Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Associate Professor of Nanoengineering Dr. Fatemeh (Shadi) Shahedipour-Sandvik has been named the first Presidential Fellow at the SUNY Research Foundation to coordinate the SUNY Networks of Excellence initiative that will promote high-tech education and commercialization as key components of New York’s Innovation Agenda.
“As her work at SUNY CNSE demonstrates, Dr. Shahedipour-Sandvik understands what it takes to use our world class higher education system to spur innovation in order to attract jobs, and grow our economy,” Governor Cuomo said. “She is the ideal candidate to advance New York’s Innovation Agenda and replicate SUNY CNSE’s success across the state.”
“Dr. Shahedipour-Sandvik is the right person to coordinate SUNY’s Networks of Excellence, which will further position our system as a global leader in key areas of research and empower our expert faculty, insightful researchers, and visionary students to have a collective, long-lasting impact on society,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “This appointment is another big win for New York and for SUNY as we continue to support Governor Cuomo’s innovation agenda.”
“We are delighted to be part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s groundbreaking initiatives, including the SUNY Networks of Excellence, which are forging a world-class educational and research paradigm to create unparalleled opportunities for people throughout New York State,” said CNSE Senior Vice President and CEO Dr. Alain Kaloyeros. “We congratulate Shadi on this distinguished and well-deserved appointment, which is testament to Chancellor Nancy Zimpher’s commitment to academic excellence through the innovative Power of SUNY initiative, and to President Tim Killeen’s support for SUNY’s growing research portfolio through the vital mission of the Research Foundation.”
“We are extremely fortunate to have Dr. Shahedipour-Sandvik join us as The Research Foundation’s first Presidential Fellow,” said Dr. Tim Killeen, President of The Research Foundation and SUNY’s Vice Chancellor for Research. “Shadi brings a recognized background, vision, and energy to the networks team. We are grateful to Dr. Kaloyeros and our colleagues at CNSE for lending us this most valuable resource.”
In support of the Governor’s educational blueprint, Dr. Shahedipour-Sandvik will work with Research Foundation leadership and vice presidents for research at campuses across the SUNY system to coordinate the advancement and implementation of SUNY’s Networks of Excellence. Governor Cuomo recently announced the four networks as key components of New York’s Innovation Agenda that include START-UP NY, incubator “Hot Spots,” the New York State Venture Capital Fund, and the NYS Innovation Network, all of which foster entrepreneurialism and high-tech growth through public-private partnerships.
“This is an exciting opportunity for me, for CNSE, and for SUNY, and I am delighted to work with leaders from across the state to support the Governor’s vision, which is enabling the nation’s most advanced educational system to benefit students, entrepreneurs, and the people of New York through the creation of new educational, business, and high-tech opportunities,” said Dr. Shahedipour-Sandvik. “I look forward to working with my Research Foundation and SUNY colleagues to creatively and effectively build these new cornerstones of collaborative research.”
Dr. Shahedipour-Sandvik, whose current research at CNSE is focused on the development of high performance wide bandgap III-Nitride optoelectronic materials and devices, will spend 50 percent of her time at the Research Foundation through the 2013-14 academic year. Her coordinating and support responsibilities will cover and relate to communications, federal relations, collaboration platforms, data analytics proposal development, research experiences for students, workshops, RFPs, and Network awards and budgets.
The Research Foundation has committed $4 million to support the Research Networks of Excellence. The four networks include SUNY 4E (Energy, Environment, Economics, and Education); SUNY Health Now; SUNY Brain; and SUNY Materials and Advanced Manufacturing. Each network will assemble scientists and scholars from SUNY campuses across the state to collaborate on topic-specific joint research programs, creating a more focused and efficient research environment in New York while increasing academic and career opportunities for students.
The Research Foundation’s Presidential Fellowship Program provides a unique opportunity for qualified candidates to influence and actively pursue SUNY’s research agenda.
Source: http://www.sunycnse.com/Home.aspx