Binghamton Alumnus Subhachandra Chandra Funds AI Professorship
PICTURE CREDIT- BINGHAMTON.EDU
India-West News Desk
NEW YORK- Subhachandra Chandra, an alumnus of Binghamton University, and his wife, Nandita Chandra, have established a new endowed professorship at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science to support research that applies artificial intelligence in innovative ways across academic disciplines.
The Subhachandra and Nandita Chandra Endowed Professorship will provide financial support for an associate professor or professor whose work uses AI in novel ways. Beyond salary support, the endowment may also fund research-related expenses, including equipment, travel, publications, online resources, and stipends for student assistants.
“It’s not just using AI within the tech sector; it’s also about how we apply AI to everything else,” said Chandra, who earned his master’s degree in computer science from Binghamton University in 1995. “We can use the power of AI to improve things across the world in many areas, like medicine, environmental sciences, or manufacturing.”
Chandra, who was born in India and is now co-founder and chief technology officer of Aria Networks, said his graduate studies at Binghamton helped lay the foundation for his career in the United States. He later earned a doctorate in computer science from the University of Michigan before working in Silicon Valley’s technology sector.
Describing the university as a “critical stepping-stone” in his professional journey, Chandra also emphasized the importance of collaboration between academia and industry.
Atul Kelkar, dean of the Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, said the gift would strengthen the college’s research efforts and help support emerging fields of technological innovation.
The Chandras have supported Binghamton University for more than two decades through scholarships and academic initiatives, including the Watson College Scholars Program, the Chandra Family Scholarship, and the Binghamton Fund for Watson College.
