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
Join the SEA Lab!
SEA Lab is offering a number of research projects for undergraduate and MEng students in Fall 2022! Please email maha@cornell with interest by Thursday 9/1/22. For project descriptions, please see the COE/CIS project portal: ug-meng-projects.coecis.cornell.edu. Learn more about open positions on our Team Page as well.
Aug 30, 2022
Welcome to Dr. Arezoo Hasankhani to the SEA Lab!
We welcome Dr. Arezoo Hasankhani to the SEA Lab this summer! She joins the group as a postdoctoral researcher working on offshore energy system modeling and aquaculture after completing her PhD from Florida Atlantic University. Visit the SEA Lab team page to learn more!
June 1, 2022
Seawater mineral extraction project awarded New Frontier grant
Prof. Haji and the SEA Lab in collaboration with Prof. Wilson and the Wilson Research Group in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology were awarded one of seven New Frontier Grants from the College of Arts and Sciences to develop techniques for extracting the mineral lithium – a critical component of batteries, wind turbines, smart phones and many other devices – from seawater. Learn more about the project and other awards from the New Frontier Grants program that totaled $1.25 million featured on the Cornell Chronicle.
May 11, 2022
Congratulations to all the Spring 2022 Graduates from the SEA Lab!
Congratulations to SEA Lab members Ryan Cheng, Owais Khalid, and Ray Weng who graduated from Cornell University this spring! Ryan completed an MEng in Systems Engineering, Owais received an MEng in Chemical Engineering, and Ray completed his MEng degree in Computer Science.
May 28, 2022
Rebecca McCabe awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Congratulations to SEA Lab member Rebecca McCabe on being awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship! Rebecca is a PhD student in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering working on the design of offshore wind and wave renewable energy systems.
Apr 4, 2022
PhD student Matthew Haefner presents research at ICAE 2021
PhD student Matthew Haefner presented his research titled “Integrated Pumped Hydro Reverse Osmosis System Optimization with Enhanced Reverse Osmosis Modeling” at the 2021 International Conference on Applied Energy. Matthew discussed improvements he made for modeling the reverse osmosis desalination process in the IPHRO system and presented preliminary results of multi-objective optimization of the system to maximize both freshwater and renewable energy generation.
Nov 30, 2021
News
Join the SEA Lab!
SEA Lab is offering a number of research projects for undergraduate and MEng students in Fall 2022! Please email maha@cornell with interest by Thursday 9/1/22. For project descriptions, please see the COE/CIS project portal: ug-meng-projects.coecis.cornell.edu. Learn more about open positions on our Team Page as well.
Aug 30, 2022
Welcome to Dr. Arezoo Hasankhani to the SEA Lab!
We welcome Dr. Arezoo Hasankhani to the SEA Lab this summer! She joins the group as a postdoctoral researcher working on offshore energy system modeling and aquaculture after completing her PhD from Florida Atlantic University. Visit the SEA Lab team page to learn more!
June 1, 2022
Seawater mineral extraction project awarded New Frontier grant
Prof. Haji and the SEA Lab in collaboration with Prof. Wilson and the Wilson Research Group in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology were awarded one of seven New Frontier Grants from the College of Arts and Sciences to develop techniques for extracting the mineral lithium – a critical component of batteries, wind turbines, smart phones and many other devices – from seawater. Learn more about the project and other awards from the New Frontier Grants program that totaled $1.25 million featured on the Cornell Chronicle.
May 11, 2022
Congratulations to all the Spring 2022 Graduates from the SEA Lab!
Congratulations to SEA Lab members Ryan Cheng, Owais Khalid, and Ray Weng who graduated from Cornell University this spring! Ryan completed an MEng in Systems Engineering, Owais received an MEng in Chemical Engineering, and Ray completed his MEng degree in Computer Science.
May 28, 2022
Rebecca McCabe awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Congratulations to SEA Lab member Rebecca McCabe on being awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship! Rebecca is a PhD student in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering working on the design of offshore wind and wave renewable energy systems.
Apr 4, 2022
PhD student Matthew Haefner presents research at ICAE 2021
PhD student Matthew Haefner presented his research titled “Integrated Pumped Hydro Reverse Osmosis System Optimization with Enhanced Reverse Osmosis Modeling” at the 2021 International Conference on Applied Energy. Matthew discussed improvements he made for modeling the reverse osmosis desalination process in the IPHRO system and presented preliminary results of multi-objective optimization of the system to maximize both freshwater and renewable energy generation.
Nov 30, 2021
Selected Publications
Design and Testing of AUV Docking Modules for a Renewably Powered Offshore AUV Servicing Platform
M. N. Haji, J. Tran, J. Norheim, and O. L. de Weck
39th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore & Arctic Engineering 2020
An offshore solution to cobalt shortages via adsorption-based harvesting from seawater
M. N. Haji and A. H. Slocum
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews
Results of an Ocean Trial of the Symbiotic Machine for Ocean uRanium Extraction
M. N. Haji, J. A. Drysdale, K. O. Buesseler, and A. H. Slocum
Environmental Science & Technology
Integrated Pumped Hydro Reverse Osmosis systems
A. H. Slocum, M. N. Haji, A. Z. Trimble, M. Ferrara, and S. J. Saidi
Sustainable Energy & Technology Assessments
Selected Publications
Design and Testing of AUV Docking Modules for a Renewably Powered Offshore AUV Servicing Platform
M. N. Haji, J. Tran, J. Norheim, and O. L. de Weck
39th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore & Arctic Engineering 2020
An offshore solution to cobalt shortages via adsorption-based harvesting from seawater
M. N. Haji and A. H. Slocum
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews
Results of an Ocean Trial of the Symbiotic Machine for Ocean uRanium Extraction
M. N. Haji, J. A. Drysdale, K. O. Buesseler, and A. H. Slocum
Environmental Science & Technology
Integrated Pumped Hydro Reverse Osmosis systems
A. H. Slocum, M. N. Haji, A. Z. Trimble, M. Ferrara, and S. J. Saidi
Sustainable Energy & Technology Assessments
*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)