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Empire Innovation Program

SUNY Empire Innovation Program

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.


EIP Faculty Spotlight

Saravanan Thangamani - EIPDr. 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.

Dr. Thangamani talks about his work in vector-borne diseases, the impact of his Citizen Science program, and the key to submitting a successful funding proposal.


SUNY EIP Faculty

Over the past five years, more than 40 outstanding researchers have joined the ranks of SUNY EIP faculty.

2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2021
Owen Rambow headshot

Owen Rambow
Professor, Department of Linguistics
Faculty, Institute for Advanced Computational Science
Stony Brook University

Nalini Ratha headshot

Nalini Ratha
Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering
University at Buffalo

Miao Yu headshot

Miao Yu
Professor, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering
Faculty, UB RENEW Institute
University at Buffalo

Kai Zhang headshot

Kai Zhang
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences
University at Albany

 
2020
Patricia Diaz headshot

Patricia Diaz
Professor, Department of Oral Biology
Director, UB Microbiome Center
University at Buffalo

Benjamin Levine headshot

Benjamin Levine
IACS Endowed Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry
Faculty, Institute for Advanced Computational Science
Stony Brook University

Siwei Lyu headshot

Siwei Lyu
Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering
University at Buffalo

 
Sophie Crooks Nowicki headshot

Sophie Crooks Nowicki
Professor, Department of Geology
Faculty, UB Renew Institute
University at Buffalo

Jian-Ping Zheng headshot

Jian-Ping Zheng
Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering
University at Buffalo

 
Chancellor Early Career Scholars
Anne Kathryn Kauffman headshot

Anne Kathryn Kauffman
Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Biology
University at Buffalo

Florence Varodayan headshot

Florence Varodayan
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
Binghamton University

 
2019
Barbara Rita Alevriadou headshot

Barbara Rita Alevriadou
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
University at Buffalo

Soo-Kyung Lee headshot

Soo-Kyung Lee
Om P. Bahl Endowed Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
University at Buffalo

Haibin Ling headshot

Haibin Ling
Professor, Department of Computer Science
Stony Brook University

 
Michael Ryoo headshot

Michael Ryoo
Associate Professor, Department of of Computer Science
Stony Brook University

Saravanan Thangamani headshot

Saravanan Thangamani
Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Upstate Medical University

Zhaozheng Yin headshot

Zhaozheng Yin
Associate Professor, Departments of Computer Science & Biomedical Informatics
Faculty, Institute For AI Discovery & Innovation
Stony Brook University

 
Youngjae You headshot

Youngjae You
Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University at Buffalo

Peng Zhang headshot

Peng Zhang
Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Stony Brook University

Donghui Zhu headshot

Donghui Zhu
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Stony Brook University

 
2018
J. Andrew Berglundt headshot

J. Andrew Berglund
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Director, RNA Institute
University at Albany

David Doermann headshot

David Doermann
Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering
Director, Artificial Intelligence Institute
University at Buffalo

James Gallo Headshot

James Gallo
Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University at Buffalo

 
David R. Holtgrave headshot

David R. Holtgrave
Dean, Distinguished Professor, School of Public Health
University at Albany

Anushree Karkhanis headshot

Anushree Karkhanis
Assistant Professor, epartment of Psychology
Binghamton University

Vladimir Kuznetsov headshot

Vladimir Kuznetsov
Professor, Department of Urology and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Upstate Medical University

 
Martin Trebbin headshot

Martin Trebbin
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry
Faculty, RENEW Institute
University at Buffalo

Stefanie Wohl headshot

Stefanie Wohl
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological & Vision Sciences
College of Optometry

Xiaoliang Zhang headshot

Xiaoliang Zhang
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Adjunct Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering
University at Buffalo

 
2017
Yetrib Hathout headshot

Yetrib Hathout
Professor & Graduate Director, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Binghamton University

Quanxi Jia headshot

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 Headshot

James Knowles
Professor & Chair, Department of Cell Biology
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

 
Chunyu Li headshot

Chunyu Li
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Neuroscience & Physiology
Upstate Medical University

Thomas Thundat headshot

Thomas Thundat
Professor, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering
Faculty, UB RENEW Institute
University at Buffalo

Michelle Withers headshot

Michelle Withers
Associate Professor, Stem Educator, Department of Biology
Binghamton University

 
2016
Robert Fechtner headshot

Robert Fechtner
Professor & Chair, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
Upstate Medical University

Anatoly Frenkel headshot

Anatoly Frenkel
Professor, Department of Materials Science & Chemical Engineering
Stony Brook University

Eric Hoffman headshot

Eric Hoffman
Associate Dean for Research & Research Development, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Binghamton University

 
Kanneboyina Nagaraju headshot

Kanneboyina Nagaraju
Founding Chair, Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Binghamton University

Lee-Hsein Pan headshot

Lee-Hsein Pan
Assistant Professor, School of Business
SUNY Geneseo

Josephine Reinhardt headshot

Josephine Reinhardt
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology
SUNY Geneseo

 
Yvonne Seale headshot

Yvonne Seale
Assistant Professor, Department of History
SUNY Geneseo

Mariano Viapiano headshot

Mariano Viapiano
Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience & Physiology and Department of Neurosurgery
Upstate Medical University

Suann Yang headshot

Suann Yang
Associate Professor, Department of Biology
SUNY Geneseo