Binghamton faculty are conducting groundbreaking research that solves problems, improves our lives, and enhances our understanding of the world. This new video series provides a glimpse into the research being done at Binghamton and introduces us to the diverse faculty at the forefront.
Tracking Human Rights Around the Globe
David Cingranelli is a professor of political science and co-director of the Human Rights Institute at Binghamton University. He co-directed the groundbreaking Cingranelli and Richards (CIRI) Human Rights Data Project – the world's largest and most influential human rights dataset. Today, his collaborative efforts are dedicated to the 'Rights' data project, aimed at building upon CIRI's legacy. Both initiatives are devoted to meticulously tracking and analyzing human rights worldwide, contributing significantly to the comprehensive global understanding and documentation of human rights advancements.
Advanced Mechanical Energy Harvesters Will Power Smart Knee Replacements
Shahrzad "Sherry" Towfighian is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and is creating the next generation of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). These new systems are being developed with innovative technology that allows these MEMS devices to be self-powered, greatly enhancing their utility. Using this technology, Towfighian is helping to develop smart knee replacements that will provide valuable pressure-sensing data for patients and doctors.
Preventing Future Atrocities By Understanding the Cycles Of Genocide
Assistant Professor Kerry Whigham teaches Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention at Binghamton University. His research focuses on the mechanisms behind genocide and how prevention requires a better understanding of the lingering effects genocide caused throughout history. Whigham has identified these lingering effects as ‘resonant violence’ to describe how the impacts of genocide continue long after physical violence has stopped.
Engaging Children in STEM Through Tinkering and Exploration
Amber Simpson is an Associate Professor of mathematics education and studies ways to provide children with enriching activities that engage them in STEM topics and principles. She currently provides MakeEngineering Kits to local schools to help students learn about STEM topics outside of the classroom in fun and creative ways.
How Personality Impacts Stress Mindset and Stress Management
Jennifer Wegmann is a lecturer at the Binghamton University Decker College of Nursing, where she teaches Health and Wellness Studies. Wegmann conducts research on stress and stress mindset and focuses on how personality can affect stress mindset and a person’s ability to manage stress.
Local Government Resilience to Pandemic and Disaster Response
Komla Dzigbede is an associate professor at Binghamton University’s College of Community and Public Affairs, where he conducts research into public sector financial management. Dzigbede recently examined local government disaster resilience, comparing their responses to the pandemic. He has also examined how developing countries have financially responded to the pandemic, looking into how these responses may affect long-term economic growth.
How Leadership Improves Business Success and Virtual Work Environments
Chou-yu ‘Joey’ Tsai is an assistant professor at Binghamton University’s School of Management, where he specializes in leadership research. Joey’s research into leadership looks to find ways organizations can cultivate impactful leadership that meets the organization's needs and helps build team success.
Anthropology Reveals The Past To Better Understand The Present
Elizabeth DiGangi is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Binghamton University's Harpur College. DiGangi specializes in bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. Through her research, DiGangi seeks to learn from skeletal remains to better inform our present about the stressors that can affect a person's biology. DiGangi was also instrumental in identifying remains at The Carlisle Indian Industrial School, helping to reunite Native American tribes with lost family members.
Using Telehealth to Increase Access to Underserved Populations
Ann Fronczek is an associate professor at the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the director of the Ph.D. program. Fronczek specializes in educational and research initiatives into Telehealth and mHealth services, which can provide much-needed care for underserved and rural populations. Her advocacy for incorporating these technologies has gained increased adoption among healthcare professionals with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Building a Smarter and More Resilient Power Grid
Ning Zhou is an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering who researches power grid systems, signal processing, integration of renewable generation and smart appliances. One of Ning’s primary research focuses is developing ways to increase situational awareness for power grid operators, which will help to predict power grid behavior and ensure the resilience and reliability of power generation.
Addressing Stigma and Opioid Use Disorder
In this first episode of the Faculty Focus series, William Eggleston — an assistant professor at Binghamton University's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences — discusses the stigmas associated with opioid use disorder and its impacts on the opioid crisis. Eggleston also discusses the poisonous and medicinal plant garden he helped develop in the E.W. Heier Teaching and Research Greenhouses. The goal of the garden is to teach students about the many poisonous and medicinal plants that grow around us and how to identify them.
Soviet Urban Planners and the Struggle for the Soviet Cityscape
Heather DeHaan, professor of history and director of the Russian and Eastern European Program at Binghamton University, explores the hidden challenges of Soviet urban planners and architects. Her research reveals how their visions for the future clashed with political realities and Stalin's authoritarian regime, hindering their ability to build the Soviet city of the future.
How Representations of Mass Violence Can Shape Collective Identities
Howard G. Brown is a professor of history at Binghamton University, specializing in French history from the 16th to the 19th centuries. His research centers on the representations of mass violence within French history, focusing on the impact these evolving representations had on collective identity and helped to provoke major collective traumas and stimulate the psychological processes of the self.
How Diet Impacts Your Mental Health and Brain Function
Lina Begdache, a registered dietitian-nutritionist and associate professor at Binghamton University’s Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, discusses the ways in which the food you eat impacts your mental health and brain functioning and how that differs from gender to gender.
Creating Heart Cells from Human Skin Cells
Professor Tracy Hookway is a biomedical engineer at Binghamton University's Watson College who specializes in research on cardiovascular cells in the heart. Key to her research is creating cardiovascular cells from human skin cells in her lab to investigate the complex interplay of cells within the heart.
