SUNY has expanded the Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund, investing $1.4 million to increase the number of paid internships to 170 from 150 for students from across six campuses — including UB — and offer 45 new experiences focused on artificial intelligence research.

The fund provides the opportunity for students to obtain crucial paid internship experiences before they graduate, says Chancellor John B. King Jr. “Providing students with paid, equitable internships is an important step in ensuring student success and upward mobility because these experiences will allow them to use the knowledge gained during the program to attain and succeed at high-quality jobs after graduation,” King says.

The internship program expands research opportunities for students with financial need, first-generation students and others who may face barriers to securing research experiences. In addition to UB, participating campuses are University at Albany, Binghamton University, SUNY ESF, SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Stony Brook University.

The internships will be in fields that include biology, machine learning, cybersecurity, physics and astronomy, engineering, chemistry, computer science and clean energy, among others. Approximately 45 internships will focus on AI research for the public good. Nursing, a high-needs area not often considered for research funding, will also see new internship opportunities.

The summer research fund covers all student costs for the internship including, but not limited to, student stipend/salary, tuition/fees, housing, meal plans, child care and transportation.

“The Chancellor’s Summer Research Excellence Fund will provide students with amazing summer research experiences preparing them for success in their graduate studies and their chosen profession,” says President Satish K. Tripathi. “We thank the chancellor for his support of our research mission and for providing first-generation students and students with financial need the opportunity to participate in these transformative experiences.”