The Research Foundation for SUNY continually works to stimulate and support innovation throughout New York State. To fulfill its mission, the RF provides two core services – sponsored programs administration and innovation support services – to assist SUNY faculty and students and ultimately share the developments and results of their research with the public so that New York’s economy is strengthened.
Projects out of the University at Buffalo and the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at the University at Albany, show how students participate in research and discovery at SUNY. Learn more about each after the jump.
Research Opportunities at UB Push Boundaries
University at Buffalo students are pushing the boundaries of a traditional undergraduate education. While the classroom remains the foundation of UB’s educational experience, the campus offers many opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience that will help them stand out as they apply for jobs, go to graduate school or seek additional research grants.
Take Phil Tucciarone for instance. The chemical engineering major is already a published scientist thanks to UB’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA). With a grant application process that mimics the National Science Foundation, CURCA teaches undergraduates how to write a competitive grant application. It also allows undergraduate students to work side by side with experienced researchers.
Phil is working with Mark Swihart, professor of chemical and biological engineering, and Folarin Erogbogbo, postdoctoral scholar and research assistant professor of chemistry, on a project that touches two important research areas – nanotechnology and energy. He also gets to work with the powerful lasers inside Furnas Hall on UB’s North Campus. How cool is that?
Nanocollege Student Spin-off is Building a Better Battery
Talk about fast-track! A group of CNSE (The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering) graduate students who developed a unique battery technology formed their own design and engineering firm and entered into a licensing agreement with the nanocollege to bring their invention to market.
B.E.S.S. Technologies (B.E.S.S. stands for Battery Energy Storage Systems) is CNSE’s first student spin-off. Its technology offers significantly increased energy storage capacity, faster charging rates, and a longer lifetime for lithium-ion batteries. The licensing agreement gives B.E.S.S. continued access to the world-class cleanrooms, laboratories and tooling at CNSE, providing further stability as the company matures.
B.E.S.S. Technologies CEO Fernando Gómez-Baquero says that having access to world-class education and training as students, along with the intellectual and technological resources at CNSE, has given B.E.S.S. a tremendous advantage. The company looks forward to advancing its technology and growing right here in New York.