Scripps Scientist Selected to Final Cohort of Moore Inventor Fellows

Daniel Wangpraseurt, a marine biologist at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, is one of five scientist-inventors selected to the tenth and final cohort of Moore Inventor Fellows, an honor awarded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

The Moore Fellowship was launched in 2016 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Moore’s Law, the groundbreaking prediction of exponential growth in computing power. It honors scientist and entrepreneur Gordon Moore’s enthusiasm for science and innovation by nurturing the next generation of scientist-inventors. For the past decade, the fellowship has supported breakthrough tools and technologies that accelerate progress in scientific discovery, environmental conservation and patient care.

The foundation shared news of its 2025 cohort on Sept. 23, marking the fulfillment of a ten-year, $35 million commitment to support “50 inventors to shape the next 50 years.”

A solutions-oriented scientist, Wangpraseurt was selected for his work developing biomimetic materials to boost coral recruitment and survival, key steps in coral reef recovery. These technologies, including the bioactive gel SNAP-X, release chemical cues that mimic the “smell” of healthy reefs and promote coral settlement and survival.

“It’s an honor to be part of the final cohort of fellows recognized by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation,” said Wangpraseurt, leader of the Coral Reef Ecophysiology and Engineering Lab at Scripps. “Most research funding supports early-stage science or late-stage deployment, but not the critical transition between discovery and real-world application. The Moore Inventor Fellows program fills this gap. It gives me the resources and support to move my invention from lab to field, and eventually to market, so it can have a lasting impact on coral reef recovery.”

Using nature-inspired design and working across disciplines, Wangpraseurt and his team developed materials that address a major bottleneck in restoration efforts by helping coral larvae settle and thrive in degraded environments. Initial proof-of-concept trials showed that the gel significantly improved coral recruitment, with settlement rates up to 20 times higher than in control conditions.

“Over the past 10 years, this fellowship has recognized the ingenuity and creativity needed to meet today's challenges and create a better future,” said Harvey V. Fineberg, MD, PhD, president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, in a statement. “These early-career visionaries are poised to develop tools and inventions that can make a positive difference.”

This year’s five fellows were selected from nearly 250 applicants. In addition to Wangpraseurt, other members of the 2025 cohort are advancing cutting-edge research across health and materials science, from developing ​gene-correction technologies to treat genetic diseases to creating fuels that catch sunlight and store it like a battery.

“Ten years ago, we set out to identify 50 inventors to shape the next 50 years,” said Adam Jones, PhD, science program officer. “We look forward to supporting these final five outstanding individuals as they advance their inventions.”

Visit the Moore Inventor Fellows web page to learn more about the 2025 cohort, as well as previous cohorts.