For the last ten years, the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) has played a vital role in fostering student involvement throughout the Institute to assist in addressing the world’s most urgent water and food system challenges. As part of J-WAFS’ primary mission to secure global water and food supplies, J-WAFS seeks to nurture the forthcoming generation of leaders in the water and food industries by promoting MIT student participation through various programs and initiatives that provide research funding, guidance, and other forms of assistance.
J-WAFS presents an array of chances for both undergraduate and graduate scholars to engage in the progression of water and food systems research. These opportunities include fellowships for graduate students, travel grants for conference participation, funding for research initiatives in India, video contests spotlighting students’ water and food research, as well as support for student-led organizations and projects concentrated on vital topics in water and food.
As J-WAFS embarks on its second decade, it continues to provide students throughout the Institute with practical hands-on water and food research, career and networking possibilities, along with a platform for cultivating their innovative and cooperative solutions.
Graduate student fellowships
In 2017, J-WAFS launched two graduate student fellowships: the Rasikbhai L. Meswani Fellowship for Water Solutions and the J-WAFS Graduate Student Fellowship Program. The Rasikbhai L. Meswani Fellowship for Water Solutions is a doctoral fellowship for scholars conducting research pertinent to water for human needs at MIT. The fellowship is supported by Elina and Nikhil Meswani and family. Each year, up to two exceptional scholars are chosen to obtain fellowship support for one academic semester. Through this initiative, J-WAFS aims to assist notable MIT scholars who are striving to tackle the urgent global water supply issues of our era. The J-WAFS Fellowship for Water and Food Solutions is financed by the J-WAFS Research Affiliate Program, which gives businesses the chance to collaborate with MIT on water and food research. A fraction of each research affiliate’s fees contributes to this fellowship.
Aditya Avinash Ghodgaonkar, a PhD candidate in the Mechanical Engineering Department, shares how being awarded a J-WAFS graduate student fellowship significantly benefited his research on designing low-cost emitters for affordable, resilient drip irrigation for farmers: “My J-WAFS fellowship provided me with the flexibility and financial assistance required to explore new avenues in clog-resistant drip irrigation that carried a greater risk factor which might have been unmanageable in an industry-sponsored project,” explains Ghodgaonkar. Emitters, which regulate the volume and flow rate of water used for irrigation, frequently become clogged by tiny particles such as sand. Ghodgaonkar collaborated with Professor Amos Winter and with farmers in resource-limited areas in countries such as Jordan and Morocco to create an emitter that is mechanically more resistant to obstruction. Ghodgaonkar mentions that their energy-efficient, compact, clog-resistant drip emitters are being commercialized by Toro and are expected to be available for retail in the upcoming years. The opportunities and funding he has received from J-WAFS have significantly contributed to his entrepreneurial achievements and the progress of the water and agricultural sectors.
Linzixuan (Rhoda) Zhang, a PhD student under the mentorship of Professor Robert Langer and Principal Research Scientist Ana Jaklenec from the Chemical Engineering Department, was awarded the J-WAFS Graduate Student Fellowship in 2022. With the fellowship, Zhang concentrated on her innovative research involving a unique micronutrient delivery platform that enhances food with vital vitamins and nutrients. “We absorb micronutrients from nearly all the nutritious food we consume; however, globally, approximately 2 billion individuals are currently facing micronutrient deficiencies due to lack of access to healthy and fresh food,” states Zhang. Her research focuses on developing biodegradable polymers capable of delivering these micronutrients in harsh conditions in underserved global regions. “Vitamin A, for instance, is not particularly stable; we can find vitamin A in various vegetables but it degrades easily upon cooking,” Zhang clarifies. However, when vitamin A is encapsulated within the microparticle platform, simulations of boiling and stomach conditions demonstrate that vitamin A is stabilized. “The significant factors behind this experiment are authentic,” proclaims Zhang. The J-WAFS Fellowship significantly supported Zhang in winning the 2024 Collegiate Inventors Competition for her contributions.
J-WAFS grant for water and food projects in India
The J-WAFS India Grants are designed to advance the work undertaken by MIT individuals as part of their research, innovation, entrepreneurship, coursework, or similar activities. Faculty members, research personnel, and both undergraduate and graduate scholars are eligible to apply. The program aims to support projects that will aid low-income communities in India, facilitating travel and other expenditures associated with direct engagement with those communities.
Gokul Sampath, a PhD student in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, and Jonathan Bessette, also a PhD scholar in MechE, initially connected through J-WAFS-sponsored conference travel and discovered their common interest in the issue of arsenic in water in India. They collaboratively developed a cross-disciplinary proposal that was awarded a J-WAFS India Grant. Their project examines how women in rural India make water-fetching decisions for their households, and how these choices influence exposure to groundwater contaminants like naturally-occurring arsenic. Specifically, they are creating low-cost remote sensors to enhance understanding of water-fetching practices. The grant facilitates Sampath and Bessette’s efforts to equip Indian families with sensor-enabled water collection devices (“smart buckets”) that will provide data about fetching practices in arsenic-affected regions. By showcasing the effectiveness of a sensor-based strategy, the team aims to fill a substantial data gap in international development. “It is because of initiatives like the Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab that I was granted support for interdisciplinary work connecting water security, public health, and regional planning in India,” states Sampath.
J-WAFS travel grants for water conferences
Alongside funding graduate student research, J-WAFS also offers grants for graduate scholars to attend water conferences globally. Typically, students will only receive travel funds for conferences where they are presenting their research. Nevertheless, the J-WAFS travel grants promote learning, networking, and career exploration opportunities for outstanding MIT graduate scholars pursuing careers in the water sector, whether in academia, nonprofits, governmental agencies, or industry.
Catherine Lu ’23, MNG ’24 received a 2023 Travel Grant to participate in the UNC Water and Health Conference in North Carolina. The conference acts as a curated platform for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to gather and evaluate data, critique scientific findings, and refine new and existing strategies for enhancing access to and provision of services related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Lu, who majored in civil and environmental engineering, partnered with Professor Dara Entekhabi to model and forecast droughts in Africa using satellite Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) data. While she assessed her research trajectory and career prospects in the water sector, Lu found the conference to be informative and enlightening. “I was able to broaden my understanding of all the sectors and issues that…are associated with water and the effects they have on my research theme.” Moreover, she expresses: “I was truly amazed by the wide variety of individuals who were able to participate in the conference. The global viewpoints presented during the conference supplied a beneficial context for comprehending the difficulties and achievements of various regions worldwide — spanning WASH education in schools in Zimbabwe and India to rural water accessibility inequalities in the United States … Having the chance to interact with such fervent and committed individuals has inspired me to keep advancing in this field.” After completing her studies, Lu obtained a role as a water resources engineer at CDM Smith, an engineering and construction company.
Daniela Morales, a master’s candidate in urban planning within the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, was awarded a 2024 J-WAFS Travel Grant that enabled her participation at World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden. This annual international conference is orchestrated by the Stockholm International Water Institute and gathers top experts, policymakers, and practitioners from the water sector to actively engage in dialogues and developments addressing pressing water-related issues. Morales’ research focuses on the quality and access to drinking water in rural and peri-urban regions affected by climate change, the impact of municipal water shutoffs on disadvantaged groups, and the correlation between regional water management and public health results. Reflecting on her conference experience, Morales writes: “Participating in this event has filled me with immense motivation to further my professional and academic pathway in water management in relation to public health and urban planning … There was a tremendous amount of collective energy generated during the conference, and I was able to process numerous fresh ideas related to my career interests and my future role as a planner in water management, making the final day feel less like an end and more like the start of a new chapter. I am eager to apply all the knowledge I gained to advance my research and continue nurturing the relationships I built with new contacts.” Morales also remarks that without the J-WAFS grant support, “I would not have had the chance to reach Stockholm and engage in such a distinctive week of water insight.”
Seed grants and Solutions grants
J-WAFS provides seed grants for preliminary research and Solutions Grants for advanced research that is positioned to transition from the laboratory to the commercial realm. Proposals for both categories of grants must be submitted by an MIT principal investigator, but graduate students, and occasionally undergraduates, frequently benefit from these grants.
Arjav Shah, a PhD-MBA student in MIT’s Department of Chemical Engineering and the MIT Sloan School of Management, is presently working on commercializing a water treatment technology that received initial backing through a 2019 J-WAFS seed grant and later a 2022 J-WAFS Solutions Grant in collaboration with Professor Patrick Doyle. This technology employs hydrogels to eliminate a wide variety of micropollutants from water. The Solutions funding empowers entrepreneurial students and postdoctoral researchers to establish the foundation for commercializing a technology by evaluating usage scenarios and investigating business requirements with actual potential customers. “Thanks to J-WAFS’ support, we not only scaled up the technology but also gained deeper insights into market requirements and developed a solid business case,” states Shah. He and the Solutions team have identified that the hydrogels can be utilized in various practical settings, from large industrial applications to small, portable, off-grid uses. “We are very thankful to J-WAFS for their assistance, especially in cultivating industry connections and facilitating introductions to investors, prospective customers, and experts,” Shah adds.
Shah was also honored with a 2023 J-WAFS Travel Grant, allowing him to attend Stockholm World Water Week that year. He remarks, “J-WAFS has been instrumental in both my scholarly path at MIT and my entrepreneurial endeavors. Their support has empowered me to evolve as a scientist and an aspiring entrepreneur. The exposure and opportunities provided have allowed me to cultivate vital skills such as customer discovery, financial modeling, business growth, fundraising, and storytelling — all crucial for transforming technology into real-world impact. These experiences have offered priceless insights into the requirements for moving a technology from the laboratory to the marketplace.”
Shah is currently spearheading efforts to spin off a company to commercialize the hydrogel research. Since receiving support from J-WAFS, the team has made significant progress towards launching a startup, including winning the Pillar VC Moonshot Prize, Cleantech Open National Grand Prize, MassCEC Catalyst Award, and taking part in the NSF I-Corps National Program.
J-WAFS student video competitions
J-WAFS has organized two video competitions: MIT Research for a Water Secure Future and MIT Research for a Food Secure Future, in celebration of World Water Day and World Food Day, respectively. In these competitions, students are invited to create original videos that showcase their groundbreaking water and food research conducted at MIT. This opportunity is open to MIT students, postdocs, and recent alumni.
After a review by a prestigious panel of judges, Vishnu Jayaprakash SM ’19, PhD ’22 secured first place in the 2022 J-WAFS World Food Day Student Video Competition for his video focused on the eradication of pesticide pollution and waste. Jayaprakash explored the science behind AgZen-Cloak, a new category of agricultural sprays that prevents pesticides from bouncing off plants and infiltrating the ground, thereby causing harmful runoff. The J-WAFS competition granted Jayaprakash a platform to emphasize the universal, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable advantages of AgZen-Cloak. He worked on similar technology as a funded student on a J-WAFS Solutions grant with Professor Kripa Varanasi. This Solutions grant was pivotal in helping Jayaprakash and Varanasi launch AgZen, a company that deploys AgZen-Cloak among other products and technologies to regulate the interactions of droplets and sprays with crop surfaces. AgZen currently assists farmers in managing their agricultural lands sustainably while also safeguarding the environment.
In 2021, Hilary Johnson SM ’18, PhD ’22, achieved first place in the J-WAFS World Water Day video competition. Her video showcased her work on an innovative pump featuring adaptive hydraulics for enhanced pump efficiency. This pump was part of a sponsored research initiative with Xylem Inc., a J-WAFS Research Affiliate company, and Professor Alex Slocum of MechE. During this period, Johnson was a PhD student in Slocum’s lab, where she played a crucial role in developing the pump by engineering the volute to expand and contract according to changing system flow rates. Johnson later became a 2021-22 J-WAFS Fellow and is currently a full-time mechanical engineer at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
J-WAFS-supported student clubs
J-WAFS-backed student clubs offer members of the MIT student community the opportunity for networking and professional growth through events centered on water and food systems subjects.
J-WAFS is a supporter of the MIT Water Club, a student-led organization that fosters and promotes the active participation of the MIT community in water-sector-related activism, information dissemination, and research innovation. The club enables students to take the lead in organizing conferences, lectures, outreach events, research showcases, and entrepreneurship competitions, including the former MIT Water Innovation Prize and MIT Water Summit. J-WAFS not only provides financial backing to the MIT Water Club but also offers mentorship and guidance.to the leadership group.
The MIT Food and Agriculture Club also receives backing from J-WAFS. The organization’s objective is to enhance the involvement of the MIT community in topics associated with food and agriculture. In this endeavor, students spearhead initiatives to disseminate the pioneering technology and business strategies that researchers are formulating in the realms of food and agriculture systems. J-WAFS facilitates the connection between enthusiastic MIT students and those engaged in the food and agriculture sector beyond the Institute. Between 2015 and 2022, J-WAFS aided the club in co-producing the Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Innovation Prize — a competitive platform for student business proposals aimed at food and agricultural startups.
Starting in 2023, the MIT Water Club and MIT Food and Ag Club have united their efforts to host a joint prize competition: The MIT Water, Food and Agriculture (WFA) Innovation Prize. This innovation prize represents a business plan contest for startups led by students that focus on any geographical area or market. The teams showcase business proposals that feature a technology, product, service, or process designed to address an issue pertaining to water, food, or agriculture. The competition promotes all avenues of innovation, encompassing engineering, product development, policy, and data analysis. Its aim is to assist budding entrepreneurs in transforming research and concepts into viable businesses, providing access to mentors and resources, and establishing networks within the water, food, and agriculture sectors. J-WAFS provides financial and in-kind assistance, collaborating with student leaders to strategize, coordinate, and execute the various phases of the competition leading to the final pitching event. This year, J-WAFS continues to support the WFA team, under the leadership of Ali Decker, an MBA candidate at MIT Sloan, and Sam Jakshtis, a graduate student in MIT’s real estate development program. The final pitch event is scheduled to occur on April 30 at the MIT Media Lab.
“I’ve had the privilege to collaborate with Renee Robins, the executive director of J-WAFS, on MIT’s Water, Food and Agriculture Innovation Prize for the last two years, and it has been both extraordinarily beneficial and a pleasure to receive her assistance,” Decker remarks. “Renee has aided us in all facets of prize organization: generating new ideas, navigating the selection of startup finalists, linking us with potential sponsors and partners, and more. Most significantly, her enthusiasm and joy are palpable; I eagerly look forward to our discussions each time we meet,” Decker adds.
J-WAFS events
Throughout the year, J-WAFS strives to provide events that will engage members of the MIT student community involved in water or food systems. For instance, on April 19, 2023, J-WAFS collaborated with the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) and the Environmental Solutions Initiative (ESI) to jointly organize an MIT student poster session in celebration of Earth Month. The poster session’s theme was “MIT research for a changing planet,” showcasing work from 11 MIT students focused on water, food, energy, and the environment. These students represented a variety of MIT departments, labs, and centers and were present to discuss their projects and interact with attendees. Attendees were invited to vote for their preferred poster after considering which most effectively communicated the research challenge and potential solutions. At the conclusion of the evening, votes were counted, and the winner of the “People’s Choice Award” for the best poster was Elaine Liu ’24, an undergraduate in mathematics at the time of the event. Liu’s poster highlighted her work on managing failure cascades in systems utilizing wind energy.
J-WAFS also facilitates less-structured networking events for students. For example, during MIT’s Independent Activities Period (IAP) in January 2024, J-WAFS held an ice cream social for student networking. This relaxed event served as a chance for graduate and undergraduate students from across the Institute to connect and engage with like-minded peers interested in water and food systems. Students had the opportunity to discuss their current and prospective research, interests, and projects while asking questions, exchanging ideas, and possibly forging collaborations or at the very least sharing valuable insights.
Envisioning a decade more of student influence
Over the last ten years, J-WAFS has consistently demonstrated a strong dedication to empowering students within the water and food domains, cultivating an atmosphere where they can confidently drive significant changes and innovations. PhD candidate Jonathan Bessette encapsulates the J-WAFS community as a “unique collective that enables critical research in water and food that might otherwise go unpursued. It’s this type of work that often lacks focus from major funding sources yet makes a substantial impact in sustainable development.”
J-WAFS is determined to equip students with the resources and tools they need to undertake genuine and impactful research related to water and food that will benefit communities worldwide. This support, combined with an MIT education, empowers students to ascend as leaders in sustainable water and food systems. As J-WAFS enters its second decade of programming, the team remains devoted to nurturing student collaboration throughout the Institute, propelling innovative solutions to rejuvenate the world’s water and food systems while empowering the next generation of trailblazers in these vital fields.