A Year of Research Growth at
NY’s Premier Public Polytechnic
The 2025-26 academic year marked another year of strong research activity at SUNY Poly, as the university continued to expand its sponsored research portfolio, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and build connections with partners across academia, industry, government, healthcare, and the community.
Sponsored research expenditures reached approximately $1.9 million in 2025-26, up from approximately $550,000 in 2021-22, reflecting significant growth over the past four years. Research activity also accelerated, with 81 proposals submitted, nearly double the 41 proposals submitted in 2024-25. During the year, SUNY Poly maintained 32 active contracts, while faculty researchers reported six technology disclosures and one patent filing.
This growing research enterprise is supported by SUNY Poly’s 14 Research Centers, which bring together faculty, students, and external partners around areas ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, health sciences, and biomedical innovation. The university’s momentum was reflected in major new awards and collaborations during the year, including a landmark $60.9 million U.S. Department of Defense contract, one of the largest awards in SUNY Poly history, and participation in a $19.9 million National Science Foundation initiative focused on AI-enabled materials research.
Together, these efforts reflect a research enterprise that continues to grow in scale, reach, and impact while creating new opportunities for faculty and students to contribute to discovery, innovation, and solutions to real-world challenges.
Landmark $60.9 Million Department of Defense Contract
Develop advanced, data-driven analytical tools supporting the U.S. Army Transformation Decision Analysis Center.
Students Gain Hands-On Research Experience
Nearly 30 students participated in SUNY Poly’s 10-week Summer Undergraduate Research Program.
SUNY Poly Joins $19.9 Million NSF READINESS Initiative
To accelerate the discovery and manufacturing of next-gen electronic and quantum materials.
Landmark $60.9 Million Department of Defense Contract
SUNY Poly received a landmark $60.9 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop advanced, data-driven analytical tools supporting the U.S. Army Transformation Decision Analysis Center (TDAC). One of the largest awards in university history, the initiative focuses on generative artificial intelligence, foundation models, predictive analytics, and other advanced technologies designed to strengthen decision-making across complex operational environments.
The award builds on two years of work by SUNY Poly researchers led by Principal Investigator Dr. Bill Thistleton, alongside Dr. Arjun Singh, Dr. Amit Sangwan, Dr. Andrea Dziubek, Dr. Steven Schneider, Dr. Mahmoud Badr, and Dr. Emilio Cobanera. The first project under the contract, supported by a $3.9 million FY25 Defense Appropriation, brings SUNY Poly together with the University of South Florida and University System of Maryland.
SUNY Poly Joins $19.9 Million NSF READINESS Initiative
SUNY Poly joined Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin on a four-year, $19.9 million National Science Foundation initiative using artificial intelligence, robotics, and cloud-based laboratories to accelerate the discovery and manufacturing of next-generation electronic and quantum materials.
As co-principal investigator, Vice President for Research Dr. Michael Carpenter is helping lead development of autonomous materials-processing systems at SUNY Poly. The READINESS initiative will also expand workforce development through short courses and stackable credentials in semiconductor manufacturing, laboratory automation, and AI-enabled materials research.
NSF Award Advances Next-Generation Wireless Research
Dr. Arjun Singh, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of the Wireless Intelligent Next Gen Systems (WINGS) Research Center, received a prestigious $175,000 NSF CRII: NeTS award for his solo-led project, “Deployable Near-Field Sub-Terahertz Communication Systems.”
The research addresses technical challenges associated with next-generation wireless networks operating at terahertz frequencies and could contribute to faster and more reliable wireless technologies. The project also creates opportunities for SUNY Poly students to participate in emerging research at the intersection of communications, engineering, and advanced technology.
Advancing Semiconductor Inspection Technology
SUNY Poly’s Applied Electromagnetics and RF Circuits (AE&RFC) Research Center, led by Interim Provost Dr. Abdullah Eroglu as principal investigator, partnered with New York-based Xallent to develop a non-contact semiconductor inspection platform using terahertz radiation. The project is supported by a $60,000 grant from FuzeHub’s New York State Microelectronics Innovation Challenge.
The technology is designed to identify defects and inconsistencies in advanced semiconductor materials without physically contacting delicate wafer surfaces. By combining SUNY Poly’s expertise in terahertz systems and semiconductor characterization with Xallent’s automation capabilities, the project seeks to improve manufacturing reliability, reduce material waste, and strengthen domestic microelectronics production.
Research With Community Impact
Senior Community & Behavioral Health students conducted one of the first local studies examining the early effects of New York State’s bell-to-bell cellphone restrictions in Oneida County high schools. Led by Assistant Professor Dr. Jarrett Rose, the research combined interviews and survey responses from 111 teachers, administrators, and staff members to examine perceptions of student engagement, classroom focus, social interaction, and behavior.
The student research team included Hannah C. Reese, Cullen Elliott, Dezeraiah Bellamy, Samantha Dee, Isabella Schaffer, Ashton Paul, and Madison Altamura, with Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Winnie Mkandawire serving as data analyst. The findings are being shared with educational stakeholders, while faculty and recent graduates are working to develop the research into a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.
Students Gain Hands-On Research Experience
Nearly 30 students participated in SUNY Poly’s 10-week Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), working alongside faculty mentors on projects spanning foundational science, engineering, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, and other disciplines. Coordinated by Dr. Shing Chi Leung and Marye Ianno, the program provided students with hands-on experience while contributing to active faculty research.
SUNY Poly students also took their research to the international stage. Electrical and Computer Engineering students Seth Walther and Henry Yerdon presented astrophysics research at the 2026 Physics Global Summit in Denver, the world’s largest physics conference. Working under the mentorship of Dr. Leung, the students explored new stellar and supernova models, with their projects expected to contribute to future scholarly publications.
GCAMM Expands Interdisciplinary Research
The Global Center for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (GCAMM), led by President Dr. Winston Soboyejo as principal investigator with Dr. Tabiri Asumadu serving as associate director, continued to advance interdisciplinary research spanning biomedical materials and devices, advanced energy technologies, and advanced manufacturing and materials.
Since its launch, GCAMM-affiliated researchers have produced at least 16 peer-reviewed papers in addition to patents, conference presentations, and industry collaborations. Approximately 10 SUNY Poly undergraduate researchers are also engaged in the center’s work, contributing to projects involving biomedical implants, cancer detection and treatment, solid-state batteries, flexible solar technologies, machine learning, graphene, and advanced manufacturing.
Mohawk Valley Biotech Collective Forms
SUNY Poly, Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI), and Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) established the Mohawk Valley Biotech Collective, creating a regional partnership designed to accelerate biomedical research, innovation, and economic development. The collaboration combines SUNY Poly’s academic and research capabilities with MMRI’s foundational biomedical research and MVHS’s clinical expertise.
SUNY Poly’s contributions include expertise from the Center for Healthcare Innovation and Humanitarian Engineering, led by Dr. Joanne Joseph, and GCAMM. The partnership is designed to strengthen joint grant opportunities, translational research, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and the movement of scientific discoveries from the laboratory into real-world healthcare applications.
SPARK Connects Researchers and Partners
SUNY Poly’s second annual Synergy in Partnerships, Advanced Research, and Knowledge (SPARK) Workshops brought together faculty, students, postdoctoral researchers, and 27 external collaborators from industry, healthcare, government, academia, and the arts. Participants represented organizations including Upstate Medical University, MVHS, MMRI, the Air Force Research Laboratory, IBM, Indium Corporation, Danfoss, Wolfspeed, Assured Information Security, Munson, The Art Thing, Polyhedron Productions, Cyborg Interactive, and others.
Through presentations, panels, poster sessions, laboratory tours, and networking, SPARK showcased research spanning health sciences, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, advanced materials and manufacturing, artificial intelligence, the arts and gaming, and the intersection of technology and the liberal arts. The annual workshops are helping create connections that can lead to new research initiatives, partnerships, and sponsored research opportunities.
AI in Action
SUNY Poly’s inaugural three-day AI in Action Showcase brought together scholars, industry experts, healthcare professionals, educators, faculty, and students to examine the rapidly expanding role of artificial intelligence. Sessions explored applications across advanced manufacturing and materials, healthcare and bioinformatics, education, engineering, business, nursing, and workforce development.
The showcase reflected SUNY Poly’s growing research and educational activity in artificial intelligence while emphasizing interdisciplinary and human-centered approaches to emerging technology. Together with the university’s expanding research centers, partnerships, and sponsored research portfolio, the event demonstrated how SUNY Poly is connecting research, education, workforce development, and community engagement to build upon its growing research enterprise.
SUNY Poly Research Centers
Research Centers at SUNY Polytechnic Institute aim to create and enable visionary research that serves our community and stakeholders and are a critical asset to the Mohawk Valley region and beyond.