The New Directions in Research seed grants are offering faculty members up to $60,000 to explore innovative research aligned with national priorities. Eleven projects were selected for funding, covering a broad spectrum of topics such as artificial intelligence, geothermal energy systems, microplastics, and dementia. Vice President for Research Fernanda Leite highlighted the importance of venturing into uncharted territories for innovation. Among the recipients, Michael Baldea from the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering will work on optimizing critical mineral extraction processes, while Simon Brandl from Marine Science will investigate marine microbes' contributions to human nutrition. Other notable projects include Erika Bsumek's research on training AI for historical data analysis and Stephanie Grasso's development of a tool to detect early Alzheimer's in adults with Down syndrome. These initiatives aim to gather preliminary data that will help secure larger external grants in the future, fostering breakthrough discoveries across various disciplines.