Clemson University’s STRIDE ART (Accelerating Research Translation) Academy recently concluded its Spring 2025 cohort with a competitive pitch event. The ART Academy is a seven-week “Research Translation 101” course for research faculty, fostering an environment where ideas can flourish, leading to tangible outcomes and a culture of impact-driven innovation.
The 2025 Spring ART Academy cohort included 13 participants representing eight unique research teams from various disciplines and academic backgrounds. Four interdisciplinary research team leaders presented successful projects in the pitch competition.
First Place (Carila) – Vishal Thomas, Lecturer, Department of Biongineering and Department of General Engineering. Thomas’ research introduces a natural, cartilage-like biomaterial that enhances microfracture surgery, offering a more durable and cost-effective solution for knee cartilage repair.
Second Place (Intelligent River®) – Chris Post, Professor, Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation. Post’s project enhances real-time water level monitoring using Intelligent River® technology, improving water resource management and environmental conservation.
Third Place (Ultrasonic Scrubber) – John Saylor, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Saylor’s research introduces a low-cost ultrasonic scrubber that removes harmful nanoparticles from air by clustering them into larger particles, offering a scalable, filter-free solution to improve air quality and reduce health risks in high-exposure environments.
Runner-up (Digital Twin Driven UAV Ignition) – Alireza (Basir) Ebrahimi Dorcheh, Ph.D. student, Holcombe Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Ebrahimi Dorcheh’s research integrates digital twin technology with UAV-based ignition systems to optimize prescribed fire planning, offering a safer, smarter and more cost-effective approach to wildfire prevention.
The continued success of the STRIDE ART Academy reinforces Clemson University’s commitment to empowering researchers to amplify the impact of their work. As winning teams move forward with grant support, maturation funding and development opportunities, they exemplify the powerful outcomes of bold research translation.”
C. Tycho Howle Chair of Collaborative Computing Environments, Provost Distinguished Professor and STRIDE Executive Director K.C. Wang
The STRIDE team will continue increasing awareness through events, partner collaborations and research translation success stories to help faculty members imagine the next step for their translational research projects. Applications for the STRIDE ART Academy Fall 2025 cohort will soon be available.