Chancellor King Celebrates Student Achievements at 2026 SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference

April 24, 2026

Annual Conference Convenes Undergraduate Students and Faculty Mentors to Present Student Research

Syracuse, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today highlighted undergraduate researchers during the 2026 SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC) held at SUNY Upstate Medical University. The annual conference brings together undergraduate researchers who have worked with faculty mentors on projects on topics including healthcare, environmental sustainability, and human well-being, as well as literature and the social sciences. The 2026 conference featured over 280 students and educators from 33 SUNY campuses.

"At all stages of their academic careers, our students are conducting excellent research that will have a positive impact on the lives of New Yorkers," said SUNY Chancellor King. "The SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference is an opportunity to display the incredible work being done by our students throughout the state, while also providing an opportunity to celebrate their stellar achievements. I commend all of our student researchers, and the faculty that support them, for their work to ensure SUNY is positioned as a national leader in research."

SUNY Trustee Eric Corngold said, "Through the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature, SUNY students throughout the state can take part in research opportunities during their time on our campuses. The SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference serves as an important opportunity to recognize the hard work of our undergraduate researchers, and we applaud them for their continued excellence."

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Higher Education Chair, said, "This conference was a wonderful opportunity for our students and the higher education community because it celebrates the moments that define growth and leadership of research and development across many important disciplines. More than 280 undergraduates, from 33 SUNY campuses, spent this year working alongside faculty mentors on research ranging from public health to the history of indigenous education in New York—proof that serious scholarship does not wait for graduate school. Congratulations to every presenter, and my thanks to the faculty who mentored them."

State Assemblymember Alicia L. Hyndman, Higher Education Chair, said, "As Chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, I have seen firsthand how undergraduate research serves as a powerful catalyst for student persistence and academic excellence. The 2026 SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference highlights the incredible talent thriving across 33 SUNY campuses. By pairing students with world-class faculty mentors, we aren't just fostering discovery; we are ensuring that the next generation of New York's leaders is prepared to tackle our most pressing challenges in healthcare, AI, and sustainability. I applaud Chancellor King and the participating educators for their commitment to making SUNY a global hub for innovation."

During the 2026 SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference, more than 280 undergraduate researchers from 33 SUNY campuses gathered to present their research to conference attendees. SUNY also hosted professional development workshops and a career fair for students to learn more about graduate study opportunities, as well as job opportunities and experiences that interest them. SUNY undergraduate researchers who presented their research included:

  • Christopher Bishop and Ethan Valle, from the State University of New York at Binghamton, presented research on an improved mechanism for treatment of Parkinson's Disease with the drug Levodopa.
  • Aidan Langdon, and Toast Lobel, Jungeun Won, and Austin Yetter, from the State University of New York at Buffalo, presented research on the improvement of image quality in retinal imaging through a rotating diffuser-based image for better diagnostics.
  • Robert Humphrey and Lauren Woods, from Cayuga Community College, presented research on the analysis of social media algorithms and targeted advertising on an individual's identity.
  • Rebecca Getman, Xander VanCott, Noah Vance, and Peiyu Zeng, from SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech, presented research on the development of resilient switchgrass cultivars suitable for sustainable biofuel production on marginal lands.
  • Jennaliyah Waddell, from Dutchess Community College, presented research on the use of Quantum Geographic Information System software to generate landscape maps and analyze changes in the terrain.
  • Robert Kidd and Emma Passariello, from SUNY Maritime College, presented research on the use of autonomous tugboats to improve berthing and maneuvering for barges and vessels.
  • Renu Balyan and Anika Bokka, from SUNY Old Westbury, presented research on the utilization of large language models to analyze social media posts and then identify causes of stress and anxiety in college students.
  • Vincent Carey and Lucas Jensen, from SUNY Plattsburgh, presented research on Native American boarding schools and other Indigenous Schools in New York State.
  • Ashlee Streete, from SUNY Purchase College, presented research on forest conservation and restoration as a climate change challenge and solution.
  • Alexis Weng, from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, presented research on organic matter in surface water and the effectiveness of granular activated carbon in removing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), or "forever chemicals" during water treatment processes.

The SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference builds on SUNY's efforts to showcase the research being conducted throughout the SUNY System that saves lives, strengthens the economy, and improves our security. Recently, SUNY hosted the SUNY AI Symposium at the State University of New York at Stony Brook to highlight AI leaders, SUNY researchers, educators, and partners who are advancing discovery, driving AI innovation, and generating economic growth in New York State. In March, the SUNY Research Expo was held in Albany to showcase the groundbreaking agricultural, environmental, artificial intelligence, and medical research taking place throughout the SUNY system. In February, Chancellor King announced the launch of the SUNY Research Connect Portal to showcase the research profiles of nearly 7,000 SUNY researchers from 26 campuses. 

The SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference also showcases SUNY's commitment to highlighting the excellent research taking place across SUNY campuses, and to achieving Governor Hochul's goal of doubling research and innovation throughout the SUNY system. SUNY has undertaken major actions to advance research efforts throughout the system, including:

  • In January, Governor Hochul announced that the New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research, the first-ever independent AI research center at any public university in the United States, would be established at the State University of New York at Binghamton.
  • In November 2025, Governor Hochul announced an investment to construct a new biofabrication research and imaging facility on the State University of New York at Buffalo campus that will help discover new medicines and cures to save lives.
  • Also in November 2025, Governor Hochul announced the major expansion of the State University of New York at Albany's RNA Institute to advance world-class research, training, and workforce development.
  • In October 2025, Governor Hochul announced the launch of the SUNY Brain Institute, a multi-campus initiative focused on expanding SUNY's groundbreaking neuroscience research.
  • In September 2025, Governor Hochul established the Quantum Research and Innovation Hub at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, further catapulting New York's national leadership in groundbreaking research that saves lives, grows the economy, and improves national security.
  • In July 2025 SUNY launched the SUNY Research Leadership Academy to advance inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) fields.
  • In April 2025, Governor Hochul announced that eight SUNY campuses would receive funding to develop departments, centers, and institutes of AI and Society to advance the use of AI for the public good and to foster collaboration across disciplines to promote inclusive AI research and advance responsible data use.

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, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its 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 $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.

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