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CAREER: Bottom-Up UV Approach for Real-Time Investigation and Control of Microbial Fouling — NSF Award to University of Massachuse

Biofilms are thin layers of bacteria that can stick to wet surfaces. They can cause serious problems in hospitals, water systems, ships, and food production. Current methods to stop biofilm growth can involve toxic chemicals, special coatings, or intensive scrubbing. These methods are costly, short-lived, and detriment

Award titleCAREER: Bottom-Up UV Approach for Real-Time Investigation and Control of Microbial Fouling
Award ID2542094
AwardeeUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
CityAMHERST
StateMA
Amount obligated$709,645
Principal investigatorMariana Lopes
ProgramEnvE-Environmental Engineering
Start date05/01/2026
AbstractBiofilms are thin layers of bacteria that can stick to wet surfaces. They can cause serious problems in hospitals, water systems, ships, and food production. Current methods to stop biofilm growth can involve toxic chemicals, special coatings, or intensive scrubbing. These methods are costly, short-lived, and detrimental to the environment. This CAREER project will take a new approach. It will fabricate surfaces that emit UV light from within the material itself, so that bacteria will not be abl
SourceNSF Awards

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