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.

Leadership team posing together for a Year 3 announcement

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

Executive Leadership

Dr. Meera Sampath

Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Stan Whittingham

Chief Innovation Officer

Dr. Fernando Gómez-Baquero

Translation Director

Tim Thomas

Chief Workforce Development Officer

Heidi Grenek

Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Matthew Ganter

Safety Testbeds Lead

Dr. Maggie Cousin

Strategic Communications

James Kirtland

Translation Coordinator

Dr. Prachi Pragnya

Innovation Program Manager

Candice Reeves

Translation Program Manager

William Thibault

Operations Program Manager

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

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.

Map of New York State with selected counties highlighted in green

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