Q&A: Fink Discusses Research Powered by Keonjian Endowment

AME associate professor Wolfgang Fink is the inaugural Edward & Maria Keonjian Endowed Chair, which supports his discoveries from microelectronics to Mars. Fink holds joint appointments in the departments of biomedical engineering, systems and industrial engineering, and ophthalmology and vision science. 

Which of Your Research Projects Have Been Supported By the Edward & Maria Keonjian Endowment?

I would almost have to ask the reverse question: Which research has not been supported? That would be much easier to answer. The Edward & Maria Keonjian endowment has been a major support in the running of the Visual and Autonomous Exploration Systems Research Laboratory. In terms of supplies, devices and machinery, it has significantly supported both the biomedical side, with its vision-related research, and the autonomous-systems side, which involves the exploration of other planets.

What Are Some Specific Examples of Research the Keonjian Endowment Has Supported?

Most recently, largely thanks to the Keonjian endowment, we got a paper accepted regarding subsurface exploration on other planets. Prior to that, the VISTA project, in which several students and I built a navigational aid for the visually impaired, was greatly supported by the Keonjian endowment. Part of the gift of that funding is that it’s discretionary, so in the case of the VISTA project, when three  undergraduate students approached me after a talk because they wanted to participate in the kind of research I discussed, we were able to develop a research project that wound up spanning two semesters, generating course credit for the students and resulting in compound successes: a functional prototype that is useful to the key stakeholders, a journal article, a conference presentation and a local TV and news story.

What’s New? What Is Your Current Research and Where Is It Headed?

I’m working in the areas of autonomous decision-making, which includes autonomous vehicles for space applications as well as for applications in hazardous environments. On the biomedical side, my research is largely focused on vision and eyes. In recent years, we have also been working in tandem with NASA on how to support astronauts in future space habitats. The idea is to make sure the astronauts’ health is being monitored in the same way as the machinery, in part by looking at biometric data that tell us not only about the health of the astronaut but also about the health of the habitat itself.

I’m also continuing to work with a former PhD student on soft robotics for subsurface exploration of water bodies, such as extraterrestrial oceans. That’s because in such subsurface environments, as well as in caves, you have the potential to find life and favorable conditions for human habitation.

Why Are Endowments Important for Excellence In Research?

The key importance of endowments is you’re not constrained. You can explore new ideas right now. Grants favor mainstream research and are so competitive that I have approximately a 10-15% chance of receiving funding when I apply for one. Even if this time-intensive process yields funding, I still have to wait six months before I receive the first installment.

The beauty of philanthropic funding is that it supports the pursuit of truly novel ideas that are beyond the purview of funding agencies, and it offers opportunities that you can’t typically access with grant or federal funding, like the opportunity to attend a conference in a new field of interest.

Philanthropic funding can help with obtaining equipment, establishing programs and involving students in a project, all in service of making proofs of concept or breaking ground in new areas. You can be truly ahead of the curve with this kind of support.