Research Projects

Funding for Minnesota Sea Grant and our support of water research comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Sea Grant Program, and the University of Minnesota. Have a great water-science idea? Check out our research funding opportunities.

  • A selection of research projects are highlighted below.
  • The list of all our currently funded research projects.
A man holds a small Yellow Perch.
2024-2026 Biennial RFP

A Deep Dive into Consumer Perceptions of Locally Farmed Fish

A satellite image showing bright green algal blooms inside of Lake Erie.
2024-2026 Biennial RFP

Blooming Threats: Assessing Future Cyanobacterial Threats to Lake Superior.

A sailboat passing by a lighthouse on Lake Superior.
2024-2026 Biennial RFP

Equitable Access to Recreation at Lake Superior (EARLS): Exploring Perceptions and Opportunities among Minnesota's Black Population

A yellow buoy sits aboard the R/V Blue Heron waiting to be anchored
2024-2026 Biennial RFP

Extending and Improving Observational Capacity on Lake Superior’s Minnesota North Shore

A canoe in wild rice
2024-2026 Biennial RFP

Historical Abundance and Extent of Wild Rice: Environmental Drivers Leading to its Decline in Minnesota Waters

A sunrise over Lake Superior shore.
2024-2026 Biennial RFP

The Photochemistry of Plume Constituents in Lake Superior

Aerial view of two Minnesota lakes. One with carp and murky water on the left and a lake without car and clearer water on the right.
January 2023 - December 2024

Carp and Carbon: Climate Change and Ecological and Economic Benefits

Visual showing biosensor and spectrofluorimeter development. A MN map highlights contaminants (BPA, DEET). The biosensor section shows molecular aptamer beacons detecting CECs. The spectrofluorimeter part includes design, fabrication, and validation stages, featuring a design drawing, a photo of the device, and a graph of the aptamer concentration response.
2023 Fast-Track Grant Project

Creating a Low-Cost Method to Measure Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Yellow Perch embryos
2023 Fast-Track Grant Project

Investigating Formalin Treatments to Control Infections on Yellow Perch Embryos

Cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom (cHABs) in Lake of the Woods
2023 Fast-Track Grant Project

Lake of the Woods Cyanobacterial Blooms' Toxin-Producing Culprits

Map of the Sauk River Minnesota monitoring stations.
2023 Fast-Track Grant Project

Lake-Level Modeling to Support Watershed Management

Sandy beach, lake with white capped waves
2023 Fast-Track Grant Project

Real-Time Wave and Water Temperature Monitoring

Microplastics from the Rhode River.
2023 Fast-Track Grant Project

Reuse to Release: Microplastic Generation and Transport from Recycled Textiles

2023 Fast-Track Grant Project

Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Resources for Homeowners Associations and Commercial Property Owners

Illustration of all the Great Lakes showing sample sites on lakes Superior, Michigan, and Erie.
2022-2024 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Assessing Limiting Factors for Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms

Pie graphic divided into four sections named local knowledge, climate science, community engagement, education
2022-2024 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Climate Adaptation in Action: Tribal Climate Adaptation Tools and Resources Across the 1854 Ceded Territory

Extreme close-up light micrograph images of Didymo.
2022-2024 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Didymo Invasion of Nearshore Lake Superior and its Tributaries

Plastic tub with a dozen or more Cisco (fish)
2022-2024 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Investigating Drivers of Cisco Recruitment in Lake Superior

satellite view of the Great Lakes
December 19, 2022 to December 18, 2025.

Tracing Atmospherically Deposited PFAS from Source to Sediment in the Great Lakes Region

ATP Bio logo
2020-2022 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Cryopreservation of Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) Embryos for Aquaculture

Sailboat on Lake Superior on a sunny day.
2020 Fast-Track Grant Project

Estimating the Economic Value of the Pleasure Cruise Industry in the Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Statistical Area

large mat of green algae in water next to beach
2020-2022 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Harmful Algal Blooms: Molecular Screening Tool to Rapidly Assess Toxic Cyanobacteria Blooms in Minnesota Lakes

Diagram showing that changing temperature, precipitation, and subsequent water table conditions alter the magnitude and direction of changes in sulfur and mercury release from peatlands to water
2020-2022 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Lake Superior: Determining Future Potential Release of Mercury and Sulfur from Peatlands to the Lake Superior Basin

small round bits of colored plastic on a white background.
2020-2022 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Microplastics in Lake Superior: An Investigation of Size, Composition, and Weathering.

Illustration of Covid-19 Molecule with E, S, and M protiens indicated
2020 Fast-Track Grant Project

Monitoring the Presence of SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Surface Waters Connected to Public Recreation Sites

Close up of wild rice grains in their husks on a tarp
2020-2022 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Soil Chemistry and Microbiome Transplant for Wild Rice Restoration

Beaver swimming with just it's nose above water
2018-2020 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Beavers, Streams and Steelhead

Person standing on dune near camera, two people standing on sandy beach. All three people looking toward Lake Superior and watching the movement of food-grade green dye in the water used to visualize a rip current.
2018-2020 (2021) Joint Request for Proposal Project

Defining and Forecasting Dangerous Currents on Lake Superior's South Shore

Illustration of Duluth Ship Canal with Lighthouse and Ship on Lake
2018-2020 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Perfecting an Enzyme Coating to Reduce Biofouling

Two men on a boat collecting zooplankton in plastic jugs.
2016-2018 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Ice Cover and Biological Productivity in Lake Superior

Erin Schaeffer in boat on St. Louis River Estuary holding muskellunge fish.
2016-2018 Biennial Request for Proposal Project

Tracking Muskellunge in the St. Louis River Estuary