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FAU’s Office of Technology Development has announced the latest recipient of its Innovation Pilot Award, a program established in 2024 to provide seed funding for early-stage research with the potential for commercial and societal impact. The award helps FAU researchers advance prototypes, generate proof-of-concept data and attract industry partners, bridging the critical gap between discovery and real-world application. Awards range from $500 to $15,000 and are intended to support innovations that can transform research into products or solutions that benefit the public.

This year’s $15,000 award has been granted to Stephen Kajiura, Ph.D., a professor of biological sciences in FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, for his pioneering shark deterrent technology. Designed to reduce shark bycatch in commercial longline fisheries, Kajiura’s patent-pending device uses a zinc/graphite combination to generate a galvanic electric field that repels sharks without affecting target fish. Field tests demonstrated a reduction in shark bycatch of up to 69%, providing a cost-effective and practical solution to a major ecological and economic problem. The award will allow Kajiura to refine the prototype, conduct larger-scale field trials with commercial fishermen, and advance the technology toward commercialization.

“The beauty of this innovation is in its simplicity and selectivity,” said Dana Vouglitois, senior associate director of FAU’s Office of Technology Development. “By understanding sharks’ unique electrosensory capabilities, Dr. Kajiura and his team have created a solution that is practical for commercial use, scalable, and has the potential to make a real difference for both conservation and industry.”

Read the press release.