SUNY Announces Expansion of the Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund
April 16, 2024
$1.4 Million to Fund 170 Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences
45 New Internship Opportunities Will Focus on Artificial Intelligence Research
Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, Jr. today announced the expansion of the Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund. A total of $1.4 million will be invested to expand the number of paid internships from 150 to 170 for students from across six campuses. The internships will include 45 new experiences for students focused on Artificial Intelligence research. This is the second year of the program announced last April.
"Following the success of last year’s paid summer internship program, I am pleased to announce that SUNY is expanding the Summer Research Excellence Fund to provide 170 students across six campuses the opportunity to obtain crucial paid internship experiences before they graduate," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Providing students with paid, equitable internships is an important step in ensuring student success and upward mobility, because these experiences will allow them to use the knowledge gained during the program to attain and succeed at high-quality jobs after graduation."
SUNY Board Trustee Courtney Eagles Burke said, "In the first year of the Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund, 150 students had access to internships for cutting-edge research projects in science, engineering, and other STEM fields, and at locations including the Brookhaven National Laboratory. I am excited Chancellor King is expanding this program further to provide more research opportunities for our students."
The internship program will expand research opportunities to students with financial need, first-generation students, and others who may face barriers to securing research experiences. Participating campuses include: University at Albany, Binghamton University, University at Buffalo, SUNY ESF, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and Stony Brook University.
Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Senate Committee on Higher Education, said, "Summer internships at research institutions offer students an opportunity to advance their education, provide opportunities to explore new areas, and add to our understanding of artificial intelligence all at SUNY's extensive facilities, while being compensated."
Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, said, "We know that on average, 60% of employers prefer to hire graduates and workers with internship experience. Extending new research internship opportunities to SUNY students translates into real-world career experience and readiness that helps to leverage better pay, benefits, and economic empowerment post-college. Furthermore, paid internships are more likely to translate into job offers, attract applicants from a wider swathe of socioeconomic backgrounds, and connect employers with new generations of skilled workers. It is a win-win for not just our students and universities, but the economy more broadly. With several of these focused on AI-related research, I'm confident that New York will continue to lead the country on AI research and development in the years to come, and I commend SUNY Chancellor John King for investing in the success of New York’s students and future workforce."
The internships will be in fields including biology, machine learning, cybersecurity, physics and astronomy, engineering, chemistry, computer science, and clean energy, among others. Approximately 45 internships will focus on artificial intelligence research for the public good. Nursing, a high needs area not often considered in research funding, will also see new internship opportunities.
The Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund covers all student costs for the internship including, but not limited to, student stipend/salary, tuition/fees, housing, meal plans, childcare, and transportation.
University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez said, "I am grateful to the SUNY Board of Trustees and SUNY leadership for their commitment to providing critical experiential learning opportunities to our students through the Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund. This program enables the University at Albany to offer students valuable research experience that complements their classroom work and helps them envision their futures. As one of the most diverse public research institutions in the nation, UAlbany prioritizes giving each of our students the educational foundation and hands-on experience they need to succeed after graduation. Programs like the Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund help us fulfill our mission."
Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger said, "Binghamton University’s faculty and students are excited about being on the leading edge of artificial intelligence research and the expansion of the Summer Research Excellence Fund is going to be crucial for students to get hands-on experience. I commend leaders across New York for providing opportunities in this field, for working to make the state the national leader in AI tech and for doing so with a strong sense of ethics at its foundation."
University at Buffalo President Satish K. Tripathi said, "The Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund will provide students with amazing summer research experiences preparing them for success in their graduate studies and their chosen profession. We thank the Chancellor for his support of our research mission and for providing first generation students and students with financial need the opportunity to participate in these transformative experiences."
SUNY ESF President Joanie Mahoney said, "Internships and research play crucial roles in equipping our students for future triumphs with hands-on, real-world engagement in their chosen fields. The Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund enables us to extend these opportunities to more students, relieving financial burdens and averting additional debt during the summer. We applaud Chancellor King for expanding the program to provide these important experiences to more students."
SUNY Poly President Winston Oluwole Soboyejo said, "As New York State's premier public polytechnic and a leader in innovation, technology, and social mobility, SUNY Poly is dedicated to ensuring students from all backgrounds can access transformative research experiences that will advance their knowledge and careers. We commend Chancellor King and the SUNY system for their expansion of the Summer Research Excellence Fund and commitment to providing invaluable applied learning opportunities to SUNY Poly students in the areas of artificial intelligence, biology, chemistry, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, nursing and more."
Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis said, "Stony Brook University is a flagship research institution that delivers an affordable, world-class education to our students. We recognize the critical role our students play in addressing societal challenges. Thanks to efforts like the Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund, our students are able to gain hands-on experience working with our faculty who are internationally recognized researchers and leaders in their fields. We look forward to once again welcoming these promising scholars to our campus this summer."
In February, Governor Kathy Hochul announced State University of New York campuses are investing nearly $10 million in annual state funding to provide 3,000 SUNY students with internships and other experiential learning opportunities before graduation. The funding was secured through the historic $163 million increase in direct operating aid to SUNY’s State-operated campuses for FY 2024.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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