Watson College looks ahead to 2026-27 with new students, faculty, and initiatives
Career Expo, Engineers Week, and Capstone Studio among the events and programs this academic year
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 academic year, Binghamton University’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science has exciting programs and events coming up.
“After a busy summer, we are excited to welcome new and returning students to campus,” said Watson College Dean Atul Kelkar. “A new academic year gives us all a chance to reset and reassess before we charge ahead with our ambitious goals — in the classroom, in our research labs, and beyond. As always, we are looking for ways to do more and do better for our students and the entire Watson community.”
New students
This fall, 594 first-year and transfer students began Watson’s Bachelor of Science program. First-year students (except for computer science) take classes as part of the Engineering Design Division, where they learn technical skills and hear about all the programs that the college offers, as well as general skills such as communication and how to get internships and jobs.
They are expected to declare a major at the end of their second semester:
- Biomedical engineering
- Computer engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Industrial and systems engineering
- Mechanical engineering
Computer science majors begin the program curriculum in their first year.
On the graduate side, there are 201 master’s students and 34 PhD students joining Watson in person, while 16 master’s students and eight PhD students began pursuing online degrees.
New faculty
In addition to new students, Watson College welcomes four new faculty members this fall.
- Ziqi Niu (assistant professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering)
- Tan Chen (assistant professor, ECE)
- Pallavi Thakur (assistant professor, ECE)
- Liping Wang (professor, Systems Science and Industrial Engineering)
New online programs
Starting this fall, students can earn a master’s degree in computer science or information systems from home.
The new programs offer the same tenure-track faculty, classroom materials and rigorous scholarship as in-person instruction, but with the convenience of high-quality pre-recorded lectures that are broken down into short segments so students can learn at their own pace. Students will interact with course instructors through online office hours and discussion boards, with additional support from teaching assistants.
The new MSCS and MSIS online degrees join existing programs at Watson College for degrees in healthcare systems engineering, industrial and systems engineering, and systems science, as well as an advanced graduate certificate in complex systems science and engineering.
Capstone Studio
Four of Watson College’s schools and departments — Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and the School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering — require a senior capstone project during an undergraduate’s final year. Students show what they’ve learned during their time at school solving a real-world problem, and they also earn soft skills by teaming up with other students.
A pilot program this fall called the Watson Capstone Studio will try to attract multidisciplinary industry-sponsored projects for senior capstone. The studio will serve as a central hub for engineering challenges when teams design, fabricate, and test prototypes over two semesters. School of Computing students may also participate based on the project requirements.
Watson Scholars
This fall, the Watson College Scholars Program welcomes its sixth cohort of students.
The program, which started in fall 2021, offers opportunities and financial support to aid undergraduates who are strong candidates for graduate study and a professional career in engineering or computer science. It has been recognized with an Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight into Academia magazine.
Donors and industry sponsors provide funding for the program.
Career Catalyst
A new Watson College program called Career Catalyst aims to create an economic ecosystem where education, industry, and government unite to cultivate talent, accelerate opportunity, and build a resilient, highly skilled workforce.
Based on the three pillars of education, experience, and employment, the collaboration will include Watson College, community colleges (with SUNY Broome as the pilot), industry partners (Southern Tier), and government agencies (federal, state, and local). It will partner with the New Energy New York initiative to expand opportunities for students pursuing battery and energy storage careers and provide internship stipends for placements at startups and small businesses.
Endowed professorships
Thanks to generous financial gifts, donors have established two new endowed professorships, and both positions should be named this coming year.
The Geraldine Knoll MacDonald Endowed Professorship in Computer Science will support a tenure-track assistant professor at Watson College’s School of Computing. MacDonald ’68, MS ’73, LittD ’17, is an internet pioneer and Binghamton University Foundation board member who has funded projects, scholarships, professional development, and student activities around campus for more than 40 years.
The Subhachandra and Nandita Chandra Endowed Professorship will support an associate professor or professor in any discipline whose research uses AI in innovative ways. Subhachandra, MS ’95, and Nandita Chandra have funded a graduate student scholarship and other programs at Binghamton for more than 20 years, including the Watson College Scholars Program.
New Advising Office initiatives
Staying connected is important for students who are new to Binghamton to succeed. This year, all new undergraduates received a phone wallet and an advisor’s business card from the Watson Advising Office.
Also, first-year students can win Watson College swag by “leveling up” with four key tasks for the A Is For Advising challenge:
- Getting “the scoop” about the college at an ice cream social from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25.
- Attending the Watson student organization fair from 2-4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, in the Fabrication Lab at the Engineering Building, to lean about the college’s extracurricular activities.
- Making an appointment in September or October to meet with an advisor to discuss degree plan, goals, and support needed to achieve them.
- Attending a registration session with Watson Peer Advisors in October or November. The small group sessions will discuss spring registration and how to read the schedule of classes.
Watson Career Expo
Watson Career and Alumni Connections Office will host the sixth annual Watson Career Expo: Conference Edition at the Innovative Technologies Complex from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18.
The event will include a career fair, alumni panels, and breakout sessions about new trends, upcoming technologies, and company projects. In the interview hall, companies can conduct on-the-spot interviews with students.
Lab tours at Homecoming
This year’s Binghamton University Homecoming events (Oct. 2-4) will include Secrets of the ITC: Lab Tours with Watson College from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3.
Explore hidden “secrets” of the Innovative Technology Complex (ITC) through guided tours showcasing the groundbreaking research happening in state-of-the-art labs at Watson College.
Kick off the event with a quick “tech talk” about the future of artificial intelligence and AI research on campus with School of Computing Director and Professor of Empire Innovation KC Wang during a nostalgic Southern Tier breakfast. Attendees also can mingle with the Watson dean, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends, as well as meet Watson’s robot dog, courtesy of Associate Professor Shiqi Zhang.
Guided lab tours will include:
- Anechoic Chamber (Distinguished Professor Ron Miles - Mechanical Engineering)
- Biofabrication and Cancer Engineering Lab (Assistant Professor Dan Reynolds - Biomedical Engineering)
- Center for Autonomous Solar Power (Professor Tara Dhakal - Electrical and Computer Engineering)
- Nanoengineering Research Group (Assistant Professor Jian Zhou - Mechanical Engineering)
- Nanofabrication Laboratory (Clean Room)
- Water Quality Engineering Research Lab (Assistant Professor Yuxin Wang - Systems Science and Industrial Engineering)
Engineers Week
Looking ahead to the spring semester, Engineers Week will return from Feb. 21-27, and Watson College will celebrate along with alumni and colleagues around the world.
At the Alumni and Friends Reception, alumni can mingle with students, faculty, industry partners, and supporters. Community Day will invite young people from around the region to the Innovative Technologies Complex for STEM-related activities helmed by Watson student groups. And the Order of the Engineer ceremony will officially welcome seniors and graduate students into the profession.
There also will be information sessions connecting tech companies and students as well as other activities.