AI Innovation Institute

Lav Varshney appointed inaugural director of Stony Brook's AI Innovation Institute, effective August 1. Varshney most recently served on the faculty of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His background blends work in industry, academia, government, think tanks, and national laboratories. Varshney’s leadership is aimed at building on the university’s role as a core partner in Empire AI, New York State’s $250 million investment in AI and computing. He will also support further collaborations with industry and work to identify unexplored research areas.

Stony Brook University has introduced NVwulf, a cutting-edge high-performance computing (HPC) GPU cluster designed to boost advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and data-intensive scientific research. The system became available to researchers who helped fund its purchase and their students for advanced testing on July 7, marking a significant upgrade in campus-wide computational capabilities.

Stony Brook researchers launch AI-powered recycling project to reduce waste contamination and improve sustainability.

Stony Brook, NY, July 6, 2025 — A new research initiative funded by Stony Brook University’s AI Innovation Seed Grant is reimagining how we tackle one of the most persistent problems in recycling: contaminated waste streams. By combining video footage and cutting-edge artificial intelligence, researchers aim to automate the analysis of recycling materials, reduce contamination, and lay the groundwork for smarter, cost-effective, and sustainable waste management.

Yifan Zhou

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News 12 photojournalist Brian Endres shows how doctors use Heartflow Plaque Analysis software to better understand what each patient needs.

Stony Brook Medicine is the first on Long Island — and one of a select number of healthcare systems nationwide — to implement an artificial intelligence (AI) technology, HeartFlow Plaque Analysis™, to enable its physicians to more accurately understand the blockages present in the coronary arteries of patients with suspected heart disease. This advancement, introduced at Stony Brook through a collaboration by the Division of Cardiology and the Department of Radiology, represents a significant milestone in the fight against heart disease, which remains the leading cause of death for adults in the United States.

With support from university seed grants, 10 faculty members will make Stony Brook a destination this year for researchers from a wide range of disciplines.

“The Spring 2025 Research Conference and Workshop Seed Grant Program is a strategic investment in our faculty’s capacity to lead, convene, and educate,” said Kevin Gardner, vice president for research. “By investing in faculty-led research events, we hope to create safe spaces for vibrant intellectual dialogues on some of the most innovative ideas across campus that will serve as launchpads for high-impact research. Our goal is to bring scholars together to explore ideas, form sustainable connections, and shape the future of research.”

Despite concerns over artificial intelligence reducing entry-level tech jobs, many Long Island college students and faculty remain optimistic. Students like Stony Brook’s Hannah Lee believe human collaboration skills will remain vital. Colleges including Stony Brook, Hofstra, and NYIT are expanding AI-focused programs to prepare students for shifting job demands. While AI is automating routine roles, it’s also creating advanced positions across industries. Experts predict significant growth in AI-related careers, even as some companies reduce tech staff. Students are adapting by launching startups, upskilling, and leveraging AI as a tool, preparing for a future where technology changes, but opportunity persists.