IV Ramakrishnan, associate dean for Strategic Initiatives in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS), has been named technical director of the SUNY-IBM AI Collaborative Research Alliance program, a strategic partnership 
between SUNY and IBM aimed at advancing the state-of-the-art in AI.
Research and development projects conducted under this alliance focus on AI science, applications and hardware, promoting both scientific outputs and technology commercialization opportunities. This alliance is part of a $2 billion partnership between the State of New York, SUNY and IBM to create a global research hub for developing next-generation AI hardware.
The management and organizational structure of the SUNY-IBM AI Research Alliance is designed to promote collaboration and partnership at all levels of engagement. Alliance activities are overseen by a leadership team of senior representatives from SUNY and IBM. A Scientific Advisory Council of distinguished faculty members and research leaders from the two institutions provides strategic direction and guidance. Research projects are jointly envisioned and conducted by SUNY faculty and IBM researchers. The first set of research projects launched in 2020 span AI applications in healthcare, hardware for next-generation AI systems, and AI-driven modeling and simulation.
Ramakrishnan is a professor in the Department of Computer Science within CEAS. He has a long-standing record of research in AI, machine learning, and computational logic and health IT. In addition to his own active research, Ramakrishnan has excelled in bringing together interdisciplinary teams that use AI and machine learning as an enabling aspect of their work. As associate dean he works with all nine departments within the College to stimulate strategic research initiatives.
In his role as technical director, Ramakrishnan will engage both IBM and SUNY campuses on research topic areas centered on AI that are of interest to both parties for the Alliance.
“IV is an incredibly talented and prolific scholar and is respected by students, faculty and industry partners alike,” said Jon Longtin, interim dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “I especially admire his collaborative approach to multidisciplinary research, and his commitment to ensuring the applications of AI in other domains here at Stony Brook such as healthcare and medicine. I have every confidence IV will make meaningful and lasting contributions for the Alliance.”