Research Funding
$46 Million as PI or co-PI since 09/2008, $34M as PI or campus PI, Prof. Zuo's share $29M
Active Projects (25, including 6 contracts in negotiation*)
DOE/ NOWRDC
Design and Validation of a Passive Nonlinear Energy Sink for Robust Mitigation of VIV Effects on HVDC Dynamic Cables
$1,000,000
?/2025 – ?/2028*
Lei Zuo (PI), A. Vakakis, M. Hall, N Mavrodontis
DOE
A Universal Hardware-in-the-Loop Platform for WEC, Power Take-off and Control Tests
$998,739
?/2025- ?/2028*
Lei Zuo (PI), R Coye, J Grasberger
DOE
Regenerative Mooring Load Absorber for Floating Wave Energy Converters
$994,194
?/2025- ?/2028*
Lei Zuo, X. Li, S Housner, M Hall
DOE
Leveraging Lab Test Bench to Create Database for WEC PTOs through Standardized Testing
$500,00
?/2025- ?/2028*
Lei Zuo, X Li, and S Lambert
ARPA-e
Multi-Material Direct Joining and UnJoining for Easy EV Battery Cell-to-Module/Pack Assembly and Disassembly for Maximal Circularity
$2,540,027
?/2025- ?/2028*
Pingsha Dong (PI), Lei Zuo, L Chen, J Li, Q Chen, T Rinker
DOE
Adaptive Hybrid Noise Mitigation for Offshore Wind Turbine Construction using Metamaterials
$2,401,977
?/2025- ?/2028*
Lei Zuo (PI), D Dowling, D Deng, T Tian, Y Qin, Y. Zhang
NSF
IUCRC Phase I University of Michigan: Center for Growing Ocean Energy Technologies and the Blue Economy (GO Blue)
$1,050,000
11/2024- 10/2029
Lei Zuo (PI), J Sun, KW Wang, P Dong, G Dick
NSF
NSF Workshop: Developing Future Workforce for Marine Renewable Energy Technologies and Blue Economy
$99,992
08/2024- 07/2025
Lei Zuo (PI), J Sun, KW Wang, M Zint
NSF
Collaborative Research: GCR: Engineering, SocioEnvironmental and Economic Convergence of Ocean Wave Energy Research for Remote Coastal Communities
$3,600,000 $2,491,769 to UM
09/2024- 08/2029
Lei Zuo (PI), J Scruggs, D Deng, D Tafti, E Wade, L Dubbs
NSF
Collaborative Research: Development of a novel selfpowered multimodal pH, pressure and temperature MEMS sensor for marine carbon dioxide removal
$400,000
09/2024- 08/2027
Lei Zuo
NSF
IRES: Fostering Ocean Renewable Energy Expertise through International Collaborations with European Countries
$448,041
09/2024- 08/2027
Lei Zuo, Xiaofan Li
DOE
Additive Manufacturing of Nanocrystalline Enhanced Magnetic Materials for Electrical Motors
$2,600,247 My share $1.2M
04/2024- 07/2027
Lei Zuo (PI), J Cui, P Paranthaman, H Yu, A Kulkarni,
UM Institute for Social Research
ISR Pilot Project: Addressing Energy Inequality in Rural Communities through Ocean Wave Energy: A Case Study in Beaver Island
$150,000
06/2024- 06/2026
Xiaofan Li (PI), L. Zuo, S. Lee
UM GSI
Graham Sustainability Institute Catalyst Grant: Feasibility Study on Powering the Remote Communities Through Marine Energy
$10,000
05/2024- 05/2026
Xiaofan Li (PI), Lei Zuo, A Fujisaki-Manome
NOAA/ CIGLR
Enable Year-round Great Lakes Observation with Floating Offshore Platform to Power Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
$40,000
12/2024- 12/2025
Lei Zuo
NSF
MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of an Accelerating Rate Calorimeter System for Multidisciplinary Research, Education and Outreach
$432,400
09/2023- 08/2026
Lei Chen (PI), Lei Zuo (SP)
UM
ERC Center planning: Marine energy and the blue energy
$100,000
04/202312/2025
Lei Zuo
DOE- ARPA-E
Self-powered Wireless Hybrid Density/Level Sensing with Differential Pressure Sensors for Safeguarding and Monitoring of Electrochemical Processing of Nuclear Spent Fuel
$2,711,342 My share $425,00
01/20131/2026
Lei Zuo co-PI (UMich) with Haifeng Zhang as the PI (UNT)
NSF
LEAP HI: U.S.-Ireland R&D Partnership: Control Co-Design for Ocean Wave Energy Conversion
$1,520,343
09/2022- 09/2026
Lei Zuo (62%) and Danesh Tafti (38%)
DOE- ARPA-E
Bio‐Inspired Renewable Energy (BIRE) for Highly-efficient Low-cost Riverine Hydrokinetics
$3,500,000 My share $750,000
08/2021- 08/2025
Hilary Bart-Smith (PI, UVA), Lei Zuo, Eric Loth, K Moored, G Bacelli
NSF & USDA
Collaborative Research: NRI: Ocean-Powered Robots for Autonomous Offshore Aquaculture
$1,000,000 My share $375,000
09/2021- 08/2025
L. Zuo, with T. Furukawa, B Englot, L Wu, Y Jiao
ONR
Light-weight portable marine and hydrokinetic energy converter
$880,034 (180,535 +699,499)
03/202111/2025
Lei Zuo (PI 100%)
DOE/ NOWRDC
Dual-Functional Tuned Inerter Damper for Enhanced Semi-Sub Offshore Wind Turbine
$800,000
09/2021 – 09/2025
Lei Zuo (PI, 75%) and Biao Fang (GE)
NSF
Collaborative Research: GOALI: Bioinspired energy harvesting for fish telemetry tags
$490,304 ($290,304 my share)
09/2019- 08/2025
Lei Zuo (lead PI), M. Hajj (S.I.T.), D. Deng (PNNL), P. Kuechle (ATS)
NSF
Creating Ocean Wave Powered Resilient FEW Systems in Saline Coastal Regions
$500,000
09/201910/2025
Lei Zuo (PI, 80%), D. Lee
Completed Projects (100)
ONR
Low-Speed Universal Dynamometer to Accelerate Marine Energy Research
$440,000
09/2022- 04/2025
Lei Zuo (100%)
DOE/ NOWRDC
Stabilizing the Dynamics of Subsea Power Cables of using Retrofit Nonlinear Energy Sinks
$300,000
1/2023 – 2/2025
Lei Zuo (PI), A. Vakakis, M. Hall, O Barry
UM Provst
Marine energy field trip to Taiwan
$24,000
05/2024- 04/2025
Lei Zuo
NOAA via SEAS/CIG LR
Modeling two-way ice-wave interactions in the Great Lakes
$93,587
11/2023- 12/2024
Lei Zuo
DOE/ NREL
INDEEP Competition Prize
$65,000
2024
Suyi Li, L Zuo, Z Tian
DOE/ NREL
Power at Sea Competition Prize
$10,000
2024
L Zuo, Y Yang
NSF
Collaborative Research: Net-Shape and Scalable Additive Manufacturing for Thermoelectric Waste Heat Recovery Materials and Devices using Selective Laser Melting
$704,780 (VT PI $263,650 my share)
07/2019- 06/2024
Lei Zuo (lead PI), Sheng Shen (CMU), Jihui Yang (UW)
UM
POWER Great Lakes: Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Research in the Great Lakes
$75,000
08/23- 05/24
Lei Zuo
NSF CEHMS
CHEMS Center IAB Project Subcontracts (Six)
$375,275
05/2023- 12/2024
Lei Zuo
DOE/ NREL
2024 HCC competition
$10,000
08/2023- 08/2024
Lei Zuo
DOE/ NREL
2024 Collegiate Wind Competition
$2,000
08/2023- 08/2024
Lei Zuo
NSF
EAGER: Collaborative Research: Feasibility of Energy-Harvesting Real-time Under-ice Monitoring System in the Arctic Ocean
$300,000
08/2021- 12/2023
Y. Yang (PI) L Zuo (25%), M. Manteghi, I. Polyakov
DOE TEAMER
Assessing Structure Integrity of a SelfReactive Point Absorber Subjected to Extreme Sea Conditions
$120,000
06/2021- 12/2024
Lei Zuo with ABS
NSF
Phase II IUCRC Virginia Tech: Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems
$608,000
08/2017- 12/2023
L. Zuo (PI), M. Hajj, S. Priya, D. Ha, S. Shahab
DOE/ NREL
2023 MECC competition: A Mobile Backward Bent-Duct Buoy for Ocean Monitoring
$20,000
08/2022- 08/2023
Lei Zuo
DOE/ NREL
2023 MECC competition: WEC to power remote communities
$20,000
08/2022- 08/2023
Jing Sun and Lei Zuo
DOE TEAMER
Mooring Modelling and Analysis for Floating Oscillating Surge Wave Energy Converter
$120,000
06/202112/2022
Lei Zuo with NREL
DOE TEAMER
Compared techno-economic analysis on the floating point absorber type of Wave Energy Converters
$80,000
06/202212/2023
Lei Zuo with ReVision
DOE
Floating oscillating surge wave energy converter using controllable efficient power takeoff system
$1,800,000 ($710,000 my share)
05/2020- 05/2023
D. Hajj (PI, S.I.T.), L Zuo (co-PI), M. Gay (co-PI, RME)
4VA
4-VA: Combining Energy Harvesting and Storage for Ultralong Duration Powering of Devices
$30,000
08/2022- 08/2023
Gary Koenig (UVA) and Lei Zuo
DOE/ NREL
2023 HCC competition: Preserving Water Resources for Hydropower Plants
$10,000
08/2022- 08/2023
Lei Zuo
DOE/ NREL
Wave Drinker: Ocean Wave Powered Seawater Desalination (DOE Wave to Water Prize Competition)
$57,000 (for phases I and II)
1/2020- 12/2022
Lei Zuo (PI, 70%), and Shihong Lin (Vanderbilt)
DOE TEAMER
Testing for power electronics converter for ocean wave energy converters
$75,000
06/2020- 05/2023
Lei Zuo with NREL
VT ME
Toward a national marine energy and blue economy center (early terminated because of my leave from VT to UMich)
$200,000
12/2021- 3/2023
Lei Zuo (PI), D. Tafti, J. Zhang
DOE/ NREL
2022 MECC competition: A hybrid wave and wind energy conversion
$20,000
08/2021- 08/2022
Lei Zuo and Feng Qian
DOE/ NREL
2022 MECC competition: Self-powered and self-propelled ocean observing
$14,000
08/2021- 08/2022
Lei Zuo, Xiaofan Li, M. Liu
AGPC
An energy efficient building with lightweight wall panel
$40,000
10/2021- 10/2022
H Yin (Columbia) and Lei Zuo (50%)
VT EFO
Marine Energy and Blue Economy Research and Education Center: Planning
$10,000
10/2021- 06/2022
Lei Zuo
ONR
Energy Harvesting Backpack with High Specific Power and Broadband using a Dual Mass-inerter and Mechanical Motion Rectification
$528,314
06/2018- 02/2022
Lei Zuo (PI, 80%) and R. Queen
USAID-Egypt
Evaluation of Combinations of Energy Harvesting and Desalination Technologies
$148,129
04/201812/2021
L Zuo (50%), M. Hajj
DOE STTR
DOE STTR Phase I: A Self-reactive Marine Energy Converter to Power Ocean Aquaculture
$200,000
07/2020 –06/2021
L Zuo (PI, 40%), J Lou, R Cordero
EPA
Portable Desalination Using Ocean and Solar Energy
$25,000 (phase I)
09/2019- 08/2021
Lei Zuo (PI, 100%)
Ford
Additive Manufacturing of Nanocrystalline-Enhanced Soft Magnetic Cores
$189,878
12/2021- 12/2024
Lei Zuo (PI 70%) and H Yu
SPDL
A personal rapid transit prototype
$80,000
06/202112/2024
Lei Zuo (75%) and H Yin (Columbia)
CEHMS
Stabilizing Off-shore Floating Wind Platform Using Dual-functional Wave Energy Converter (via)
$80,000
1/2020- 12/2024
Lei Zuo (PI, 100%)
Sandia National Lab
Integrated Design and Control of an Efficient Power Takeoff using Active Motion Rectifier (via CEHMS)
$40,000
09/2020- 09/2021
Lei Zuo (PI, 100%)
DOE/ NREL
MECC competition: Unmanned ocean waste collection powered by marine energy
$15,000
12/2020- 07/2021
Lei Zuo and Feng Qian
DOE/ NREL
MECC competition: Ocean observation buoys
$12,000
12/2020- 07/2021
Lei Zuo and Qiaofeng Li
4-VA
Power Blue Economy using Ocean Energy Harvesting
$30,000
03/2020- 03/2021
Lei Zuo (PI, 83%), and R Zimmerman,
DOE/ NREL
BlueLink (DOE NOAA Ocean Observing Prize Competition)
$10,000 (phase I)
5/2020- 05/2021
Lei Zuo (PI) and Y. Yang (co-PI)
DOE/ NREL
Hybrid wave-current energy converter for powering the blue economy (DOE marine energy collegiate competition)
$15,000
11/2019- 07/2020
Lei Zuo (PI, 100%)
DOE/ NREL
Oscillating surge wave energy converter for powering the blue economy (one of the top 20 teams DOE energy marine energy collegiate competition)
$15,000
11/2019- 07/2020
Huiming Yin (PI, Columbia Univ), Lei Zuo (co PI)
DOE/ NREL
MMR-based point absorber wave energy converter for powering the blue economy (one of the top 20 teams for DOE energy marine energy collegiate competition)
$15,000
11/2019- 07/2020
S. Brizzolara (PI), Lei Zuo (co PI)
ONR
DURIP: Acquisition of a Laser Powder Bed Fusion System to Transform the Additive Manufacturing Value Chain
$270,000
03/2019- 03/2020
Chris Williams (PI, 20%), Lei Zuo (20%), James Kong (15%), et al
Westinghouse Inc
Fabrication of multilayer ceramic capacitors for radiation resistance and temperature stability (via CEHMS)
$60,000
1/2019- 05/2020
D. Viehland (PI), L Zuo (30%)
European Union Marinet2
Simultaneous Ocean Wave and Current Energy Harvesting using a Single Power Takeoff System
$80,000 (2 weeks of wave basin time)
04/2019- 09/2019
Lei Zuo (PI) and Rob Parker
iDriver Plus Ltd
Autonomous Vehicle Decision and Control using P2V Technology (via CEHMS)
$80,000
11/2018- 12/2020
Lei Zuo (PI, 100%)
DOT/ UTC
Autonomous Emergency Navigation to a Safe Roadside Location
$63,083
01/2018- 01/2020
T. Furukawa (PI), L.Zuo (25%), Parker, Zoerzaph
NSFC
Technology and Innovation of One-way Rotating Electromagnetic Vibration Energy Harvester for Railroad
¥180,000 ($27,000)
12/2017- 12/2019
Lei Zuo (PI)
SWTJU
Key technology and the dynamic coupling between rail track and energy harvesting
¥150,000 ($25,000)
12/2017- 12/2019
Lei Zuo (PI)
DOE
Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting
$2,000,000
03/2016- 04/2020
Lei Zuo (PI), R. Parker, K. Ngo
DOE
Self-powered Wireless Through-wall Data Communication for Nuclear Environments
$1,000,000
10/2016- 09/2020
Lei Zuo (pi, 43%) H. Zhang, R. Kisner, D. Ha
CRCF (VA)
Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting
$100,000
7/2016- 4/2020
Lei Zuo (PI), Ngo, Parker
US Army
Energy Harvesting Backpack
$169,277
05/20166/2017
Lei Zuo (PI)
CRRC Inc
Vibration Energy Harvester for Railcar (via CEHMS)
$168,000
02/201612/2020
Lei Zuo (PI, 100%)
VT, SEC, ICAT, ICATS
Smart Drill Field: Energy Harvesting and Lighting
$96,000
03/2016- 03/2019
Hajj, McGrath, Zuo (30%), Ishida, Kennedy
DOT/ UTRC-II
Mitigation of Transportation Induced Vibration Using Seismic Metamaterials
$50,000
10/2016- 12/2017
L. Wang (PI) , Lei Zuo (20%)
NSF
REU Supplement for GOALI: Energy Efficient and Reliable Motion Mechanism for Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting
$10,000
Summer 2016
Lei Zuo (PI)
DOE
DOE NEUP fellowship
$50,000
06/2016- 05/2017
Zuo’s Student Jackson Klein
CRCF
Railroad Energy Harvesting System
$100,000
7/2016- 6/2018
Lei Zuo (PI )
CRCF
Ultra-High Energy Efficiency Footwear Power Generators
$100,000
7/2016- 10/2017
T. Xu (PI), L Zuo (co-PI,40%)
ICATS ERC initiative
ICATS ERC planning initiative: ERC for Data Analytics for the Design, Modeling and Monitoring of Physical Systems
$60,000
12/2016- 12/2017
Hajj (PI), Ramakrishnan, Zuo (20%), et al
ICTAS energy& materials initiative
Smart Building and Smart City
$50,000
05/201612/2017
Rahman, Zuo (20%), Little, Dhillon, Kuzlu
NSF
GOALI: Collaborative Research: Energy harvesting nanorods-enhanced MEMS temperature-insensitive gas sensor for combustion monitoring and control
$150,000
07/201512/2019 (no-cost extension)
Lei Zuo (PI, 100%)
NSF
NeTS: Small: Long-range Ocean Communication Links Powered by Energy Harvesting
$200,000
10/2015- 09/2018
Y. Yang (PI) L Zuo (33%), M. Manteghi
NSF
REU Supplement for GOALI: Energy Efficient and Reliable Motion Mechanism for Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting
$4,000
Summer 2015
Lei Zuo (PI)
Abbvie Inc
Development of high throughput miniaturized calorimeter for pharmaceutical R&D
$258,176
05/2015- 05/2019
Lei Zuo (PI, 100%)
CRCF
Energy-Harvesting Controllable Vehicle Suspensions
$100,000
07/20153/2017
Lei Zuo (PI), Ngo, Corina, Southward, Ahmadian
Crystal Instrum.
Vibration Control and Dynamic Analyzer (Equipment)
$40,000
02/2015
Lei Zuo (PI, 100%)
DOE
Self-powered Wireless Dual-mode Langasite Sensor for Pressure/Temperature Monitoring of Nuclear Reactors
$800,000
02/201410/2018
Lei Zuo (PI), H. Zhang, J. Lian
NSF
GOALI: Energy Efficient and Reliable Motion Mechanism for Ocean Wave Energy
$300,000
09/2014- 08/2018
Lei Zuo (PI)
Power Bridge NY
Electromagnetic Railway Energy Harvester
$150,000
04/20144/2016
Lei Zuo (PI),
ONR
High-Power-Density Portable Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters (SBU changed the PI when I moved to VT and I didn’t involve in this project any more.)
$556,356
02/2014- 02/2017
Lei Zuo ( sole PI at SBU 63%), T. Xu (at NIA 27%)
SUNY/RF
Energy-Harvesting Speed Bump
$7,000
2014- 2014
Lei Zuo (PI)
Tsinghua Univ.
Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting from Vehicle Exhaust Heat
¥100,000 ($15,000)
2014- 2015
Lei Zuo (PI)
Abbott Inc
MED64 microelectrdoe array system (Equipment)
$100,000
01/2014
Lei Zuo (PI, 100%)
NSF
GOALI/Collaborative Research: Selfpowered Dual-mode Piezoelectric Resonant Pressure/ Temperature Sensors for Oil and Gas Field Explorations
$190,000
09/2013- 08/2018
Lei Zuo (PI)
EPA
Ocean Wave Energy Harvester with a Novel Power Takeoff Mechanism
$105,000
08/20138/2016
Lei Zuo (PI)
NSF
IDBR: Development of Ultrasensitive, Superfast, and Microliter-Volume Differential Scanning Nanocalorimeter for Direct Characterization of Biomolecular Interactions
$300,000
01/201312/2017
Lei Zuo (PI)
NYSERD A
Development and Commercialization of Energy-Harvesting Controllable Suspension Systems
$249,914
2013- 2016
Lei Zuo (PI)
SUNY/RF
Innovative Power Takeoff for Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting
$100,000
2013- 2014
Lei Zuo (PI), X. Wang, Warkentine
SBU-BNL
Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting, 2013 SBU BNL Seed Grant (Competitive)
$40,000
2013- 2014
Lei Zuo (PI), X Wang, and Butcher
DOE
Thermoelectric-Driven Sustainable Sensing and Actuation Systems for Fault-Tolerant Nuclear Incidents
$599,802
10/2012- 09/2015
J Longtin (PI), L Zuo (25%), Hwang, Chyu
NYSERD A
Energy Harvesting from Railway Vibration for Trackside Electrification
$187,651
2012- 2015
Lei Zuo (PI)
NYSERD A
Innovative Manufacturing Approach to Fabricate Thermoelectric Devices Directly onto Waste Heat Components
$100,000
2012- 2013
J Longtin (PI), Lei Zuo (25%), and D.Hwang
DOT
On-road Energy Harvesting for Traffic Monitoring
$50,000
2012- 2014
Lei Zuo (PI), X. Ban
Ford Motor
Energy Regeneration and Damper Control Using Energy-Harvesting Absorbers
$25,000
2012- 2017
Lei Zuo (PI, 100%)
SBU OVPR
Research cash match from SBU OVPR, for project funded by SUNY TAF “ Vibration Energy Harvesting for Transportations
$16,000
2012- 2014
Lei Zuo (PI)
DOT
Energy Harvesting from Railway Track Vibrations
$50,000
2011- 2013
Lei Zuo (PI)
DOT
Faculty Development Minigrant Award
$6,465
2011- 2012
Lei Zuo (PI)
NYSERD A
Vehicle Thermoelectric Energy Recovery: Assessment of Waste Heat Sources
$50,000
2011- 2012
Lei Zuo (PI), Longtin, and Sampath
SUNY/RF
Technology Commercialization of Vibration Energy Harvesting for Transportation
$150,000
2011- 2014
Lei Zuo (PI)
SBU-BNL
Thermoelectric Waste Heat Recovery, 2011 SBU BNL Seed Grant (Competitive)
$60,000
2011- 2013
Lei Zuo (PI)), Longtin, and Sampath
SBU Energy
Equipment Fund from SBU Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center
$180,000
2011- 2012
Lei Zuo (PI)
SBU VP Admin.
Speed Bump Energy Harvesting, support from SBU Sr. VP of Administration,
$6,000
2011- 2012
Lei Zuo (PI))
SBU OVPR
Research cash match from SBU OVPR, for the project funded by NSF/DOE Thermoelectrics Partnership
$100,258
2010- 2013
Lei Zuo (PI), Longtin, and Sampath
NSF-DOE
NSF/DOE Thermoelectrics Partnership: Integrated Design and Manufacturing of Cost-Effective and Industrial-Scalable TEG for Vehicle Applications
$530,535
10/2010- 09/2015
Lei Zuo (PI) J J. Longtin, S.
Sampth, Q. Li and B Li
NSF
Vibration Control of Tall Buildings using Electricity Generating Tuned Mass Dampers
$260,000
09/2010- 08/2015
Lei Zuo (PI)
Electric Truck LLC
Energy harvesting from rail tracks
$47,093
08/2010- 072012
Lei Zuo (PI, 100%)
NYSERD A
Regenerative Shock Absorbers for Energy Harvesting from Vehicle Suspensions
$81,000
2009- 2012
Lei Zuo (PI)