Summer Research Institute

The Summer Research Institute (SRI) is a maritime security-focused research program for undergraduate and graduate-level STEM students. The program emphasizes multidisciplinary research and stakeholder engagement to generate innovative ideas and solutions to address complex maritime and homeland security issues.   

Since the program's inception in 2010, more than 200 students representing 30 U.S. universities have participated in the summer research program. See the table below for a summary of the 2010 - 2021 programs and student research projects.

Summer Research Institute Program Summary
(2010 - 2021)

Program

Student Demographics

Research Projects

Contributors

2021

14 student participants representing four universities, including two MSI summer research teams.

2021 Project Abstracts

BlueROV Cybersecurity Risks in Offshore Wind Farms USCG Hazardous Cargo Inspections Risk Management and Analytics Dashboard Cybersecurity and Data Analysis Internship

USCG Sector NY USCG First District USCG Research and Development Center (RDC) National Cargo Bureau DHS S&T

2020

23 student participants representing five universities, including two MSI summer research teams.

2020 Project Abstracts

Maritime Cybersecurity Risk Assessment BlueROV: Efficient Deployment and Monitoring WaveGlider: AI Enhanced Design and Digital Twinning Risk Management Dashboard and Predictive Analytics Offshore Wind Farm Safety and Security Issues Sulfur Emission Detection 

USCG Sector NY USCG Sector SE New England USCG RDC CBP-Port of NY/Newark Port Authority of NY/NJ Verisk Analytics TX Military Department

2019

25 student participants representing seven universities, including three MSI schools.

2019 Project Abstracts

Risk Management Dashboard for USCG Sector NY UAS Buoy System - Prototype Development AIS Vessel Anomaly Detection BlueROV Underwater Robot - Enhanced Perception and Navigation. WAMV - USV Simulator Red Team/Blue Team Exercises

 

2018

24 student participants representing eight universities.

UAS Buoy Deployment Cybersecurity of UAS and UUVs ROV Autonomy for Undersea Pipeline Inspections ROV Autonomy for Ship Hull Cleaning of Biofouling Wave Glider Design Optimization

USCG Sector NY CBP Port of NY/NJ 

2017

22 student participants representing seven universities, including two MSI schools/summer research teams.

ROVs in Maritime and Port Environments Arctic Acoustics- Detecting and Localizing Changes in Ice Cover Virtual Reality Applications for Enhanced Maritime and Port Security Maritime Cybersecurity - Data Flows in the MTS

USCG Sector NY USCG Sector Long Island Sound USCG RDC RNT Foundation NYPD Counterterrorism Division  

2016

13 student participants representing seven universities, including two MSI schools.

Maritime Cybersecurity Threats and Vulnerabilities Environmental and Urban Noise Acoustics  Underwater Acoustics 

CBP Port of NY/Newark NYPD Counterterrorism Division

2015

14 student participants representing five universities, including one MSI school.

Underwater Acoustics  Sensor Integration  Magello Emergency Response Visualization Tool 

CBP Port of NY/Newark Sandia National Laboratory Naval Engineering Facilities Command Port Authority of NY/NJ

2014

18 student participants representing five universities, including two MSI schools. 

Acoustic Vessel Signature Analysis Magello Emergency Response Visualization Tool Maritime Incident Scenario Development Technology Integration and Synergies 

National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) NYC Office of Emergency Management NYPD Counterterrorism Division

2013

13 student participants representing four universities, including three MSI schools.

CBP Trade Facilitation Detection Technology Synergies HF Radar Integration 

USCG Sector NY CBP Centers of Excellence and Expertise CBP Port of NY/Newark NUSTL US Navy Strategic System Programs Federation of American Scientists NYC Waterways 

2012

 10 student participants presenting three universities.

Sensor Technologies HF Radar Vessel Detection Magello Emergency Response Visualization Tool Port Mapper Tool

 

2011

21 student participants representing eight universities, including three MSI schools.

Consequence Assessment and Management Sensor Technology Applications in Port Security 

USCG  US Navy Port Authority of NY/NJ DHS S&T 

2010

26 student participants representing eight universities, including three MSI schools.

Acoustics & Electro-Optics for Detecting, Tracking, and Classifying Vessels HF Radar Small Vessel Detection Satellite - Applications for Port Security Systems Thinking and Resilience Strategies for Small Vessel Threats

 

 


SRI Program Highlights

  • Students engaged in seminars and guest lectures by homeland security practitioners. 

  • Participated in multidisciplinary hands-on research, through modeling and simulation projects, data collection, and real-time analysis.

  • Attended field visits to port facilities and homeland security operational environments.

  • Worked as part of a motivated student team to address timely and relevant homeland security concerns and present research outcomes to MSC researchers and DHS officials.

Student Benefits 

  • Students learned to conduct research under the mentorship of MSC research investigators and Stevens faculty members.

  • Students enhanced their professional development through multidisciplinary teamwork, networking opportunities with homeland security practitioners, and weekly research presentations.

  • SRI student alumni were afforded unique opportunities to participate in field-based internships with DHS component agencies and have been competitively selected to receive fully-funded fellowships to pursue advanced academic study.


Program Dates

The program was held annually from June to July.  The MSC is no longer accepting applications for the SRI program.


For more information, please contact:

Beth Austin-DeFares, Director of Education, Maritime Security Center
Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Phone: 201.216.5362     Email: [email protected]