Protecting the Flock
Tufts students have created a new “featherweight device," a tiny, lightweight wearable that helps researchers “listen” to birds in a new way. The device tracks subtle changes in physiological signals, revealing when birds are stressed, even when there are no obvious signs. The device aims to give birds a voice and help people respond before something goes wrong.
The device and the Tufts students’ accompanying research have dual potential: one is furthering science and understanding how climate change impacts animals and the other consists of more commercially viable use cases. For researchers, it opens a window into how animals experience their environment in real time. It allows them to study how birds respond to changing environments without disturbing them, and offers a new way to understand how climate and environmental changes are affecting living systems starting at the level of individual animals. For farmers and those in the agricultural industry, the device has the potential to identify problems early before they affect egg production or animal health.
This work brings together two groups at Tufts with complementary strengths: The Romero Lab focuses on understanding how animals respond to stress and environmental change, while the Sonkusale Research Lab specializes in building small, energy-efficient sensing devices. Together, they combine biology and engineering to create tools that can move from the lab into real-world settings.
The team is supported by VentureWell, a nonprofit that helps researchers turn promising ideas into real-world solutions. The organization provides funding, mentorship, and hands-on support to help teams translate their research into scalable products and companies. Selected out of many competitive submissions, the Featherweight Device team recently advanced to Stage 1 of the VentureWell E-Team program, an exciting early milestone recognizing the project for both its innovation and its potential to make an impact.
This new venture builds upon years of PhD research by Rachel Riccio (Biology PhD and soon-to-be Postdoctoral Researcher) as well as postdoctoral researchers Surya Varchasvi Devaraj (ECE Postdoctoral Researcher); Leah Berube (ECE PhD); and Claudia Gerecke Biology (MA26, soon-to-be PhD student). With the support of Venturewell, The team is now exploring commercialization
Professor of Biology Michael Romero and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Sameer Sonkusale have advised and mentored this project. Professor of Biology Michael Reed and Associate Professor of Biology Mimi Kao have also provided guidance on this project.
Photo: The founding team of Featherweight Devices, which received funding from VentureWell. From left to right: Surya Varchasvi Devaraj, Rachel Riccio, and Leah Berube.