Stony Brook University SUNY Korea

The 2024 SUNY Korea Research Challenge showcased the remarkable talents of 79 students from Stony Brook University (SBU) and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). The event aimed to cultivate creativity, independence, and innovative thinking in research and entrepreneurship. Moreover, participants worked collaboratively to develop ideas for patents and startups, as well as solutions for social causes, all tied to this year’s theme of R&D and entrepreneurship. A total of 36 teams competed, comprising 32 students from SBU and 47 students from FIT. These diverse teams united their efforts to create groundbreaking projects.

The event was a recognition of SUNY Korea’s excellence in research and collaboration. SUNY Korea announced the winners of this year’s prestigious research awards following a rigorous evaluation process. A panel of judges from various academic departments assessed the projects based on two main criteria: research excellence and potential for industry-academia collaboration. Three teams emerged victorious, receiving accolades for their innovative contributions and practical applications in bridging academia and industry.

Furthermore, the celebration of this cutting-edge research was done through various awards. Saebom Jin, a Ph.D. candidate from SBU’s Department of Technology and Society, was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Research for her groundbreaking work titled "Leveraging Data-Driven Innovation and Digital Technologies for Sustainable Transformation in Urban Disaster Risk Management." Her research highlights how data-driven strategies can effectively mitigate urban disaster risks.

Following this, the Vice-Presidential Award for Industrial Potential was awarded to Hansol Lim, Jee Won Lee, and Hanbeam Chang from SBU’s Mechanical Engineering Department. Their project, "EV-PINN: A Physics-Informed Neural Network for Predicting Electric Vehicle Dynamics," focuses on developing a real-time energy management system for electric vehicles. 

Subsequently, Roman Jano Rabo, a Master's Degree Program student from SBU’s Mechanical Engineering Department, received the Executive Director’s Award for Industrial Potential. His research, "Tidal Power for Low-Energetics Flows in ASEAN Region: A Case in Awasan Bay, Surigao del Norte, Philippines," explores innovative approaches to renewable energy.

Additionally, the challenge also featured a poster exhibition held on December 2, 2024, in the lobby of Building C at SUNY Korea. The exhibition displayed research from 34 teams, encompassing a wide range of disciplines and encouraging intellectual exchange.

After all is said and done, to strengthen the academia-industry connection, the annual Research Challenge exemplifies SUNY Korea’s commitment to fostering research excellence and transforming innovative ideas into practical applications. By bridging academia and industry, the event not only celebrates outstanding achievements but also addresses global challenges through collaboration and ingenuity.