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Fifteen students receive SUNY GREAT awards

Chemestry students conducting research.

The SUNY GREAT award provides $7,500 in funding from the SUNY Office of Research and Economic Development that students can use for research expenses, related travel, professional development and stipend augmentation. Photo: Douglas Levere

UBNOW STAFF

Published May 12, 2026

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“Their accomplishments reflect the strength and promise of UB’s graduate community. ”
Graham Hammill, senior vice provost for faculty affairs and dean
Graduate School

Fifteen UB students have received SUNY Graduate Research Empowering and Accelerating Talent (GREAT) awards.

The SUNY GREAT award provides $7,500 in funding from the SUNY Office of Research and Economic Development that students can use for research expenses, related travel, professional development and stipend augmentation. The awards build on SUNY’s commitment to advance research projects and excellence throughout New York State, and to expand research opportunities for students.  

“I congratulate our students on this well-deserved recognition and thank SUNY for its continued support of graduate education and student success,” says Graham Hammill, senior vice provost for faculty affairs and dean of the Graduate School. “These awards provide students with meaningful support to advance their research, scholarship and professional development. Their accomplishments reflect the strength and promise of UB’s graduate community.”

The following students received SUNY GREAT awards:

  • Festus Adegbola, Geography.
  • Adwoa Ampiah-Bonney, Cognitive Psychology.
  • Margaret Azu-Narcisse, Clinical Psychology. 
  • Caleb Buerger, Microbiology and Immunology.
  • Peter Fiorica, Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics.
  • Caitlin James, Cancer Sciences.
  • Susanna Keilig, Biological Sciences.
  • Ashley McDougall, Biochemistry.
  • Jobaer Ahmed Saju, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering.
  • Jordan Scalia, Chemistry.
  • Samantha Schwarz, Pharmacology/Neuroscience.
  • Laura Sherwood, Biomedical Engineering.
  • Jennifer Sosa, Biochemistry.
  • Jason H. Tong, Cancer Sciences.
  • Hosam Yousef, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Student abstracts can be found on the SUNY GREAT Award website. 

All recipients of the award have received national recognition from the National Science Foundation, Graduate Research Fellowship Program or the National Institutes of Health’s National Research Service Awards.

UB students are encouraged to work with the Office of Fellowships and Scholarships when applying for nationally competitive scholarships, fellowships and awards.