{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-alumni-grant-recipient-js","path":"/alumni-center/alumni-grant-recipients/moitri-santra-2025","result":{"data":{"recipient":{"firstName":"Moitri","lastName":"Santra","slug":"moitri-santra-2025","year":2025,"finalistYear":2021,"finalistAward":"Finalist","grantType":"New Idea to Improve the World Grant","cardImage":"2025-moitri-santra.png","quoteImage":"Santra-Moitri-2025-Alum-Grant-Quote.png","quote":"If something is good, there is always a way to make it better.","cardDescription":"Moitri was awarded the New Idea to Improve the World Grant for their work on the “Development of a Microneedle Patch Sensor for Detecting Oxytetracycline in Citrus Root Tissues.”","aboutProject":["Citrus greening disease is one of the biggest threats to citrus trees worldwide, and while the antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) can help, growers currently have no easy way to confirm if it’s reaching the right part of the tree. Their project is developing a microneedle patch that can detect OTC in citrus roots — helping farmers know if treatments are working.","The patch uses special coatings to capture OTC and reveal its presence through fluorescence, offering a fast, affordable, and field-ready solution. This tool could help growers apply antibiotics more effectively, reduce waste, and slow the spread of this devastating disease."],"inspiration":["My inspiration for this project stems from firsthand experiences with citrus stakeholders across Florida. Through my research over the past three years in the field, I have collaborated with growers, manufacturers, and plant pathologists to understand the key factors that need to be considered when developing effective tools for citrus greening.","One conversation with a grower stood out: I received a message expressing frustration over the lack of a method to confirm whether treatments were successfully reaching the phloem, where bacteria colonize. After hearing this, I was surprised to learn that despite OTC’s widespread use to manage the disease, growers still face uncertainty about the effectiveness of their treatments due to the absence of reliable monitoring tools. This gap inspired me to develop a practical solution that would allow growers to confirm OTC uptake, ensuring their treatments are both efficient and impactful."]}},"pageContext":{"slug":"moitri-santra-2025","relatedRecipients":[{"slug":"sean-jiang-2025","year":2025,"firstName":"Sean","lastName":"Jiang","finalistYear":2023,"finalistAward":"Finalist","grantType":"Continuation of 3M Young Scientist Challenge Project Grant","cardImage":"2025-sean-jiang.png","cardDescription":"Sean was awarded the Continuation of 3M Young Scientist Challenge Project Grant for their work on their 3M Young Scientist Challenge project: \"Infosound—A Novel Navigation Device Powered by AI and Depth-Sensing Technology for the Blind.\""},{"slug":"anish-kosaraju-2025","year":2025,"firstName":"Anish","lastName":"Kosaraju","finalistYear":2023,"finalistAward":"Finalist","grantType":"Science in Your Community Grant","cardImage":"2025-anish-kosaraju.png","cardDescription":"Anish was awarded the Science in Your Community Grant for their work on VeriCare — an AI-boosted solution to medical billing overcharges."},{"slug":"aakash-manaswi-2025","year":2025,"firstName":"Aakash","lastName":"Manaswi","finalistYear":2024,"finalistAward":"Finalist","grantType":"Continuation of 3M Young Scientist Challenge Project Grant","cardImage":"2025-aakash-manaswi.png","cardDescription":"Aakash was awarded the Continuation of 3M Young Scientist Challenge Project Grant for their work on their 3M Young Scientist Challenge project: “Evaluating the Efficacy of Novel Carbon Dioxide Spray and Pesticides Using a Convolutional Neural Network for Varroa Mite Treatment in Honeybee Colonies.”"}]}},"staticQueryHashes":["1877358583","2853049992","3432942819","4119215080","4285582392"]}