Four research teams at Princeton University have been awarded funding from the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund for projects aimed at advancing scientific understanding and technological innovation. The selected projects focus on automating small molecule structure determination, improving sustainable energy storage, accelerating natural hydrogen gas generation, and developing tools to monitor tropical marine ecosystems.
The Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund was established in 2009 through a gift from Eric and Wendy Schmidt. Eric Schmidt is known for his leadership roles as Executive Chairman and CEO of Relativity Space, co-founder of several philanthropic organizations, former CEO of Google, and former Executive Chairman of Alphabet Inc. He graduated from Princeton with a degree in electrical engineering in 1976 and served as a trustee from 2004 to 2008. Wendy Schmidt is also involved in science-focused foundations.
Princeton University Dean for Research Peter Schiffer commented on the impact of these awards: “Across engineering, computer science, chemistry and geosciences, the research teams supported by the Schmidt fund are developing novel solutions to persistent, thorny problems,” said Schiffer. “Their work holds great promise to spark transformative change that will make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and for our collective future.”
The awardees were chosen by an anonymous panel of faculty reviewers.
One project led by Ellen D. Zhong, assistant professor of computer science, and Mohammad R. Seyedsayamdost, professor of chemistry, seeks to automate the process of determining small molecule structures using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral analysis. Current methods require time-consuming experimentation; their approach involves expanding machine learning algorithms previously developed for peptide analysis to broader classes of small molecules. The researchers plan to compile a large database of NMR spectra for deep learning applications and release their algorithm as open-source software.
Another team headed by Rodney Priestley—dean of the Graduate School—and Craig Arnold—vice dean for innovation—is working on next-generation battery technology through improved hydrogel electrolytes. Their new method uses a green solvent made from choline chloride and glycerol instead of water to address issues like instability at low temperatures. The performance will be tested in zinc- and lithium-based prototype batteries with potential applications across renewable energy sectors.
A third group composed of Catherine Peters (director of the Program in Geological Engineering), Satish Myneni (professor of geosciences), and Emily Carter (senior strategic advisor at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory) focuses on boosting natural hydrogen production via mineral-driven reactions. Their research includes optimizing iron oxidation processes to increase hydrogen output significantly while exploring how these reactions can be coupled with carbon dioxide mineralization—a step toward making hydrogen generation carbon-negative.
The final project involves Curtis Deutsch (professor at High Meadows Environmental Institute) and Noelle Lucey (former associate research scholar). They aim to build SeaWASP—an autonomous underwater vehicle designed for collecting hydrographic data around coral reefs where observational information is scarce. Following tests off Puerto Rico’s coast, SeaWASP data will train machine learning models to assess reef health in real-time and forecast environmental threats.
These four projects exemplify Princeton’s commitment to supporting innovative technologies that could drive significant changes across multiple fields.
