AMPP awards 2026 seed grant to University of South Florida researcher

AMPP has named Avik Samanta, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of South Florida, as the 2026 recipient of its Dr. A. John Sedriks Seed Grant. The $38,000 award will support PFAS-free corrosion protection research that could lead to more durable materials and future federal funding.

Why it matters: - The $38,000 grant backs early-stage corrosion research that could improve how engineering materials withstand damage in harsh environments. - Samanta's project targets PFAS-free, self-healing surfaces, a sustainability-focused approach that could reduce reliance on persistent chemicals. - AMPP designed the seed grant to help researchers generate preliminary data for larger federally funded projects.

What happened: - AMPP named Avik Samanta, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of South Florida, as the 2026 recipient of the Dr. A. John Sedriks Seed Grant. - The award recognizes Samanta's proposal, "Laser-Textured, Thermally Healable PFAS-Free Superhydrophobic Metal Alloy Surfaces for Durable Corrosion Protection." - AMPP announced the selection on July 23, 2026, in Houston.

The details: - The grant will support research into sustainable, PFAS-free self-healing surfaces that can restore corrosion resistance after mechanical damage. - The research team will study the fundamental mechanisms of self-healing on laser-fabricated surfaces. - The project is intended to produce preliminary data for larger federally funded research initiatives. - The Dr. A. John Sedriks Seed Grant supports early-stage work in materials protection and performance, including corrosion, coatings, degradation, and related disciplines. - The grant amount is $38,000. - AMPP said this year's solicitation drew an exceptionally strong international pool of proposals. - Raghu Srinivasan, Ph.D., chair of AMPP's Research Society Leadership Council, said Samanta's proposal matched the grant's mission by addressing a major corrosion challenge through sustainable materials and advanced surface engineering. - Srinivasan also thanked the Seed Grant Task Force committee for its volunteer review work. - Samanta said the award will help his team develop PFAS-free, self-healing surfaces that improve the longevity and reliability of engineering materials in demanding environments. - Samanta said he hopes the work will lead to practical technologies that benefit industry, strengthen infrastructure, and inspire future engineers and scientists.

Between the lines: - AMPP is signaling that corrosion research with sustainability benefits is a priority for the field. - The focus on PFAS-free materials reflects wider pressure to find alternatives to persistent industrial chemicals. - The mention of future federal funding suggests the seed grant is meant to help promising ideas cross the gap from concept to larger-scale support. - The award also reinforces the value of early-career and university-based research in applied materials science.

What's next: - Samanta's team will use the grant to investigate self-healing behavior on laser-textured metal alloy surfaces. - The group will aim to build the preliminary results needed for larger grant applications. - AMPP directs readers to more information on its Seed Grant webpage and to a list of past recipients. - The University of South Florida's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is available online.

The bottom line: - AMPP's 2026 seed grant puts new funding behind PFAS-free corrosion protection research with potential applications in industry and infrastructure.