The Empire Innovation Program (EIP) supports the recruitment and retention of faculty with strong track records of research accomplishments. EIP hires expand SUNY’s research capacity in strategic priority areas while also strengthening areas where SUNY has a recognized leadership position. A recently instituted Chancellor's Early Career Scholar program supports the recruitment of high-potential early career researchers.
EIP faculty members bring SUNY’s research mission to life through cutting-edge research activities, cross-disciplinary collaborations, dynamic entrepreneurial activities, and contributions to the health and economic vitality of New York State. They are recognized leaders in their fields with international reputation for outstanding research, established track records of scholarly achievements, high-impact publications and significant external funding. They lead Centers and Institutes for Research and serve on scientific advisory boards and professional societies. They serve as mentors for junior faculty and aspiring researchers.
Dr. Saravanan Thangamani
Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at SUNY Upstate Medical University
Director of the new SUNY Upstate Vector Biocontainment Laboratory
Dr. Thangamani joined SUNY Upstate Medical University as a SUNY Empire Innovation Professor in 2019. An internationally renowned expert in vector-borne diseases, Dr. Thangamani and his team relocated from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston to design and direct the Upstate Vector Biocontainment Lab.
Over the past five years, more than 40 outstanding researchers have joined the ranks of SUNY EIP faculty.
Owen Rambow
Professor, Department of Linguistics
Faculty, Institute for Advanced Computational Science
Stony Brook University
Nalini Ratha
Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering
University at Buffalo
Miao Yu
Professor, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering
Faculty, UB RENEW Institute
University at Buffalo
Kai Zhang
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences
University at Albany
Patricia Diaz
Professor, Department of Oral Biology
Director, UB Microbiome Center
University at Buffalo
Benjamin Levine
IACS Endowed Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry
Faculty, Institute for Advanced Computational Science
Stony Brook University
Siwei Lyu
Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering
University at Buffalo
Sophie Crooks Nowicki
Professor, Department of Geology
Faculty, UB Renew Institute
University at Buffalo
Jian-Ping Zheng
Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering
University at Buffalo
Anne Kathryn Kauffman
Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Biology
University at Buffalo
Florence Varodayan
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
Binghamton University
Barbara Rita Alevriadou
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
University at Buffalo
Soo-Kyung Lee
Om P. Bahl Endowed Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
University at Buffalo
Haibin Ling
Professor, Department of Computer Science
Stony Brook University
Michael Ryoo
Associate Professor, Department of of Computer Science
Stony Brook University
Saravanan Thangamani
Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Upstate Medical University
Zhaozheng Yin
Associate Professor, Departments of Computer Science & Biomedical Informatics
Faculty, Institute For AI Discovery & Innovation
Stony Brook University
Youngjae You
Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University at Buffalo
Peng Zhang
Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Stony Brook University
Donghui Zhu
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Stony Brook University
J. Andrew Berglund
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Director, RNA Institute
University at Albany
David Doermann
Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering
Director, Artificial Intelligence Institute
University at Buffalo
James Gallo
Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University at Buffalo
David R. Holtgrave
Dean, Distinguished Professor, School of Public Health
University at Albany
Anushree Karkhanis
Assistant Professor, epartment of Psychology
Binghamton University
Vladimir Kuznetsov
Professor, Department of Urology and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Upstate Medical University
Martin Trebbin
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry
Faculty, RENEW Institute
University at Buffalo
Stefanie Wohl
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological & Vision Sciences
College of Optometry
Xiaoliang Zhang
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Adjunct Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering
University at Buffalo
Yetrib Hathout
Professor & Graduate Director, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Binghamton University
Quanxi Jia
National Grid Professor of Materials Research, Department of Materials Design & Innovation
Scientific Director, NYS Center of Excellence in Materials Informatics
University at Buffalo
James Knowles
Professor & Chair, Department of Cell Biology
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Chunyu Li
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Neuroscience & Physiology
Upstate Medical University
Thomas Thundat
Professor, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering
Faculty, UB RENEW Institute
University at Buffalo
Michelle Withers
Associate Professor, Stem Educator, Department of Biology
Binghamton University
Robert Fechtner
Professor & Chair, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
Upstate Medical University
Anatoly Frenkel
Professor, Department of Materials Science & Chemical Engineering
Stony Brook University
Eric Hoffman
Associate Dean for Research & Research Development, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Binghamton University
Kanneboyina Nagaraju
Founding Chair, Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Binghamton University
Lee-Hsein Pan
Assistant Professor, School of Business
SUNY Geneseo
Josephine Reinhardt
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology
SUNY Geneseo
Yvonne Seale
Assistant Professor, Department of History
SUNY Geneseo
Mariano Viapiano
Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience & Physiology and Department of Neurosurgery
Upstate Medical University
Suann Yang
Associate Professor, Department of Biology
SUNY Geneseo