VESTAL, N.Y. — Binghamton University has chosen the CEO of the Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine that the school leads.

Meera Sampath previously served as the associate dean of research in Binghamton’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science. The school describes her as an engineer with “decades of experience in industry and higher education.”

The Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine is one of 10 inaugural engines funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and established under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. The program is one of the largest investments in place-based innovation in U.S. history, Binghamton University said.

Sampath spent the first 20 years of her career with Xerox Corp., including time as the VP for innovation and business transformation at Xerox Services and as founding director of the Xerox Research Center India. From there, she joined SUNY, serving as associate vice chancellor for research and as executive director of the SUNY-IBM AI Collaborative Research Alliance.

Sampath holds a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the school noted.

“I am excited and honored to lead this transformative project that brings together technology, innovation and talent development with a deep focus on the community,” Sampath said in the Binghamton announcement. “I look forward to working closely with our leadership team and our colleagues at the National Science Foundation to establish upstate New York as America’s battery capital.”

Sampath began serving as interim CEO of the Engine during the summer and formally stepped into the role in late September.

Sampath, who holds 15 U.S. patents, is recognized for her contributions to the field of discrete-event systems and model-based failure diagnosis. Her professional interests include social implications of technology, innovation for developing countries, and fostering interdisciplinary research.

Binghamton University describes the Engine as a coalition of more than 40 academic, industry, nonprofit, state and community organizations. Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST) and Launch NY serve as core partners.

The coalition received an initial $15 million for the first two years and may receive up to $160 million during the next decade. It will receive an additional $16 million over 10 years from Empire State Development.