Transdisciplinary Areas of Excellence


The TAEs address critical social, scientific, technological, economic, cultural and policy issues that can best be addressed by teams of faculty employing the perspectives and methodologies of multiple disciplines.

In 2013, Binghamton University developed a new approach to hiring faculty and supporting research by creating five Transdisciplinary Areas of Excellence (TAEs). A sixth TAE was added in 2018. All are areas of inquiry in which Binghamton has developed strength in research and graduate education and raise complex questions.

Citizenship, Rights and Cultural Belonging photo

Citizenship, Rights and Cultural Belonging

The Citizenship, Rights and Cultural Belonging Transdisciplinary Area of Excellence seeks new understandings of citizenship, rights and belonging.

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Data Science

A central hub for data-centered research, the Data Science area of excellence is a collaborative group from across campus whose members are at the leading edge of the data science revolution within their own disciplines, fostering collaboration on identification of significant problems to bridge between theory and applications, advance techniques to gather and interpret data, and address the urgent problems facing society.

Health Sciences photo

Health Sciences

Health Sciences area of excellence will integrate cutting-edge biomedical research with systems science, industrial engineering and microelectronic device development.

Material and Visual Worlds photo

Material and Visual Worlds

Objects and images have an undeniable hold on us. We may take them for granted; yet they shape our behavior even as our desires and behavior shape them. As humans, the material and visual forms we create define us to a remarkable extent.

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Smart Energy

Smart Energy area of excellence will build upon existing strengths in four key areas of alternative energy research: Solar and thermoelectric energy harvesting; Energy storage; Energy efficiency in electronic systems; Sensor development for energy resource management.

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Sustainable Communities

By developing new paradigms and vital partnerships within the University and with community members and organizations, this area of excellence will help us understand what it takes to model, build and maintain sustainable communities.

Steering Committees

Each TAE is guided by a faculty steering committee of 12-15 members.

  • The steering committees identify new faculty positions necessary to support the work of the TAEs;
  • participate in recruitment of TAE faculty;
  • offer seed grants to faculty through a competitive process;
  • organize symposia, conferences, and workshops; and foster research collaboration.

Since their creation, Binghamton has recruited 78 new faculty to the TAEs. These individuals joined more than 100 members of the Binghamton faculty who have elected to participate in one of the TAEs.

Seed grant program

The Transdisciplinary Areas of Excellence (TAE) Seed Grant Program funds collaborative projects that connect faculty across different methodologies and disciplinary specific understandings in order to stimulate the advancement of new ideas that can build Binghamton University's expertise and reputation.

Letters of Intent

Deadline for submission of Letters of Intent is Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. LOIs are required for proposals with a large budget and strongly recommended for all proposals.

Request for Proposals

To apply for a TAE Seed Grant, complete the cover page and budget page, then submit your proposal online. The submission deadline for proposals is Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. 

Contact us

The TAE central office is located in Academic A, Room 330. 

TAE Administration: Amy Keough
TAE Administrative Assistant: Lindsay Buchta