With Visit to UAlbany Interns, SUNY Chancellor King Marks Nearly 200 Students Participating in 2024 Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund
June 17, 2024
Chancellor Joins UAlbany Leaders, Students, Faculty, Elected Officials, and Business Partners for Roundtable Discussion on the University's Expanded Summer Research Program, STEM, and Artificial Intelligence
Today's Visit Comes on the Heels of SUNY's Historic Funding Allocation; Photos Are Available at This Link Here
Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. marked the start of summer internships with a visit to the University at Albany's Summer Research Program (UASRP), which received a grant from the second annual Chancellor's Summer Research Excellence Fund.
A total of 199 students are participating in internships this year thanks to funding from the Chancellor's Summer Research Excellence Fund, including 49 internships focusing on artificial intelligence research. Last year, the Chancellor's Summer Research Excellence Fund enabled 150 summer research internships.
Campuses can use Chancellor's Summer Research Excellence Fund resources to cover all student costs for the internship including, but not limited to, student stipend/salary, tuition/fees, housing, meal plans, childcare, and transportation. In addition to UAlbany (eight internships), paid research internships through the fund are offered at Binghamton University (64 internships), University at Buffalo (54 internships), SUNY ESF (25 internships), SUNY Polytechnic Institute (19 internships), and Stony Brook University (33 internships).
The Chancellor's Summer Research Excellence Fund is part of SUNY's goal of achieving an internship or other high-quality experiential learning opportunity for all SUNY undergraduates. Thanks to resources in the two most recent enacted State budgets, SUNY has provided more than $14 million to State-operated campuses to fund paid internships.
Today, Chancellor King was joined by seven participants of UAlbany's program, as well as SUNY Board Trustee Courtney Burke, U.S. Representative Paul Tonko, Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, and Philippe Helal, Applied Materials Senior Director at META Center at Albany Nanotech. The discussion focused on participants' experiences within the program, their professional goals, the practical application of the program in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and the use of artificial intelligence in academic research.
"Paid internships are essential to achieving SUNY's commitment to upward mobility because they expose students to extraordinary careers and help them achieve their aspirations," said SUNY Chancellor King. "After sitting down with some of the talented students in our program, it's clear how much experiences like these foster growth, curiosity, and innovation. We're proud to invest funding from our historic budget this year into UAlbany's research program and others like it across the SUNY system, which will further position our campuses as leaders in the burgeoning fields."
SUNY Board Trustee Courtney Burke said, "The Chancellor's Summer Research Excellence Fund is an exciting opportunity for students, and I am pleased that SUNY and its campuses continue to expand the program. The intersection of varied fields of study – everything from agriculture to psychology – with the power of artificial intelligence will spur innovation for New York State in ways that we haven't yet realized. My thanks to Chancellor King for leading this effort, and to our Governor and elected officials for supporting research internships."
University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez said, "High-impact experiences like internships and undergraduate research fuel student success and the UAlbany Summer Research Program has been helping launch students into careers and graduate study for decades. New York State and SUNY are doubling down on these critical opportunities at exactly the right moment. To reap the benefits of landmark state and federal investments in AI and semiconductor R&D, New York needs a bright, curious, and capable workforce. Experiential learning opportunities like these internships help students gain the skills they need to succeed."
UAlbany's Summer Research Program expands research opportunities for undergraduate students with financial need, first-generation students, and others who may face barriers and are historically underrepresented in research fields. UASRP received a $69,280 grant from SUNY Chancellor King's Summer Research Excellence Fund, which increased the program's capacity by 25%.
As part of UAlbany's Summer Research Program, students participate in a competitive and intensive, eight-week residential program during UAlbany's Summer Session, where they expand their skill sets in academic research and analytical writing within specific disciplines in STEM, and utilize artificial intelligence throughout the program.
Now in its 37th year, UASRP is proud to partner with a broad collective of local institutions and agencies, including: GEN*NY*SIS Center for Excellence in Cancer Genomics, RNA Institute, New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center, Albany Medical College, and with UAlbany scholars in UAlbany's departments of biology, chemistry, computer science, emergency preparedness, cybersecurity, homeland security, mathematics, physics, psychology and public health. In past years, students have been placed with the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences' Pharmaceutical Research Institute, the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, and more.
U.S. Congressman Paul Tonko said, "I was thrilled to meet with SUNY leadership and a talented group of students this morning to learn how UAlbany's Summer Research Program is helping to enhance student experiences and open up new paths for innovation across New York State and our Capital Region. This program is especially critical for our efforts to widen the pipeline to careers in STEM to include first-generation college students and members of groups that are historically underrepresented in these fields. By utilizing STEM learning and new AI capabilities, UAlbany students from a wide variety of backgrounds will stand at the forefront of our efforts to cement the Capital Region's status as a global hub for innovation and technological advancement."
Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, Chair of the Assembly's Standing Committee on Higher Education, said, "In any industry, gaining internship experience means that roughly 70% of interns will receive a paid job offer following completion and graduation. Moreover, the increase in operating aid for SUNY ensures that even more students can access paid internship opportunities through the Summer Research Excellence Fund and continue along their career path. Focusing on high-need areas and sectors like artificial intelligence – of which the Capital Region is the national epicenter – will ensure that New York continues to lead on AI and STEM. Kudos to Chancellor King for continuing to invest in student success and experiential learning opportunities!"
Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said, "I am thrilled to witness the growth and impact of the University at Albany's Summer Research Program funded by SUNY Chancellor King's Summer Research Excellence Fund. This initiative not only expands opportunities for students in STEM and artificial intelligence but also exemplifies SUNY's commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientific leaders. The increase in paid research internships demonstrates our collective dedication to supporting innovative research and preparing students for the challenges of tomorrow. I thank all who were involved for their dedication to advancing education and research excellence across New York State."
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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Holly Liapis
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