Celebrating Excellence, Innovation & Collaboration in Research
The University at Albany holds an annual Research & Entrepreneurship (R&E) Week each fall, uniting faculty, students, researchers, innovators and community members to demonstrate the impact of research on the world around us. The event is open to the public.
By providing a collaborative forum for scholars and partners from diverse disciplines, R&E Week showcases UAlbany’s research and economic potential while fostering new connections and opportunities for collaboration.
Save the Date for R&E Week 2026!
R&E Week will be held October 19 to 23, 2026 and feature compelling speakers and awards centered on this year’s theme: public impact research.
Learn how UAlbany scholars and researchers are using their expertise to generate new insights, technologies and inventions that make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.
R&E Week Supporter Opportunities
UAlbany invites your organization to celebrate academic excellence and reach your target audience during both UAlbany’s spring Showcase Day and fall R&E Week.
supporters
About both events and their audiences
About both events and their audiences
Learn more about each event and who is expected to attend:
About UAlbany Showcase
UAlbany’s annual Showcase Day is an opportunity for students from all disciplines to highlight their research, scholarship and creative work.
Local business leaders, elected officials, student presenters’ family and friends, prospective students, alumni, students, faculty and staff are all expected to attend.
About Research & Entrepreneurship (R&E) Week
UAlbany hosts Research and Entrepreneurship (R&E) Week each fall that unite researchers, innovators and leaders from across the University to celebrate and demonstrate the impact of UAlbany’s research on the world around us.
Community members, policymakers and industry leaders are expected to attend alongside students, faculty and staff.
How to pledge your organization's support
How to pledge your organization's support
If your organization gives a single $3,000 donation to support both UAlbany Showcase and the R&E Week:
- UAlbany will add your business’s name and logo to a designated space at Showcase Day. (For example: Find psychology students presenting research posters at the XYZ Industries area in the Arts & Sciences Building.) You can also staff an informational table in your Showcase Day space to educate attendees about your organization.
- $250 of your gift will contribute to an awards fund, which directly benefits our students.
- UAlbany will include your business’s name and logo on signage during R&E Week, and you can staff an informational table during R&E Week.
For both events, your business’s name and logo will be included on the event navigation app and printed maps — allowing your business to help attendees find their way, while advertising your brand to thousands.
Please contact Associate Director of Corporate Engagement Brian Rudolph at [email protected] with any questions.
R&E Week Awards
Pathbreaking Research Talk Series Speakers
Four UAlbany Pathbreaking Researchers are selected each year to present in-person on how they are forging new directions in their fields during the R&E Week.
awards
2026 Nomination Process
2026 Nomination Process
Eligibility
Full-time, tenured associate professors and professors, as well as professional senior research associates and scientists, are eligible for this award.
Nomination
Researchers should be nominated based on the degree to which their work exemplifies pathbreaking research that advances new directions, redefines disciplinary boundaries or establishes emerging fields.
There must also be clear evidence of meaningful public, societal or economic impact. Nominees should have delivered, or have the potential of delivering, tangible benefits beyond academia — highlighting UAlbany’s role in research with broad public value.
Nominations must be submitted using the 2026 R&E Week Awards Nomination Form.
Selection
The R&E Week Event Co-chairs will select the Pathbreaking Research speakers from the rank-ordered lists provided by each Dean. The Vice President for Research & Economic Development will make the final selection of honorees.
Note: Pathbreaking Researchers are required to deliver in-person presentations on Day 3 of R&E Week.
List of Past Speakers
List of Past Speakers
2025
- Rukhsana Ahmed, Professor, Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences
- Bryan Early, Professor, Department of Political Science, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
- Susan Sharfstein, Professor, Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Fangqun Yu, Senior Research Faculty Member, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, College of Arts & Sciences
Outstanding Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Recognition
This award is designed to recognize UAlbany’s junior and senior faculty members, scholars and professional scientific staff who have significantly impacted their field of scholarship and consistently received significant extramural funding.
2026 Nomination Process
2026 Nomination Process
Eligibility
Individuals employed full-time at UAlbany for two or more years as a tenure-track or tenured faculty member, a research associate or scientist, or equivalent are eligible for this award.
Individuals who have previously received this award, the President’s Excellence in Research and Creativity Award and the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, as well as Distinguished Professors, are not eligible.
Nomination & Selection
The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is invited to nominate two junior and four senior researchers or scholars. All other Deans are invited to nominate one junior and three senior researchers or scholars from their school or college.
Nominations must be submitted using the 2026 R&E Week Awards Nomination Form in ranked order.
The Vice President for Research & Economic Development will make the final selection of honorees.
List of Past Awardees
List of Past Awardees
2025
- Sukanta Basu, Professor of Empire Innovation, Department of Environmental & Sustainable Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Rajani Bhatia, Associate Professor, Department of Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies, College of Arts & Sciences
- Jonathan Foster, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Theory & Practice, School of Education
- Mila Gascó-Hernandez, Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration & Policy Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
- Kori A. Graves, Associate Professor, Department of History, College of Arts & Sciences
- Aubrey Hillman, Associate Professor, Department of Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Kurunthachalam Kannan, Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Integrated Health Sciences
- Melissa Arnold Lyon, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
- Alandeon Oliveira, Professor, Department of Educational Theory & Practice, School of Education
- Janet Paluh, Associate Professor, Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Christophe Vallee, Professor, Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- William Wales, Professor, Massry School of Business
- Laura Wilder, Professor, Department of English, College of Arts & Sciences
- Angie Wootton, Assistant Professor, School of Social Welfare, College of Integrated Health Science
- Weilan Zhang, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental & Sustainable Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
2024
- Rukhsana Ahmed, Professor, Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences
- Allison A. Appleton, Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, College of Integrated Health Sciences
- Heidi L. Andrade, Professor, Department of Educational & Counseling Psychology, School of Education
- Ben Boivin, Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- James Boswell, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences
- M. Abdullah Canbaz, Assistant Professor, Department of Information Sciences and Technology, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
- Gregory Cox, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences
- Matthew P. Crayne, Associate Professor, Massry School of Business
- DeeDee Bennett Gayle, Professor, Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
- Alex Greer, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
- Eric R. Hardiman, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare, College of Integrated Health Sciences
- Rey Koslowski, Professor, Department of Political Science, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
- Gracelee Lawrence, Assistant Professor, Department of Art & Art History, College of Arts & Sciences
- Melissa Arnold Lyon, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
- Abram Magner, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Lijun Ni, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Theory & Practice, School of Education
- Kaalak Reddy, Research Faculty, The RNA Institute, College of Arts & Sciences
- Paul Stasi, Professor, Department of English, College of Arts & Sciences
- Junhong (June) Wang, Research Associate Professor, Department of Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Robert E. Worden, Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
- Kristen C. Wilcox, Professor, Department of Educational Policy & Leadership, School of Education
- Mariya Zheleva, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
2023
- Lisa E. Baranik, Associate Professor, Massry School of Business
- Aaron Benavot, Professor, Department of Educational Policy & Leadership, School of Education
- Nathaniel Cady, Distinguished Professor, Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Kristen L. Corbosiero, Professor, Department of Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Beth J. Feingold, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Integrated Health Sciences
- Ashley M. Fox, Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
- Ken Halvorsen, Senior Research Scientist, The RNA Institute, College of Arts & Sciences
- Eunju Lee, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare, College of Integrated Health Sciences
- Yanna Liang, Professor, Department of Environmental & Sustainable Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Max Lifchitz, Professor, Department of Music & Theatre, College of Arts & Sciences
- Erika Martin, Professor, Department of Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
- Scott Miller, Senior Research Faculty, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, College of Arts & Sciences
- Carmen L. Morano, Professor, School of Social Welfare, College of Integrated Health Sciences
- Peter Shea, Professor, Department of Educational Theory & Practice, School of Education
- Woongje Sung, Associate Professor, Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Barbara Sutton, Professor, Department of Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies, College of Arts & Sciences
- Jeannette Sutton, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
- Meredith Weiss, Professor, Department of Political Science, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
- Alex Valm, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Zawadi Rucks-Ahidiana, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences
- Bijan K. Dey, Adjunct Research Faculty, The RNA Institute, College of Arts & Sciences
- Morgan Sammons, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Betty Lin, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences
- Kate S. Coddington, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Planning, and Sustainability, College of Arts & Sciences
- Rixiang Huang, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental & Sustainable Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Md. Aynul Bari, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental & Sustainable Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Dola Saha, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Unal Tatar, Associate Professor, Department of Cybersecurity, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
- Angela Hackstadt, Associate Librarian, University Libraries
- David Hureau, Associate Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
- April Roggio, Visiting Assistant Professor & Research Associate, Department of Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
- Sreya Kolay, Assistant Professor, Massry School of Business
- Jildyz Urbaeva, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare, College of Integrated Health Sciences
2022
- Cheryl P. Andam, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Aveek Dutta, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Amirreza Masoumzadeh, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Sherry Sahebi, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Morgan Sammons, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Qiang Zhang, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
2021
- Cheryl P. Andam, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Beth J. Feingold, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Integrated Health Sciences
- Sara Lance, Research Faculty, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, College of Arts & Sciences
- Mariola Moeyaert, Associate Professor, Department of Educational & Counseling Psychology, School of Education
- Unal Tatar, Associate Professor, Department of Cybersecurity, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
- Daphney-Stavroula Zois, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
Inventor Recognition
This award recognizes UAlbany students, faculty and staff who have disclosed intellectual property or patented an invention for the first time.
2026 Selection Process
2026 Selection Process
Eligibility
Current UAlbany students, faculty and staff who submitted their first invention disclosure or patent application, or who have been granted their first patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, in the past year are eligible for this award.
Selection
The Office of Technology Transfer will review its internal records, identify awardees and share the list with the R&E Week Organizing Committee for recognition during R&E Week.
List of Past Awardees
List of Past Awardees
2025
- Mustafa Aksoy, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Shuvam Chakraborty ’25 PhD, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Joseph Doane, PhD Candidate, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts &Sciences
- Spyros Gallis (Spyridon Galis), Associate Professor, Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- DeeDee Bennett Gayle, Professor, Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
- Jorge González-Cruz, Professor of Empire Innovation, Department of Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Seung Yup Jang, Senior Research Scientist, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Phung Lai, Assistant Professor, Department of Cybersecurity, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
- William May, Senior Research Support Specialist, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, College of Arts & Sciences
- Gary J. Saulnier, Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Amith Kumar Singh ’26 PhD, Department of Computer Science, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Chris Chau-Lam Yu, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Shenglong Zhang, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Science
2024
- Michael Barletta ’23, ’25 MS, Department of Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Jorge González-Cruz, Professor of Empire Innovation, Department of Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Michael Yeung, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
- Gary J. Saulnier, Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Seung Yup Jang, Senior Research Scientist, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Aishwari Talhan, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Yuemin Li, Data Analyst, Office of Strategic Initiatives, Division for Research & Economic Development
- Yuchi Young, Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy, Management and Behavior, College of Integrated Health Sciences
2023
- Gary Ackerman, Professor, Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
- Matthew Szydagis, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, College of Arts & Sciences
- Alex Valm, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Jia Sheng, Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
- Won Namgoong, Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Yanna Liang, Professor, Department of Environmental & Sustainable Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Mustafa Aksoy, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Jeffrey Freedman, Research Faculty, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, College of Arts & Sciences
- J. Andrew Berglund, Director, The RNA Institute, College of Arts & Sciences
- Ville Väre, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Maksim Royzen, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
- Gregory Denbeaux, Associate Professor, Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Nathaniel Cady, Distinguished Professor, Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Li Niu, Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
- Qilong Min, Research Professor, Department of Physics, College of Arts & Sciences
- Douglas S. Conklin, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Integrated Health Sciences
- Alexander Shekhtman, Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
- James Castracane, Senior Research Scientist, Division for Research & Economic Development
- Serge Oktyabrsky, Professor, Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Alain C. Diebold, Professor of Empire Innovation, Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
2022
- Alex Valm, Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Annalisa Scimemi, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Daphney-Stavroula Zois, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Dola Saha, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Hormoz Mazdiyasni, Medicinal Chemistry Scientist, The RNA Institute, College of Arts & Sciences
- J. Andrew Berglund, Director, The RNA Institute, College of Arts & Sciences
- Jeannette Sutton, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
- Jeffrey Freedman, Research Faculty, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, College of Arts & Sciences
- Jia Sheng, Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
- J. Ramon Gil-Garcia, Professor, Department of Public Administration & Policy, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy
- Kara Sulia, Research Faculty, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, College of Arts & Sciences
- Mark Muraven, Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences
- Matthew Szydagis, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, College of Arts & Sciences
- Mohammed Agamy, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Mustafa Aksoy, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Nicholas Bassill, Director, State Weather Risk Communications Center, College of Arts & Sciences
- Paolo Forni, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Qiang Zhang, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
- Reza Feyzi Behnagh, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Theory & Practice, School of Education
- Ricky Leung, Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy & Management, College of Integrated Health Sciences
- Rui Li, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Planning, and Sustainability, College of Arts and Sciences
- Thomas Begley, Distinguished Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
- Ville Väre, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences
- Won Namgoong, Professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
- Yanna Liang, Professor, Department of Environmental & Sustainable Engineering, College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering
A Look Back at Past R&E Weeks
R&E Week 2025: Frontiers of Biotech & Nanotech
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UAlbany's third R&E Week included the BioInnovation Forum and the Albany Nanotechnology Symposium, with participation from leading industry partners and presentations centered around next-generation technologies with a strong focus on sustainability.
R&E Week 2024: Scaling Impact in AI, Innovation & Creative Works
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The second annual R&E Week expanded in both scale and reach, attracting participants from across New York State and beyond, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of creative works into the research ecosystem.
R&E Week 2023: UAlbany & New York State Pave the Future of AI Research
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UAlbany’s inaugural Research & Entrepreneurship (R&E) Week in 2023 established a new institutional platform to showcase the University’s research impact and strengthen connections across academia, industry and government.