Three Binghamton University professors win prestigious NSF CAREER Awards
More than $1.8 million in funding will be used to pursue research in robotics, materials science, and urban planning
Three Binghamton University faculty members have received more than $1.8 million in National Science Foundation CAREER Awards to pursue groundbreaking research in robotics, materials science, and urban planning.
The awards are part of the NSF’s Faculty Early Career Development Program, which identifies academics who have the potential to serve as role models and leaders in research and education.
All this year’s CAREER Award winners at Binghamton are assistant professors at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science.
Stephanie Tulk Jesso (Systems Science and Industrial Engineering) received $663,724 to build a system that allows nurses and robots to work together in healthcare settings. It would use artificial intelligence and cognitive modeling fed by nurses’ input.
Robert Wagner (Mechanical Engineering) won $569,573 to research how polymers develop specific characteristics on a molecular level. He will incorporate machine learning with both simulated and real-world experiments to analyze the behavior of polymer chains that make materials stretchy, soft, or stiff.
Yingxue Zhang (Computing) received $584,649 to use a deep learning AI technique called offline reinforcement learning to sort and organize large amounts of human-generated data in urban areas. The process could smooth key decision-making from commute times to traffic safety.
“I share my congratulations with Assistant Professors Tulk Jesso, Wagner, and Zhang on the outstanding honor of receiving an NSF CAREER Award,” said President Anne D’Alleva. “This award signifies that they have accomplished a great deal in their research early in their careers. It provides tremendous support as they continue to work on breakthroughs that alter our world for the better and inspire their colleagues and students. The entire University is honored to have these three faculty members as members of our community.”
“Binghamton University has a proud tradition of faculty members earning the NSF CAREER Award,” said Provost Donald Hall. “I am excited for the 2026 recipients because this award encourages continued and extended success in research and scholarship. Their work showcases the University’s strengths in using artificial intelligence and machine learning for the public good, and I am delighted to see our early-career faculty leading the way in this regard.”
The Division of Research’s Office of Strategic Research Initiatives provides proposal support to faculty members submitting funding proposals (including NSF CAREER grants).
“Binghamton University’s faculty pursue innovative, high-impact projects, and we appreciate the effort they put into advancing their ideas by submitting research proposals, especially among early-career faculty who are also establishing labs and coursework,” said Michael Jacobson, executive director for the Office of Strategic Research Initiatives.
“Our office is committed to supporting the development of these projects through programs such as the NSF CAREER Commit to Submit workshop series and individual consultations. We are also excited to see their persistence lead to awards, resulting in national recognition of faculty as leaders in research and education.”