Schumer and Gillibrand Secure $4 Million Investment in Energy Security Research

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumerand U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrandrecently secured $4 million in Fiscal Year 2026 congressional directed spending (CDS) to support critical energy security research at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. This significant federal investment will advance the development of high-performance materials essential to the future of nuclear energy while strengthening New York's role as a hub for advanced research, innovation and workforce development.

The $4 million award will support groundbreaking work in Stony Brook's Engineered Materials and Radiation Effects Laboratory, housed within the Advanced Energy Research Technology Center (AERTC). The research focuses on developing and testing ultra-high-temperature materials needed for next-generation nuclear power systems, including small modular reactors, fusion power reactors and NASA thermal nuclear propulsion systems.

This funding will enable the establishment of a unique, university-based facility dedicated to radiological and mechanical properties testing for advanced materials. The new facility will couple ultra-high-temperature materials development with activated materials characterization capabilities that are currently limited nationwide. By providing advanced testing and characterization infrastructure, the facility will generate the critical data required to support the rapidly expanding nuclear energy sector while anchoring this vital work in New York State.

The investment is expected to have a meaningful economic and workforce impact on Long Island and across New York. The facility will attract federal research partnerships, industry collaborators and top scientific talent to the region, supporting high-skilled jobs and strengthening the state's innovation economy. In addition, it will help position Long Island as a center for nuclear materials research and advanced energy technologies, complementing the region's growing clean energy and technology ecosystem.

Beyond its immediate research impact, the facility will serve as a vital experiential learning and training resource for students and early-career researchers. By offering hands-on exposure to advanced nuclear materials research, Stony Brook will help educate and prepare the next generation of nuclear materials scientists and engineers - many of whom will enter New York's workforce - supporting long-term economic growth and ensuring the state remains competitive in high-demand STEM fields.

Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith emphasized the importance of the senators' support and its far-reaching implications for both national priorities and the regional economy.

"We are profoundly grateful to Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for their steadfast leadership and for recognizing the importance of this work to our great state as well as the country," said President Goldsmith. "This investment will create state-of-the-art research infrastructure at Stony Brook that will advance nuclear energy technologies, strengthen our nation's energy security, and create extraordinary opportunities for students and researchers here on Long Island. This visionary support helps fuel New York's innovation economy while training the next generation of scientists and engineers who will drive American leadership in clean energy."

Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand are longstanding champions of Stony Brook University and its mission to conduct research that addresses critical national priorities while delivering local impact. Their continued advocacy ensures that New York remains at the forefront of scientific discovery, workforce development and economic competitiveness.

This successful appropriations outcome is also a direct testament to the essential and collaborative partnership between Stony Brook University's Office for Research and Innovationand the Office of Federal Relations, whose coordinated leadership on federal research funding was instrumental in securing this critical investment and advancing Stony Brook's national research impact.