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
Affinito-Stewart grant awarded for automated feed distribution project
Prof. Haji and the SEA Lab were awarded one of twenty Affinito-Stewart research grants from the President’s Council of Cornell Women (PCCW) to design and test a sensor-driven automated feed distribution system for offshore aquaculture farms. Learn more about the project and other awards from the Affinito-Stewart program that totaled $195,166.
Dec 15, 2022
Welcome new members to the SEA Lab!
We welcome new PhD students Olivia Vitale and Nate DeGoede to the SEA Lab this Fall 2022 semester! Visit the SEA Lab team page to learn more!
Dec 1, 2022
SEA Lab at OpenMDAO Workshop
SEA Lab PhD student, Kapil Khanal, presented his work on the Multidisciplinary Design Optimization for Novel Offshore Systems at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH on October 24-25, 2022 as part of the 2022 OpenMDAO Workshop.
Oct 24, 2022
SEA Lab at the Chemical Separations Gordon Research Conference
The SEA Lab took part in the 2022 Chemical Separations Gordon Research Conference from October 2-7, 2022 in Ventura, CA. PhD student Olivia Murphy presented a poster on “A Review of Technologies for Direct Lithium Extraction from Low Li+ Concentration Aqueous Solutions.”
Oct 2, 2022
SEA Lab at UMERC+OREC 2022
The SEA Lab took part in the University Marine Energy Research Community (UMERC) and the Marine Energy Technology Symposium (METS) marine energy research conference from September 13-14, 2022 in Portland, OR. Prof. Haji gave the plenary talk titled “Unlocking the power of ocean energy: The need for standardization, and transfer of data and technology” and PhD student Rebecca McCabe presented on “Value Metrics and Global Impact Potential of Wave Energy.”
Sept 13, 2022
SEA Lab at ASME IDETC-CIE 2022
The SEA Lab took part in the 2022 ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference from August 14-17, 2022 in St. Louis, MO. PhD student Rebecca McCabe presented a new conference paper titled “Multidisciplinary Optimization to Reduce Cost and Power Variation of a Wave Energy Converter.”
Aug 14, 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
News
Affinito-Stewart grant awarded for automated feed distribution project
Prof. Haji and the SEA Lab were awarded one of twenty Affinito-Stewart research grants from the President’s Council of Cornell Women (PCCW) to design and test a sensor-driven automated feed distribution system for offshore aquaculture farms. Learn more about the project and other awards from the Affinito-Stewart program that totaled $195,166.
Dec 15, 2022
Welcome new members to the SEA Lab!
We welcome new PhD students Olivia Vitale and Nate DeGoede to the SEA Lab this Fall 2022 semester! Visit the SEA Lab team page to learn more!
Dec 1, 2022
SEA Lab at OpenMDAO Workshop
SEA Lab PhD student, Kapil Khanal, presented his work on the Multidisciplinary Design Optimization for Novel Offshore Systems at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH on October 24-25, 2022 as part of the 2022 OpenMDAO Workshop.
Oct 24, 2022
SEA Lab at the Chemical Separations Gordon Research Conference
The SEA Lab took part in the 2022 Chemical Separations Gordon Research Conference from October 2-7, 2022 in Ventura, CA. PhD student Olivia Murphy presented a poster on “A Review of Technologies for Direct Lithium Extraction from Low Li+ Concentration Aqueous Solutions.”
Oct 2, 2022
SEA Lab at UMERC+OREC 2022
The SEA Lab took part in the University Marine Energy Research Community (UMERC) and the Marine Energy Technology Symposium (METS) marine energy research conference from September 13-14, 2022 in Portland, OR. Prof. Haji gave the plenary talk titled “Unlocking the power of ocean energy: The need for standardization, and transfer of data and technology” and PhD student Rebecca McCabe presented on “Value Metrics and Global Impact Potential of Wave Energy.”
Sept 13, 2022
SEA Lab at ASME IDETC-CIE 2022
The SEA Lab took part in the 2022 ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference from August 14-17, 2022 in St. Louis, MO. PhD student Rebecca McCabe presented a new conference paper titled “Multidisciplinary Optimization to Reduce Cost and Power Variation of a Wave Energy Converter.”
Aug 14, 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
Selected Publications
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.
Multi-objective optimization of hybrid renewable energy systems for a prototypical coastal community
Y. Q. Ang, A. Polly, A. Kulkarni, G. Bahl Chambi, M. Hernandez, and M. N. Haji
Renewable Energy, 201 (1), 72-84, 2022.
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
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.
Multi-objective optimization of hybrid renewable energy systems for a prototypical coastal community
Y. Q. Ang, A. Polly, A. Kulkarni, G. Bahl Chambi, M. Hernandez, and M. N. Haji
Renewable Energy, 201 (1), 72-84, 2022.
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)