Engineering Research at Watson College

Watson College Research: Building the Future
$27.7m
Million in research expenditures (2024-25)
R1
Our Carnegie designation denotes the highest quality research
11
research centers and institutes
33
NSF CAREER AWARD WINNERS

Explore Watson College Research Clusters

At the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, research drives discovery and real-world impact. As part of Binghamton University’s Carnegie R1 research enterprise, our faculty and students advance cutting-edge work across four strategic research clusters, addressing critical challenges in energy, health, advanced manufacturing, and intelligent systems. We invite partners to explore collaborative opportunities that transform ideas into meaningful solutions. For more details on each cluster, view the 2025 Research Portfolio.

Energy, Climate and Sustainability Cluster (ECS)

ECS investigates solutions in clean energy, solar technology, energy storage systems and management, energy storage materials, power systems and grids, electrification of transportation, climate, environment and sustainability.

Healthcare and Biotechnologies Cluster (HBT)

HBT seeks innovations for biomedical engineering, biomanufacturing, biosecurity, healthcare systems, health sciences, smart and connected health, and AI in healthcare and biotechnology.

Intelligent and Secure Systems Cluster (ISS)

ISS brings together research in trustworthy AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, privacy, information assurance, computer vision and graphics, computer architecture and systems, robotics, autonomous systems, human-computer interaction, systems science, data science, social media, social networks, cloud computing, high-performance computing, quantum computing, networking, signal processing, mobile and quantum networking.

Microelectronics, Manufacturing and Materials Cluster (M3)

M3 researchers have expertise in advanced manufacturing, advanced materials, mechanics of materials, microelectronics, electronics packaging, semiconductors, smart sensors, biomaterials and biosensors.

Explore Research in Watson College Departments and Schools

Since its founding in 1983, Watson has developed a strong history of research in the areas of small-scale systems, electronics packaging, information security and intelligent systems. Faculty and students are building on that foundation with new scientific breakthroughs to power tomorrow’s technologies.

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Faculty and students are studying regenerative medicine, flexible biosensors, biomanufacturing and medical imaging to create a healthier future.

School of Computing

Our computer science department is advancing practical applications in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Watson students and faculty pursue innovative research into semiconductors, microelectronics and sustainable energy solutions.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Our research labs investigate the macro to the micro, including electronics packaging, microelectromechanical systems, microfluidics and fatigue mechanics.

School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering

SSIE is developing real-world solutions using artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced manufacturing.

Materials Science and Engineering

Home of Nobel Prize winner Stanley Whittingham (co-inventor of the lithium-ion battery), MSE researches energy storage, biomaterials and flexible electronics.

Student Research

Our students are creating solutions for real-world problems. For her master's thesis in electrical engineering, Mya Landers researched paper-based microbial fuel cells and circuit components. She presented bacterial metabolism-fueled biobatteries on a paper substrate as a potential power source for disposable circuits — a novel approach that earned Landers a journal publication in Nano Energy.

A female graduate student in an engineering lab
I had access to incredible mentorship from faculty members who are experts in their field, and I was given a great deal of freedom and independence in my research ventures. I was able to interact with subject matter in a way that surpasses traditional coursework.

— Mya Landers ’21, MS ’22

Invent Your Future at Watson

Our research into real-world problems pairs faculty and students with partners in industry and academia from around the world. Together, we strive to solve today’s most pressing issues — such as those in healthcare, clean energy, cybersecurity and autonomous systems — while developing our graduate students into skilled researchers whose discoveries today will shape the future of engineering and science.

Our graduate programs include:

      • Biomedical Engineering (MS, PhD)
      • Computer Science (MS, PhD)
      • Information Systems (MS)
      • Electrical and Computer Engineering (MS, PhD)
      • Healthcare Systems Engineering (MS)
      • Industrial and Systems Engineering (MS, PhD)
      • Systems Science (MS, PhD)
      • Materials Science and Engineering (MS, PhD)
      • Mechanical Engineering (MS, PhD)

Learn about graduate study at Watson

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