{"683219":{"#nid":"683219","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Seed Grant Program Advances Energy Innovation Through a National Security Lens ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn June, the Strategic Energy Institute (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003ESEI\u003C\/a\u003E) hosted the Energy and National Security Summer Cohort Meeting that convened\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/gtri-and-sei-announce-recipients-phase-two-seed-funding-energy-and-national-security-initiative\u0022\u003Eseed grant awardees\u003C\/a\u003E from the Energy and National Security Initiative. A partnership between SEI and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGTRI\u003C\/a\u003E), the initiative provides research support through a seed grant program that\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/georgia-tech-strategic-energy-institute_join-us-on-july-16th-for-the-energy-and-national-activity-7201262615388377088-fiDc?utm_source=social_share_send\u0026amp;utm_medium=member_desktop_web\u0026amp;rcm=ACoAAD-PK50BuWdAR4FwJryxMAHBVta_rURyG5k\u0022\u003Elaunched\u003C\/a\u003E last summer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs national security needs rapidly evolve, Georgia Tech is leveraging its research ecosystem and seed funding programs to accelerate the development of transformational technologies and strategies that strengthen national resilience,\u201d said Christine Conwell, interim executive director of SEI. \u201cWe designed this seed grant program to tackle pressing national security priorities of today, such as threats to the grid, nuclear security, supply chain resilience, and renewable integration.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event began with an introduction from\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/john-tien\u0022\u003EJohn Tien\u003C\/a\u003E, SEI distinguished external fellow,\u0026nbsp;professor of the practice, and former deputy secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, who addressed the evolving and multifaceted challenges facing energy, national security, and policy today. Tien\u2019s talk emphasized the importance of early, strategic research investments in driving sustainable progress and long-term solutions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe seed grant awardees then presented the initial progress of their research projects through lightning talks and a Q\u0026amp;A session. The research projects included:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEnergy Infrastructure Security and Risk Assessment Through Interactive Wargaming.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEvaluating Energy Storage Materials, Supplies, and Systems in the Context of National Security Requirements.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENanostructured Sensors for Monitoring of Nuclear Fuel Cycle.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EResilient Critical Infrastructures via Provable Secure Control Algorithms.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERobust Energy Systems Planning by Way of Novel Systems Engineering (RESPoNSE).\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESPARC: Severe-Weather Predictive Analytics and Resilient Communication.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe Strategic Mineral Economy: Challenges and Opportunities for Critical Resources.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat critical intersection between energy and national security is where both risk and opportunity lie. To mitigate those risks and take advantage of the opportunities, our project teams have developed research topic areas that align with the U.S. Department of Energy\u0027s nine pillars for American energy dominance and security, as well as ongoing U.S. Department of Defense priorities,\u201d said Tien.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe meeting showcased Georgia Tech\u2019s collaborative and forward-looking research at the intersection of energy and national security, aimed at shaping a more secure and resilient energy future.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWritten by: Katie Strickland \u0026amp; Priya Devarajan\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn June, the Strategic Energy Institute (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003ESEI\u003C\/a\u003E) hosted the Energy and National Security Summer Cohort Meeting that convened\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/gtri-and-sei-announce-recipients-phase-two-seed-funding-energy-and-national-security-initiative\u0022\u003Eseed grant awardees\u003C\/a\u003E from the Energy and National Security Initiative. A partnership between SEI and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGTRI\u003C\/a\u003E), the initiative provides research support through a seed grant program that\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/georgia-tech-strategic-energy-institute_join-us-on-july-16th-for-the-energy-and-national-activity-7201262615388377088-fiDc?utm_source=social_share_send\u0026amp;utm_medium=member_desktop_web\u0026amp;rcm=ACoAAD-PK50BuWdAR4FwJryxMAHBVta_rURyG5k\u0022\u003Elaunched\u003C\/a\u003E last summer.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In June, the Strategic Energy Institute (SEI) hosted the Energy and National Security Summer Cohort Meeting that convened seed grant awardees from the Energy and National Security Initiative. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2025-07-22 14:57:52","changed_gmt":"2025-07-22 18:21:04","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677469":{"id":"677469","type":"image","title":"SEI\/GTRI Energy and National Security Cohort Meeting - June 13, 2025","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAttendees of the Energy and National Security Cohort Meeting, featuring seed grant teams along with members from SEI and GTRI\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1753127772","gmt_created":"2025-07-21 19:56:12","changed":"1753213546","gmt_changed":"2025-07-22 19:45:46","alt":"Energy and national security cohort meeting participants including the seed grant teams and the SEI and GTRI team","file":{"fid":"261370","name":"IMG_4447-2-copy-LR.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/22\/IMG_4447-2-copy-LR.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/22\/IMG_4447-2-copy-LR.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":839422,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/22\/IMG_4447-2-copy-LR.jpg?itok=quLW0Yox"}},"677470":{"id":"677470","type":"image","title":"Energy and National Security Cohort Meeting ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGary McMurray, GTRI Division Chief for Intelligent Sustainable Technologies Division, Rich Simmons, SEI Director of Research and Studies, William H. Robinson, GTRI Deputy Director of Research and Interim CTO, Christine Conwell, SEI Interim Executive Director, and John Tien, SEI Distinguished External Fellow at the Energy and National Security Cohort Meeting\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1753195309","gmt_created":"2025-07-22 14:41:49","changed":"1753195798","gmt_changed":"2025-07-22 14:49:58","alt":"Gary McMurray, GTRI Division Chief for Intelligent Sustainable Technologies Division, Rich Simmons, SEI Director of Research and Studies, William H. Robinson, GTRI Deputy Director of Research, Christine Conwell, SEI Interim Executive Director, and John Tien, SEI Distinguished External Fellow at the Energy and National Security Cohort Meeting","file":{"fid":"261371","name":"IMG_4462-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/22\/IMG_4462-2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/22\/IMG_4462-2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":596508,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/22\/IMG_4462-2.jpg?itok=TEy5uxoH"}},"677472":{"id":"677472","type":"image","title":"Energy and National Security Cohort Meeting - 2","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Tien, SEI Distinguished External Fellow sharing remarks at the meeting.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1753196097","gmt_created":"2025-07-22 14:54:57","changed":"1753196183","gmt_changed":"2025-07-22 14:56:23","alt":"John Tien, SEI Distinguished External Fellow sharing remarks at the Energy and National Security Cohort Meeting","file":{"fid":"261373","name":"IMG_4362-3-LR.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/22\/IMG_4362-3-LR.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/22\/IMG_4362-3-LR.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":457296,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/22\/IMG_4362-3-LR.jpg?itok=F8j-L0R6"}},"677471":{"id":"677471","type":"image","title":"Energy and National Security Cohort Meeting - 1","body":"\u003Cp\u003EParticipants of the June 13 Energy and National Security Cohort Meeting hosted by SEI and GTRI\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1753195942","gmt_created":"2025-07-22 14:52:22","changed":"1753196013","gmt_changed":"2025-07-22 14:53:33","alt":"Energy and National Security Cohort Meeting Participants","file":{"fid":"261372","name":"IMG_4366-3-copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/22\/IMG_4366-3-copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/22\/IMG_4366-3-copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":626694,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/22\/IMG_4366-3-copy.jpg?itok=3Io8wZ4S"}}},"media_ids":["677469","677470","677472","677471"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"194610","name":"National Interests\/National Security"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}