UB will lead a Western New York coalition in a new National Science Foundation (NSF)-backed program connecting students from K–12 through college with training and paid industry experience in batteries and energy storage.

BEP’s Stacey Johnson will head UB’s participation in the Energy Storage Engine Scholars Initiative. UB is one of four universities leading regional coalitions, along with Binghamton University, Rochester Institute of Technology and Syracuse University.

Johnson, director of workforce and industry relations for UB’s Battery and Energy Storage Program, is also a co-principal investigator for UB’s EcoCAR Innovation Challenge. EcoCAR gives students hands-on experience with high-voltage battery systems, advanced vehicle technologies, controls, AI-enabled engineering and advanced computing while building connections with industry.

Read the full announcement.