converters in offshore wind-wave farms with energy storage
J. M. Kluger, M. N. Haji, and A. H. Slocum
Applied Energy, 331, 120389, 2023.
Autonomous control of a prototype solar-powered offshore autonomous underwater vehicle servicing platform via a low-cost embedded architecture
E. Rolland, M. N. Haji, and O. L. de Weck
Journal of Field Robotics, 1-20, 2023.
A review of technologies for direct lithium extraction from low Li+ concentration aqueous solutions
O. Murphy and M. N. Haji
Frontiers in Chemical Engineering, 4, 2022.
*The Blue Economy is defined by the United Nations as an ocean economy that aims at “the improvement of human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities” (UN, 2014, p.2)
*The Blue Economy is defined by the United Nations as an ocean economy that aims at “the improvement of human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities” (UN, 2014, p.2)