UAlbany's Engaged Scholars

Putting Knowledge to Work for the Public Good

Through engaged research and scholarship, UAlbany experts are collaborating with community members and organizations, and partners from the public and private sectors, to address society’s most serious challenges.

 

Nick Bassill, Director of Research and Development, Center of Excellence in Weather & Climate Analytics

 

Improving Severe Weather Outcomes

 

Nick Bassill works on a variety of weather-related projects for UAlbany's Center of Excellence in Weather & Climate Analytics, including conducting research and building meteorological products for the New York State Mesonet. In this video, Dr. Bassill describes how he works with New York State utility companies to improve their ability to forecast weather and outages.

 

DeeDee Bennett Gayle, Associate Professor, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

 

Disaster Preparedness and Response for Socially Vulnerable Populations

 

As a trained engineer and specialist in emergency communications, DeeDee Bennett Gayle brings wide-ranging expertise to her studies in emergency management. In this video, Dr. Bennett Gayle shares insights from her research on disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation for socially vulnerable populations.

 

Michael Leczinsky, Professor of Practice, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

 

“E-merging” Technologies

 

Michael Leczinsky’s teaching and research in emerging technologies span many areas, including computer hardware, software and internet technologies. In this video, Professor Leczinsky shares his thoughts on the exciting, and ever-changing, possibilities created by those emerging technologies.

 

Yanna Liang, Professor and Chair, Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences

 

Toward Zero Waste

 

Yanna Liang develops sustainable solutions to critical environmental, social and energy problems. In this video, Dr. Liang discusses her wastewater treatment research project, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

 

Brian Tang, Associate Professor, Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences

 

Keeping an Eye on Hurricanes

 

Brian Tang’s research revolves around understanding tropical cyclones and their interactions with the synoptic environment and the general circulation. In this video, Dr. Tang talks about his research on how hurricanes evolve and intensify.

 

Igor Lednev, Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

 

2022 President's Award for Exemplary Public Engagement - Igor Lednev

 

Igor Lednev’s research is focused on the use of laser spectroscopy for forensic purposes, medical diagnostics and fundamental biochemistry. His accomplishments include the development of new and innovative approaches for both the identification and characterization of forensic evidence and early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

 

Early Alzheimer’s Detection

 

Igor Lednev and his team of student researchers are developing a new, laser-based screening tool that tests blood and saliva to detect early and preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. The Lednev lab has received federal support from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health to help advance the commercialization of the screening tool, which is currently in the proof-of-concept phase.

 

Christine T. Bozlak, Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy, Management & Behavior and Co-Director, Maternal and Child Health Program, College of Integrated Health Sciences

 

2022 Honorary Award for Distinguished Community Engagement - Christine T. Bozlak

 

Christine Bozkak’s long-standing collaboration with the New York State Alliance of YMCAs contributes to YMCAs’ readiness to implement childhood obesity prevention-related initiatives, and ultimately promote healthy eating and lifestyles for children and families throughout the state.

 

Rui Li, Associate Professor, Geography and Planning, College of Arts and Sciences

 

2022 Honorary Award for Distinguished Community Engagement - Rui Li

 

Rui Li’s work addresses various aspects of geographic information science (GIS) with a special focus on spatial cognition and visualization, such as way-finding behaviors and navigation systems, and the utilization of GIS in addressing minority health disparities. 

 

ETEC — A Game Changer

 

ETEC — A Game Changer

 

Members of the University community share their thoughts on ETEC, UAlbany’s new state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable hub for innovation, scholarship, applied research and commercial development.

 

ETEC — An Overview

 

ETEC — An Overview

 

UAlbany’s Director of Community & Economic Development Matt Grattan provides an overview of ETEC, a new state-of-the-art University facility that houses researchers, educators and entrepreneurs under the same roof as some of UAlbany’s fastest-growing programs.

 

UAlbany Innovation Center

 

UAlbany Innovation Center

 

UAlbany’s Director of Community & Economic Development Matt Grattan introduces viewers to the University’s newest collaborative business incubator space located in ETEC.

 

UAlbany Makerspace

 

UAlbany Makerspace – A Collaborative Hub

 

Michael Leczinsky, a professor of practice in the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, shares his thoughts on the University’s Makerspace, a collaborative campus space where students create, invent and learn.

 

UAlbany Drone Lab

 

UAlbany Drone Lab

 

Michael Leczinsky, a professor of practice in the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, discusses the UAlbany Drone Lab — a 1,700-square-foot space on the Downtown Campus that offers a controlled, indoor environment for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) flight training and land-based robotics research.

 

Connecting with Industry Through eSports

 

Connecting with Industry Through eSports

 

Michael Leczinsky, a professor of practice in the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, describes UAlbany’s eSports program, which launched in Spring 2019. UAlbany's eSports teams compete alongside 56 other schools in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference.