The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $268,521 Project Grant to Quantummed Inc., a for-profit organization, through the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) program. The grant will fund the development of an innovative mixing technology based on a photo-acoustic streaming phenomenon using metal-implanted materials (MIMS). The goal is to improve the reproducibility of automated life science workflows, such as those used in medical testing and diagnostics, while also reducing their carbon footprint by decreasing the use of single-use plastics. Key objectives of the project include optimizing the MIMS form factor for integration into existing workflows, characterizing bulk-fabricated MIMS, and testing a low-cost LED laser as an alternative illumination source to power the mixing process. The project is expected to run from August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024.