Activating entrepreneurial energy to pursue coastal & marine solutions
The Dean & Director’s Innovation Fund empowers recipients to work at the intersection of research and enterprise
From revolutionizing environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling to developing "forever chemical” detection tools and pioneering sustainable aquaculture systems, the Dean & Director’s Innovation Fund at William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS continues to invest in bold, early-stage research with high potential for commercial outcomes.
“The Innovation Fund empowers VIMS researchers to launch high-impact, early-stage work that bridges disciplines and strengthens research capacity,” said recent recipient Bongkeun (BK) Song, a professor at the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences. “It supports pilot studies that generate the necessary data needed to pursue major federal funding and brings together experts across multiple fields to address complex sustainability challenges.”
Established in 2018 with generous support from the Joan and Morgan Massey Foundation and the Nunnally Charitable Trusts, the Innovation Fund supports projects that advance innovation and economic productivity in marine science with both financial funding and business mentorship. By functioning like a marine science-focused version of the popular television show Shark Tank, the program nurtures ideas that can grow into environmental solutions, entrepreneurial ventures and transformative partnerships.
New recipients are turning revolutionary ideas into real-world impact
The 2025–26 award cycle highlights how the Innovation Fund serves as a powerful catalyst for sustainable development, with new projects that promise environmental benefit, commercial potential and public engagement. The three initiatives that received recent funding were selected because they embodied the program’s founding vision: to foster forward-thinking research that bridges science and economic opportunity.
SQUID-e: A smarter way to sample eDNA
Analyzing genetic material shed into the environment has high research potential, but eDNA sampling can become expensive and technically complex, especially in deep-sea conditions. However, Ph.D. students Paul Clerkin and Miguel Montalvo believed that eDNA collection could remain straightforward and affordable, no matter the environment. To prove it, they invented the Semi-passive Quick Underwater In-situ Deployment eDNA (SQUID-e) sampler, for which they were recently awarded Innovation Funds.
The device uses natural water pressure during towing to filter eDNA from seawater, eliminating the need for complex pumping systems and reducing costs and maintenance. The SQUID-e's modular, user-friendly design makes it adaptable for professional researchers and accessible for citizen scientists.
Clerkin and Montalvo aim to validate and benchmark the device’s performance in the lab and field, with long-term plans for commercial production. By enabling widespread, standardized eDNA monitoring, the SQUID-e could support global biodiversity research and unlock new markets for marine technology.
"The Innovation fund is incredibly valuable to Batten School & VIMS researchers, because it funds projects for which it might be harder to find initial support, but can pay off long-term with a commercial component,” said Clerkin. “We are really thankful for this in-house opportunity.”
Tackling forever chemicals with custom antibodies
Dubbed “forever chemicals” due to their environmental persistence, polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) pose growing threats to ecosystems and human health. Yet traditional detection methods are slow and expensive. VIMS scientists Mary Ann Vogelbein, Kimberly Reece and Hamish Small proposed a creative solution: custom-built monoclonal antibodies that detect PFAS quickly and affordably.
The team is working toward developing antibodies tailored to PFAS, building on prior success detecting contaminants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the aquatic environment. The project could lead to valuable intellectual property, commercial licensing and further funding while providing a much-needed tool for environmental agencies and researchers.
“Without support from the Innovation Fund, it would not be possible to advance the development of a novel monoclonal antibody for these forever chemicals,” said Vogelbein. “It’s a complex task, but I’m ready to dive in with my great team of researchers.”
Sustainable aquaculture via macroalgae co-cultivation
The largest award of the year went to the multidisciplinary team of BK Song, William Walton, Andrew Scheld and Stacy Krueger-Hadfield for their innovative approach to sustainable aquaculture. Their project explores integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), where oysters are co-cultivated with macroalgae.
IMTA systems can improve water quality, reduce nutrient pollution and mitigate ocean acidification, while also producing edible "sea lettuce” products. Through trials with Virginia shellfish growers, the team will test shared grow-out systems and wastewater-based cultivation methods. Researchers can then evaluate biological compatibility, cost-effectiveness and sea lettuce market feasibility.
"The fund creates opportunities for VIMS researchers and students to build collaborations that promote innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities. These opportunities, in turn, may lead to new commercial enterprises,” said Song. “Our project not only benefits Virginia’s aquaculture industry, it also promotes cleaner waterways, sustainable food systems and greater public engagement in environmental stewardship.”
Dedicated experts provide assistance far beyond the lab
More than the funding itself, what distinguishes the Dean & Director’s Innovation Fund is the ecosystem of support integrated throughout the program. Proposals are evaluated by a dedicated Innovation Fund Working Group made up of seasoned leaders in science, business and philanthropy. This group doesn’t merely award grants; it provides mentorship, business feedback and strategic guidance to help researchers define market opportunities, frame proposals and plan for commercialization.
For the SQUID-e team, the Working Group’s input helped refine their project boundaries and market positioning. “We were asked to think about the potential market for our device, which definitely helped us develop the scope of the idea,” said Montalvo.
Song similarly praised the Working Group for their prudent feedback. “They encouraged the team to be thoughtful about where intellectual property could be identified and protected,” he said.
Seed funding provides a proven return on investment
Catalyzed by generous philanthropic support and guided by Working Group expertise, previous Innovation Fund awardees have demonstrated extraordinary returns on investment (ROI). Modest grants have led to millions in external funding for further research, commercial applications and enhanced public services.
Marjorie Friedrichs received early Innovation Fund seeding to improve the accuracy and utility of her Chesapeake Bay Environmental Forecasting System (CBEFS), which predicts salinity, temperature, hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, sea nettles and pathogens. She then leveraged that work into more than $385,000 in grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Thanks to the funding chain that started with the Innovation Fund, CBEFS is now a vital tool in support of Virginia’s multimillion dollar fishing and tourism industries.
“Chesapeake Bay stakeholders, including anglers, charter boat captains, aquaculturists, coastal resource managers and the general public continue to use our environmental forecasts, upon which they have come to depend,” said Friedrichs.
Similarly supported by the Innovation Fund, Derek Loftis’ StormSense project later secured $340,000 from the U.S. Geological Survey, while Lisa Kellogg’s RecFish app received four additional grants totaling $953,157 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Each of these projects enhanced knowledge of marine science, generated additional research funding and contributed to economic development and public engagement; precisely the type of ROI the Innovation Fund is designed to support.
A platform for ideas with purpose (and profit potential)
The Dean & Director’s Innovation Fund reflects a simple but powerful belief: when researchers are given the freedom and resources to be bold, their ideas can shape the future. In supporting concept-stage innovation, the program helps VIMS serve not only as a leader in marine research but also as an effective incubator for science-based, commercially viable entrepreneurship.
“I highly recommend other researchers apply for the Innovation Fund,” said Friedrichs. “This is a novel opportunity for scientists to pitch innovative ideas to secure support for new projects that might not be eligible for more standard funding.”
Song reiterated the unique possibilities made possible by the Innovation Fund. “It enables VIMS researchers and students to build collaborations that promote innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities. These opportunities, in turn, may lead to new commercial enterprises while enhancing learning opportunities for students and researchers alike.”