Mechanical Engineering Department celebrates 2025-26 accomplishments
The summer break at Binghamton University is nearly over, with students returning to campus in just a couple of weeks. The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science is looking back on its student, faculty, and research accomplishments for 2025-26.
CAREER Award
Assistant Professor Robert Wagner won a $569,573 National Science Foundation CAREER Award to incorporate machine learning with both simulated and real-world experiments to analyze the behavior of polymer chains. Polymers can be stretchy, soft, or stiff, but how their molecular structure contributes to their mechanical properties is less understood.
STEM training for teachers
This summer, Binghamton University offered local middle and high school teachers a deep dive into microelectronics research so they can take that knowledge back to their students. The Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, included ME faculty and staff members, as well as colleagues from the College of Community and Public Affairs, and the University’s Analytical and Diagnostics Lab (ADL).
New AI center
A record-setting $55 million commitment from a Binghamton University alumnus and New York state will establish the Center for AI Responsibility and Research, the first-ever independent AI research center at a public university in the U.S.
Part of the Empire AI project, the center will be supported by a $30 million commitment from Tom Secunda ’76, MA ’79, co-founder of Bloomberg LP, who is a key private sector partner and philanthropist involved in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Empire AI consortium. This will be coupled with a $25 million capital investment from Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
Faculty news
Associate Professor Scott Schiffres and his startup company, ChipAdd, were featured in a Watson Review story about faculty who are developing their research ideas to market. His work improves the cooling capabilities of microchips by 3D-printing structures directly onto the devices, rather than using bulky heat sinks.
Schiffres, Distinguished Professor Bahgat Sammakia, Distinguished Professor Ronald Miles, and Professor Junghyun Cho were honored among Binghamton’s inventors at the third annual Innovation to Impact Symposium.
This spring, Professor Changhong Ke received the SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.
Research news
Assistant Professor Jian Zhou, PhD ’18, will lead a five-year, $1.84 million project for the National Institutes of Health to create a dual-sensing ear canal probe that will more accurately and reliably detect otoacoustic emissions, which the human cochlea generates in response to auditory stimuli. The probe will use patented technology that Zhou and Distinguished Professor Ronald Miles developed by mimicking how spiders hear through their webs.
Distinguished Professor Guangwen Zhou contributed to research published in Nature about how different gases can affect oxide reduction, which has the potential to revamp scientific understandings and current industrial practices. Collaborators included Brookhaven National Laboratory, Stony Brook University, and Columbia University.
The Integrated Electronics Engineering Center received a $1.2 million award from South Korea’s National Nano Fabrication Center to develop the next generation of “2.5D” (2.5-dimensional) electronics packaging. The goal is to better bridge the gap between silicon microchips and the supporting components that make our devices work. Distinguished Professor S.B. Park serves as IEEC director.
Professor Shahrzad “Sherry” Towfighian and PhD candidates Mahmood Chahari, Osama Abdalla, and Elham Mahmoudi published research in the journals Nano Energy, Sensors, and IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics about the best transduction materials and designs for energy harvesting-based load sensors to use in smart-knee replacements.
Student news
A story in the Watson Review highlighting undergraduate research talked to senior Malcolm John, who is working with Professor Junghyun Cho on advanced semiconductor packaging with a focus on evaluating the mechanical strength of hybrid bonding. He examines how factors such as contamination, surface preparation, and material behavior affect bond strength.
Junior Dimitri Mohamed is one of two Binghamton students who received the Department of Defense’s highly competitive Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship. It covers full tuition and study abroad costs, and provides an annual $30,000 stipend, paid summer internships, and, after graduation, guaranteed civilian employment with the DOD.
Senior Timothy Tran has created a playable 3D-printed acoustic guitar. Unlike a traditional instrument, it’s made of thermoplastic filament and pieced together using a press-fit method.
Annaliese Santoro '26 served in the sustainability cohort at Binghamton’s Sustainability Hub in the Science Library, where she helped to coordinate programming and outreach that support campus sustainability efforts. Throughout the semester, she organized student interest group meetings designed to bring together sustainability-focused student organizations and initiatives.
Alumni news
This spring, Jacob Kumpon ’22 won a BOLD (Bearcats of the Last Decade) 10 Under 10 Award, which honors alumni who have graduated within the last 10 years, demonstrated a very high level of career achievement since leaving campus, and show great potential for future leadership. He is the co-founder and COO of KLAW Industries, a recycling company transforming millions of tons of waste glass each year into next-generation concrete infrastructure.
Zachary Pozniak '15 has built an enormous following on TikTok and Instagram by turning everyday laundry into engaging short-form videos. His creative content has reached millions and helped elevate his family’s New York business into a global name in garment care.