About Us
Who We Are
The NSF Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York is a Regional Innovation Engine funded by the National Science Foundation. We bring together industry, universities, startups, workforce partners, and community organizations to accelerate the development, validation, and deployment of advanced battery technologies.
Our Vision
To establish Upstate New York as America’s Battery Tech Capital.
Our Mission
Accelerate battery innovation, expand U.S. domestic manufacturing capacity, strengthen national security, and drive regional economic growth in Upstate New York by promoting technology commercialization, entrepreneurship and job creation.
Our Focus
The Engine’s work is organized around four interconnected research and innovation focus areas:
Safety
Advancing testing methods and technologies that improve the safety, reliability, and real-world performance of energy storage systems.
Advanced Manufacturing
Improving cost, efficiency, and resource use in next-generation battery production, including dry processing and critical materials reduction.
Power Engineering
Strengthening system integration and power electronics capabilities to enable high-performance, grid-ready energy storage solutions.
Artificial Intelligence
Applying AI to accelerate materials discovery, optimize battery design, and improve manufacturing performance across the innovation lifecycle.
Leadership Team
Leadership Team
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Innovation Officer
Translation Director
Chief Workforce Development Officer
Chief Operating Officer
Safety Testbeds Lead
Strategic Communications
Translation Coordinator
Innovation Program Manager
Translation Program Manager
Operations Program Manager
Concierge Service Lead
Business Attraction
Dr. Meera Sampath | Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Meera Sampath leads the Energy Storage Engine, setting its strategic direction and bringing together partners across industry, academia, government, non-profit and community organizations to accelerate battery innovation, commercialization, talent development and regional economic growth. She brings decades of global experience spanning research, technology development and research administration including leadership roles at Xerox Corporation, where she founded the Xerox Research Center India, SUNY System, and Binghamton University. She holds a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Stan Whittingham | Chief Innovation Officer
Dr. Stan Whittingham serves as Chief Innovation Officer for the Energy Storage Engine, helping guide its research and innovation strategy and advance technologies that strengthen the U.S. battery industry. A SUNY Distinguished Professor at Binghamton University, he shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work leading to the development of the lithium-ion battery. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Dr. Fernando Gómez-Baquero | Translation and Entrepreneurship Director
Dr. Fernando Gómez-Baquero leads technology translation for the Energy Storage Engine, helping researchers, startups and companies move promising energy storage innovations from R&D toward commercialization, scale-up and market adoption. He is also Director of Runway and Spinouts at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech, and the Lead Tech Scout for the National Science Foundation Interior Northeast i-Corps Hub. He has more than 25 years of experience in nanotechnology and holds a PhD in nanoscale science and engineering, with particular expertise in advanced nanomaterials and energy storage.
Tim Thomas | Chief Workforce Development Officer
Tim Thomas leads workforce development for the Energy Storage Engine, building industry-driven education, training and talent pathways to prepare people across the region for careers in batteries, advanced manufacturing and related technologies. He is also Chief Academic Officer at Griffiss Institute, where he connects education, research, industry and national security priorities. Previously, he held senior academic and strategy leadership roles at Mohawk Valley Community College.
Heidi Grenek | Chief Operating Officer
Heidi Grenek leads the operational strategy and execution of the Energy Storage Engine, overseeing operations, financial planning, compliance and the systems required to deliver the Engine’s programs at scale. She brings extensive experience at the intersection of technology, business, operations and supply chain, including senior roles at Corning, Xerox, PARC and battery technology company Pure Lithium. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from MIT Sloan.
Dr. Matthew Ganter | Safety Testbeds Lead
Dr. Matthew Ganter leads the Energy Storage Engine’s safety testbed activities, connecting innovators with the testing, prototyping and validation capabilities needed to develop safer, commercially ready energy storage technologies. He is Director of the RIT Battery Development Center and an Assistant Research Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology. His expertise spans lithium-ion manufacturing, next-generation battery materials, rapid prototyping and testing, and he holds a PhD in Sustainability from RIT.
Dr. Maggie Cousin | Strategic Communications Lead
Dr. Maggie Cousin leads strategic communications for the Energy Storage Engine, shaping how its mission, programs, partners and impact are communicated to industry, researchers, communities and the public. Her work spans communications strategy, storytelling, media and digital engagement, and public outreach across the Engine’s growing ecosystem. She brings a background in organizational strategy, research, consulting and higher education and holds a Doctor of Education from the University of Rochester.
James Kirtland | Translation & Marketing
James Kirtland supports the Energy Storage Engine across technology translation, as well as branding and communications as part of Cornell University’s contribution to the partnership. He brings 30 years of global corporate experience in business strategy, partnerships and marketing, including 10 years leading global marketing partnerships at American Express. He holds an MBA from Cornell University and serves as an Executive in Residence at Cornell’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement.
Dr. Prachi Pragnya | Innovation Program Manager
Dr. Prachi Pragnya manages innovation and use-inspired R&D programs for the Energy Storage Engine, working across academic, industry and research teams to accelerate promising energy storage technologies and move them toward real-world application. Before joining the Engine, she was a Senior Process Engineer at GlobalFoundries. She holds a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where her research focused on advanced materials characterization and high-temperature corrosion.
Candice Reeves | Translation Program Manager
Candice Reeves manages programs within the Energy Storage Engine’s Translation function at Cornell, helping researchers, entrepreneurs and companies access the resources, expertise and opportunities needed to move technologies toward commercialization. She brings previous experience in technology startup operations and growth and is part of Cornell’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. She holds a Master of Professional Studies from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo.
William Thibault | Operations Program Manager
William “Bill” Thibault leads day-to-day operations for the Energy Storage Engine, keeping programs, partners and leadership aligned so a complex regional initiative hits its milestones. A Certified Supply Chain Professional, Bill brings 20 years of experience from Corning Incorporated, most recently as manager of capital procurement for the Gorilla Glass and Advanced Optics divisions, along with other assignments in operations and process improvement. He is active in battery industry groups focused on manufacturing, markets and domestic supply chains, and is working to expand U.S. battery manufacturing.
Louis Newman | Concierge Service Lead
Louis Newman serves as Concierge Service Lead for the Energy Storage Engine, helping companies and partners navigate the region’s battery ecosystem and connect with the people, organizations and resources that can help them move forward. He brings a strong background in regional engagement, relationship building and community development through his work with the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce and Visit Binghamton. He is a graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
John Cerveny | Business Attraction
John Cerveny leads business attraction and supply-chain development for the NSF Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine, connecting battery and energy storage companies with New York’s manufacturing assets, research institutions, industry partners, and investment opportunities. A Senior Director at NY-BEST, he also leads the New Energy New York Supply Chain Program. Over two decades in clean technology and economic development, John has led efforts to commercialize technologies, create jobs, and secure funding for numerous cleantech entities. He holds bachelor’s and MBA degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Governance Board
Heather Hage, Chair
Griffiss Institute
Dr. William Acker
NY-BEST
Tina Barber
Community Foundation for SCNY
Dr. Duncan Brown
Syracuse University
Dr. Robin Cole Jr.
Monroe Community College
Dr. Shelley Dionne
Binghamton University
Dr. Marnie Lavigne
Launch NY
David Sandbank
NYSERDA
Dr. Krystyn VanVliet
Cornell University
Ben Venscheuren
ESD, NYSTAR
Energy Storage Engine Fellows
Beth Schroeder
Khurram Afridi
Ziang “John” Zhang
Aiden Mickleburgh
About NSF Regional Innovation Engines
The NSF Regional Innovation Engines program supports multi-sector coalitions across the United States to accelerate technology translation, strengthen domestic supply chains, and drive long-term regional competitiveness.
The Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York is one of nine NSF Engines nationwide and the only one dedicated exclusively to advancing U.S. energy storage innovation.
Why Upstate New York?
- 8 World-Class Research Institutions
- 35+ Startups
- Pioneers in the Field
- Thriving Battery Ecosystem
- Continued Strong State Support
- Most Comprehensive Testbeds and Shared Infrastructure
- Legacy of Innovation & Manufacturing