Coastal ecosystems are increasingly threatened by rising ocean temperatures, waste, and the effects of flooding, leading to nitrification, harmful algae blooms, disease breakouts, and habitat…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded Dottir Labs, Inc. $189,993 under the NOAA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program on September 1, 2026.

Dottir Labs is developing a Raman-based sensor network for continuous, real-time coastal water quality monitoring. The Phase I effort adapts an immersion optical probe using swept-source Raman spectroscopy to measure dissolved carbon dioxide, nitrogenous and sulfur compounds, and biomarkers in ocean water. The work includes in-situ data collection and spectral processing refinement validated against established analytical methods. The sensor platform is designed to enable predictive modeling and mitigation strategies for coastal resiliency while offering scalability for aquaculture, wastewater treatment, and industrial applications.

Performance occurs in Brookline, Massachusetts, with work completing February 26, 2027. This Phase I grant supports proof-of-concept development under the SBIR program (CFDA 11.021), which funds small business concerns to pursue technological innovation addressing federal research and development priorities.

Coastal ecosystems are increasingly threatened by rising ocean temperatures, waste, and the effects of flooding, leading to nitrification, harmful algae blooms, disease breakouts, and habitat degradation. Our ability to mitigate these phenomena is hindered by the lack of direct measurements, insufficient data or effective models to analyze and predict water quality. Dottir labs proposes a novel solution to address these gaps - an expansive, cost-effective raman-based sensor network that enables continuous, real-time monitoring of critical water quality metrics, providing a coastal water quality mapping platform. Dottir labs sensor network uses in-situ swept-source raman spectroscopy (SSRS) to monitor dissolved CO2, nitrogenous and sulfur compounds and other biomarkers in ocean water. Our phase I proposal focuses on adapting our immersion optical probe for marine environments, followed by in-situ data collection to refine spectral acquisition and processing, validated using established analytical methods. While our initial focus is on well-characterized analytes, raman spectra provide rich data from which additional analytes and metrics - such as indicators of biological activity and contaminants - can be deduced. Our system offers scalable, continuous measurements that enable predictive models and mitigation strategies for coastal resiliency. The technology has broad commercialization potential, including aquaculture, wastewater treatment and industrial applications.