Research Funding
$34 Million as PI or co-PI since 09/2008, $25M as PI or campus PI, Prof. Zuo's share $22M
Active Projects (26)
NSF
IUCRC Phase I University of Michigan: Center for Growing Ocean Energy Technologies and the Blue Economy (GO Blue)
Lei Zuo (PI), K. Wang, J. Sun, G. Dick, P. Dong
$1,050,000
11/2024 - 10/2029
NSF
IRES: Fostering Ocean Renewable Energy Expertise through International Collaborations with European Countries
Xiaofan Li (PI), Lei Zuo
$448,041
09/2024 - 08/2027
NSF
Collaborative Research: Development of a novel self-powered Multimodal pH, pressure and temperature MEMS sensor for marine carbon dioxide removal
Lei Zuo
$400,000
09/2024 - 08/2025
NSF
Conference: NSF Workshop: Developing Future Workforce for Marine Renewable Energy Technologies and Blue Economy
Lei Zuo (PI), M. Zint, K. Wang, J. Sun
$99,992
08/2024 - 07/2025
UM GSI
Graham Sustainability Institute Catalyst Grant: Feasibility Study on Powering the Remote Communities Through Marine Energy
Xiaofan Li (PI), Lei Zuo, A Fujisaki-Manome
$10,000
05/2024 - 05/2026
UM Institute for Social Research
ISR Pilot Project: Addressing Energy Inequality in Rural Communities through Ocean Wave Energy: A Case Study in Beaver Island
Xiaofan Li (PI), L. Zuo, S. Lee
$150,000
06/2024 - 06/2026
CIGLR
Enable Year-round Great Lake Observation with Floating Offshore Platform to Power Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
Graduate Research Fellowship for Wei-Ying Wong
$40,000
01/2025 - 12/2025
DOE/ NREL
2025 MECC competition
Lei Zuo
$20,000
07/2024 - 07/2025
DOE/ NREL
2025 HCC competition
Lei Zuo
$10,000
07/2024 - 07/2025
DOE
Additive Manufacturing of Nanocrystalline Enhanced Magnetic Materials for Electrical Motors
Lei Zuo (PI), J Cui, P Paranthaman, H Yu, A Kulkarni
$2,600,247
My share $1.2M
04/2024 - 07/2027
NOAA via SEAS/CIGLR
Modeling two-way ice-wave interactions in the Great Lakes
Lei Zuo
$93,587
11/2023 - 10/2024
NSF CEHMS
CHEMS Center IAB Project Subcontracts (Six)
Lei Zuo
$375,275
05/2023-12/2024
NSF
MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of an Accelerating Rate Calorimeter System for Multidisciplinary Research, Education and Outreach
Lei Chen (PI), Lei Zuo (SP)
$432,400
09/2023 - 08/2026
UM
POWER Great Lakes: Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Research in the Great Lakes
Lei Zuo
$75,000
08/2023 - 05/2024
UM
ERC Center planning: Marine energy and the blue energy
Lei Zuo
$100,000
04/2023 - 05/2025
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
Lei Zuo co-PI (UMich) with Haifeng Zhang as the PI (UNT)
$2,711,342
My share $425,00
01/2013 - 01/2026
DOE/ NOWRDC
Stabilizing the Dynamics of Subsea Power Cables of using Retrofit Nonlinear Energy Sinks
Lei Zuo (PI), A. Vakakis, M. Hall, O Barry
$300,000
12/2023 –12/2024
NSF
LEAP HI: U.S.-Ireland R&D Partnership: Control Co-Design for Ocean
Wave Energy Conversion
Lei Zuo (62%) and Danesh Tafti (38%)
$1,520,343
09/2022 - 09/2026
ONR
Low-Speed Universal Dynamometer to Accelerate Marine Energy
Research
Lei Zuo
$440,000
09/2022 - 08/2025
DOE-ARPA-E
Bio‐Inspired Renewable Energy (BIRE) for Highly-efficient Low-cost Riverine Hydrokinetics
Hilary Bart-Smith (PI, UVA), Lei Zuo, Eric Loth, K Moored, G Bacelli
$3,500,000
My share $750,000
08/2021 - 02/2025
NSF & USDA
Collaborative Research: NRI: Ocean-Powered Robots for Autonomous Offshore Aquaculture
L. Zuo, T. Furukawa, B Englot, L Wu, Y Jiao
$1,000,000
My share $375,000
09/2021 - 08/2025
ONR
Light-weight portable marine and hydrokinetic energy converter
Lei Zuo
$880,034
03/2021 - 03/2025
DOE/ NOWRDC
Dual-Functional Tuned Inerter Damper for Enhanced Semi-Sub Offshore Wind Turbine
Lei Zuo (PI, 75%) and Biao Fang (GE)
$880,000
09/2021 - 12/2024
NSF
Collaborative Research: GOALI: Bio-inspired energy harvesting for fish telemetry tags
Lei Zuo (lead PI), M. Hajj (S.I.T.), D. Deng (PNNL), P. Kuechle (ATS)
$490,304
My share $290,304
09/2019 - 08/2025
NSF
Creating Ocean Wave Powered Resilient FEW Systems in Saline Coastal Regions
Lei Zuo (PI, 80%), D. Lee
$500,000
09/2019 - 08/2025
NSF
Collaborative Research: Net-Shape and Scalable Additive Manufacturing for Thermoelectric Waste Heat Recovery Materials and Devices using Selective Laser Melting
Lei Zuo (lead PI), Sheng Shen (CMU), Jihui Yang (UW)
$704,780
My share $263,650
07/2019 - 07/2024
Completed Projects (87)
DOE/ NREL
2024 HCC competition: Converting Non-Powered Dams to Hydroelectric Dams
Lei Zuo
$10,000
07/2023 - 07/2024
NSF
EAGER: Collaborative Research: Feasibility of Energy-Harvesting Real-time Under-ice Monitoring System in the Arctic Ocean
Y. Yang (PI) L Zuo (25%), M. Manteghi, I. Polyakov
$300,000
08/2021 - 12/2023
DOE TEAMER
Assessing Structure Integrity of a Self-Reactive Point Absorber Subjected to Extreme Sea Conditions
Lei Zuo with ABS
$120,000
06/2021 - 12/2022
NSF
Phase II IUCRC Virginia Tech: Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems
L. Zuo (PI), M. Hajj, S. Priya, D. Ha, S. Shahab
$608,000
08/2017 - 12/2023
DOE/ NREL
2023 MECC competition: A Mobile Backward Bent-Duct Buoy for Ocean Monitoring
Lei Zuo
$20,000
08/2022 - 08/2023
DOE/ NREL
2023 MECC competition: WEC to power remote communities
Jing Sun and Lei Zuo
$20,000
08/2022 - 08/2023
DOE TEAMER
Mooring Modelling and Analysis for Floating Oscillating Surge Wave Energy Converter
Lei Zuo with NREL
$120,000
06/2021 - 12/2022
DOE TEAMER
Compared techno-economic analysis on the floating point absorber type of Wave Energy Converters
Lei Zuo with ReVision
$80,000
06/2022 - 12/2023
DOE
Floating oscillating surge wave energy converter using controllable efficient power takeoff system
D. Hajj (PI, S.I.T.), L Zuo (co-PI), M. Gay (co-PI, RME)
$1,800,000
My share $710,000
05/2020 - 05/2023
4VA
4-VA: Combining Energy Harvesting and Storage for Ultralong Duration Powering of Devices
Gary Koenig (UVA) and Lei Zuo
$30,000
08/2022 - 08/2023
DOE/ NREL
2023 HCC competition: Preserving Water Resources for Hydropower Plants
Lei Zuo
$10,000
08/2022 - 08/2023
DOE/ NREL
Wave Drinker: Ocean Wave Powered Seawater Desalination (DOE Wave to Water Prize Competition)
Lei Zuo (PI, 70%), and Shihong Lin (Vanderbilt)
$57,000
(for phases I and II)
01/2020 - 12/2022
DOE TEAMER
Testing for power electronics converter for ocean wave energy converters
Lei Zuo with NREL
$75,000
06/2020 - 05/2023
VT ME
Toward a national marine energy and blue economy center (early terminated because of my leave from VT to UMich)
Lei Zuo (PI), D. Tafti, J. Zhang
$200,000
12/2021 - 3/2023
DOE/ NREL
2022 MECC competition: A hybrid wave and wind energy conversion
Lei Zuo and Feng Qian
$20,000
08/2021 - 08/2022
DOE/ NREL
2022 MECC competition: Self-powered and self-propelled ocean observing
Lei Zuo, Xiaofan Li, M. Liu
$14,000
08/2021-08/2022
AGPC
An energy efficient building with lightweight wall panel
H Yin (Columbia) and Lei Zuo (50%)
$40,000
10/2021 - 10/2022
VT EFO
Marine Energy and Blue Economy Research and Education Center: Planning
Lei Zuo
$10,000
10/2021 - 06/2022
ONR
Energy Harvesting Backpack with High Specific Power and Broadband using a Dual Mass-inerter and Mechanical Motion Rectification
Lei Zuo (PI, 80%) and R. Queen
$528,314
06/2018 - 02/2022
USAID-Egypt
Evaluation of Combinations of Energy Harvesting and Desalination Technologies
Lei Zuo (50%), M. Hajj
$148,129
My share $750,000
04/2018 - 12/2021
DOE STTR
DOE STTR Phase I: A Self-reactive Marine Energy Converter to Power Ocean Aquaculture
L. Zuo (PI, 40%), J. Lou, R. Cordero
$200,000
07/2020 - 06/2021
EPA
Portable Desalination Using Ocean and Solar Energy
Lei Zuo
$25,000 (phase I)
09/2019 - 08/2021
Sandia National Lab
Integrated Design and Control of an Efficient Power Takeoff using Active Motion Rectifier (via CEHMS)
Lei Zuo
$40,000
09/2020 - 09/2021
DOE/ NREL
MECC competition: Unmanned ocean waste collection powered by marine energy
Lei Zuo and Feng Qian
$15,000
12/2020 - 07/2021
DOE/ NREL
MECC competition: Ocean observation buoys
Lei Zuo and Qiaofeng Li
$12,000
12/2020 - 07/2021
4-VA
Power Blue Economy using Ocean Energy Harvesting
Lei Zuo (PI, 83%), and R Zimmerman
$30,000
03/2020 - 03/2021
DOE/ NREL
BlueLink (DOE NOAA Ocean Observing Prize Competition)
Lei Zuo (PI) and Y. Yang (co-PI)
$10,000
5/2020 - 05/2021
DOE/ NREL
Hybrid wave-current energy converter for powering the blue economy (DOE marine energy collegiate competition)
Lei Zuo
$15,000
11/2019 - 07/2020
DOE/ NREL
Oscillating surge wave energy converter for powering the blue economy (one of the top 20 teams DOE energy marine energy collegiate competition)
Huiming Yin (PI, Columbia Univ), Lei Zuo (co PI)
$15,000
11/2019 - 07/2020
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)
S. Brizzolara (PI), Lei Zuo (co PI)
$15,000
11/2019 - 07/2020
ONR
DURIP: Acquisition of a Laser Powder Bed Fusion System to Transform the Additive Manufacturing Value Chain
Chris Williams (PI, 20%), Lei Zuo (20%), James Kong (15%), et al
$270,000
03/2019 - 03/2020
Westing-house Inc
Fabrication of multilayer ceramic capacitors for radiation resistance and temperature stability (via CEHMS)
D. Viehland (PI), L Zuo (30%)
$60,000
1/2019 - 05/2020
European Union Marinet2
Simultaneous Ocean Wave and Current Energy Harvesting using a Single Power Takeoff System
Lei Zuo (PI) and Rob Parker
$80,000
04/2019 - 09/2019
iDriver Plus Ltd
Autonomous Vehicle Decision and Control using P2V Technology (via CEHMS)
Lei Zuo
$80,000
11/2018-12/2020
DOT/ UTC
Autonomous Emergency Navigation to a Safe Roadside Location
T. Furukawa (PI), L. Zuo (25%), Parker, Zoerzaph
$63,083
01/2018 - 01/2020
NSFC
Technology and Innovation of One-way Rotating Electromagnetic Vibration Energy Harvester for Railroad
Lei Zuo
¥180,000 ($27,000)
12/2017-12/2019
SWTJU
Key technology and the dynamic coupling between rail track and energy harvesting
Lei Zuo
¥150,000 ($25,000)
12/2017 - 12/2019
DOE
Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting
Lei Zuo (PI, 55%), R. Parker, K. Ngo
$2,000,000
03/2016 - 04/2020
DOE
Self-powered Wireless Through-wall Data Communication for Nuclear Environments
Lei Zuo (PI, 43%) H. Zhang, R. Kisner, D. Ha
$1,000,000
10/2016 - 09/2020
CRCF (VA)
Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting
Lei Zuo (PI), Ngo, Parker
$100,000
7/2016 - 4/2020
US Army
Energy Harvesting Backpack
Lei Zuo
$169,277
05/2016 - 6/2017
CRRC Inc
Vibration Energy Harvester for Railcar (via CEHMS)
Lei Zuo
$168,000
02/2016 - 12/2020
VT, SEC, ICAT, ICATS
Smart Drill Field: Energy Harvesting and Lighting
Hajj, McGrath, Zuo (30%), Ishida, Kennedy
$96,000
03/2016 - 03/2019
DOT/ UTRC-II
Mitigation of Transportation Induced Vibration Using Seismic Metamaterials
L. Wang (PI) , Lei Zuo (20%)
$50,000
10/2016 - 12/2017
NSF
REU Supplement for GOALI: Energy Efficient and Reliable Motion Mechanism for Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting
Lei Zuo
$10,000
Summer 2016
DOE
DOE NEUP fellowship
Zuo’s Student Jackson Klein
$50,000
06/2016 - 05/2017
CRCF
Railroad Energy Harvesting System
Lei Zuo
$100,000
7/2016 - 6/2018
CRCF
Ultra-High Energy Efficiency Footwear Power Generators
T. Xu (PI), L Zuo (co-PI,40%)
$100,000
7/2016 -10/2017
ICATS ERC initiative
ICATS ERC planning initiative: ERC for Data Analytics for the Design, Modeling and Monitoring of Physical Systemsg
Hajj (PI), Ramakrishnan, Zuo (20%), et al
$60,000
12/2016 - 12/2017
ICTAS energy& materials initiative
Smart Building and Smart City
Rahman, Zuo (20%), Little, Dhillon, Kuzlu
$50,000
05/2016 - 12/2017
NSF
GOALI: Collaborative Research: Energy harvesting nanorods-enhanced MEMS temperature-insensitive gas sensor for combustion monitoring and control
Lei Zuo
$150,000
07/2015 - 12/2019
NSF
NeTS: Small: Long-range Ocean Communication Links Powered by Energy Harvesting
Y. Yang (PI) L Zuo (33%), M. Manteghi
$200,000
10/2015 - 09/2018
NSF
REU Supplement for GOALI: Energy Efficient and Reliable Motion Mechanism for Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting
Lei Zuo
$4,000
Summer 2015
NSF
REU Supplement for GOALI: Energy Efficient and Reliable Motion Mechanism for Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting
Lei Zuo
$10,000
Summer 2016
Abbvie Inc
Development of high throughput miniaturized calorimeter for pharmaceutical R&D
Lei Zuo
$258,176
05/2015 - 05/2019
CRCF
Energy-Harvesting Controllable Vehicle Suspensions
Lei Zuo (PI), Ngo, Corina, Southward, Ahmadian
$100,000
07/2015 - 3/2017
Crystal Instrum.
Vibration Control and Dynamic Analyzer (Equipment)
Lei Zuo
$40,000
02/2015
DOE
Self-powered Wireless Dual-mode Langasite Sensor for Pressure/Temperature Monitoring of Nuclear Reactors
Lei Zuo (PI), H. Zhang, J. Lian
$800,000
02/2014 - 10/2018
NSF
GOALI: Energy Efficient and Reliable Motion Mechanism for Ocean Wave Energy
Lei Zuo
$300,000
09/2014 - 08/2018
Power Bridge NY
Electromagnetic Railway Energy Harvester
Lei Zuo
$150,000
04/2014 - 4/2016
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.)
Lei Zuo ( sole PI at SBU 63%), T. Xu (at NIA 27%)
$556,356
02/2014 - 02/2017
SUNY/RF
Energy-Harvesting Speed Bump
Lei Zuo
$7,000
2014
Tsinghua Univ.
Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting from Vehicle Exhaust Heat
Lei Zuo
¥100,000 ($15,000)
2014 - 2015
Abbott Inc
MED64 microelectrdoe array system (Equipment)
Lei Zuo
$100,000
01/2014
NSF
GOALI/Collaborative Research: Self-powered Dual-mode Piezoelectric Resonant Pressure/ Temperature Sensors for Oil and Gas Field Explorations
Lei Zuo
$190,000
09/2013 - 08/2018
EPA
Ocean Wave Energy Harvester with a Novel Power Takeoff Mechanism
Lei Zuo
$105,000
08/2013 - 8/2016
NSF
IDBR: Development of Ultrasensitive, Superfast, and Microliter-Volume Differential Scanning Nanocalorimeter for Direct Characterization of Biomolecular Interactions
Lei Zuo
$300,000
01/2013 - 12/2017
NYSERDA
Development and Commercialization of Energy-Harvesting Controllable Suspension Systems
Lei Zuo
$249,914
2013 - 2016
SUNY/RF
Innovative Power Takeoff for Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting
Lei Zuo (PI), X. Wang, Warkentine
$100,000
2013 - 2014
SBU-BNL
Ocean Wave Energy Harvesting, 2013 SBU BNL Seed Grant (Competitive)
Lei Zuo (PI), X Wang, and Butcher
$40,000
2013 - 2014
DOE
Thermoelectric-Driven Sustainable Sensing and Actuation Systems for Fault-Tolerant Nuclear Incidents
J Longtin (PI), L Zuo (25%), Hwang, Chyu
$190,000
10/2012 - 09/2015
NSF
GOALI/Collaborative Research: Self-powered Dual-mode Piezoelectric Resonant Pressure/ Temperature Sensors for Oil and Gas Field Explorations
Lei Zuo
$599,802
09/2013 - 08/2018
NYSERDA
Energy Harvesting from Railway Vibration for Trackside Electrification
Lei Zuo
$187,651
2012 - 2015
DOT
On-road Energy Harvesting for Traffic Monitoring
Lei Zuo (PI), X. Ban
$50,000
2012 - 2014
Ford Motor
Energy Regeneration and Damper Control Using Energy-Harvesting Absorbers
Lei Zuo
$25,000
2012 - 2017
SBU
OVPR
Research cash match from SBU OVPR, for project funded by SUNY TAF “ Vibration Energy Harvesting for Transportations
Lei Zuo
$16,000
2012-2014
DOT
Energy Harvesting from Railway Track Vibrations
Lei Zuo
$50,000
2011 - 2013
DOT
Faculty Development Minigrant Award
Lei Zuo
$6,465
2011-2012
NYSERDA
Vehicle Thermoelectric Energy Recovery: Assessment of Waste Heat Sources
Lei Zuo (PI), Longtin, and Sampath
$50,000
2011 - 2012
SUNY/RF
Technology Commercialization of Vibration Energy Harvesting for Transportation
Lei Zuo
$150,000
2011 - 2014
SBU-BNL
Thermoelectric Waste Heat Recovery, 2011 SBU BNL Seed Grant (Competitive)
Lei Zuo (PI)), Longtin, and Sampath
$60,000
2011 - 2013
SBU Energy
Equipment Fund from SBU Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center
Lei Zuo
$180,000
2011 - 2012
SBU VP Admin.
Speed Bump Energy Harvesting, support from SBU Sr. VP of Administration
Lei Zuo
$6,000
2011 - 2012
SBU OVPR
Research cash match from SBU OVPR, for the project funded by NSF/DOE Thermoelectrics Partnership
Lei Zuo (PI), Longtin, and Sampath
$100,258
2010 - 2013
NSF-DOE
NSF/DOE Thermoelectrics Partnership: Integrated Design and Manufacturing of Cost-Effective and Industrial-Scalable TEG for Vehicle Applications
Lei Zuo (PI) J J. Longtin, S. Sampth, Q. Li and B Li
$530,535
10/2010 - 09/2015
NSF
Vibration Control of Tall Buildings using Electricity Generating Tuned Mass Dampers
Lei Zuo
$260,000
09/2010 - 08/2015
Electric Truck LLC
Energy harvesting from rail tracks
Lei Zuo
$47,093
08/2010 - 072012
NYSERDA
Regenerative Shock Absorbers for Energy Harvesting from Vehicle Suspensions
Lei Zuo
$81,000
2009 - 2012