URIs_MOMENTUM_Research_and_Innovation_Magazine_Spring_2026_M

Momentum: ANNUAL REVIEW OF URI’S RESEARCH IMPACT

FEATURED INSIDE

34 Detecting Disease Earlier for Better Outcomes 38 A Debt to History, Why URI’s Land-Grant Mission Still Matters 46 URI Researchers Bringing Innovations from Lab Bench to Market 52 Prototyping Accessibility 55 Unlocking the Mystery of Gravitational Waves Light Years Away to the Phone in Your Pocket

6 URI Research By The Numbers 8 Economic Impacts of URI’s Federal Research Funding 10 The Impacts of Student Research Lay the Foundation for Entrepreneurial Success 14 Inspiring Student Research Leads to a Career at Adobe 18 Spreadsheets to Stardom: How Undergraduate Research Experience Prepared Actress and Author Aria Mia Loberti 22 RI Sea Grant Connects Communities to Critical Coastal and Ocean Science

58 URI Research and

Scholarship Photo Contest Winners 2025

28 Engaging Students in Real World Research

Contributing Writers Chris Barrett ‘08 Michael Blanding Monica Alard Cox Anna Vaccaro Gray ’12, M.S. ’16 Shaun Kirby ‘07 Molly Stevens ‘20 Layout & Design: Krisanne Murray, DesignRoom.co Photography: Beau Jones

Momentum: Annual Review of URI’s Research Impact is published by the vice president for Research and Economic Development with editorial, graphic design, and production by the Office of University Research External Relations.

For more information contact: Melissa McCarthy, M.A. ‘99, Editor-in-Chief Director, University Research External Relations University of Rhode Island

DIVISION OF RESEARCH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

75 Lower College Road Kingston, RI 02881 USA Telephone: 401.874.2599 E-mail: melissa@uri.edu

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