An associate professor at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Albany has been awarded $1.2 million through the Rome Air Force Research Laboratory for a research project in “next-generation” computer systems, the college announced.

Nathaniel Cady, a SUNY Poly associate professor of nanobioscience, has been awarded the funding as part of a $2.4 million grant in collaboration with the University of Tennessee, said SUNY Poly.

SUNY Poly’s Albany NanoTech complex will create chip prototypes in conjunction with the project.

The project involves “fabrication and testing of a dynamic, adaptive neural network array” involving “‘neuromorphic’ technologies that mimic the human brain to overcome current computer system performance limitations,” the college said. It noted the “cutting-edge technology which could one day lead to faster, more energy-efficient and powerful computer capabilities.”

SUNY Poly has an Education Partnership Agreement with the Rome Air Force lab, according to the college, which in addition to its Albany site has a campus in Marcy that is developing major nanotechnology-related ventures.

The Marcy campus formerly was known as SUNY Institute of Technology.

““The Air Force Research Lab grant underscores the fact that Gov. (Andrew) Cuomo’s strategy catalyzing a high-tech research and development ecosystem in New York State, pioneered by SUNY Poly, is driving development of technologies which have the potential to revolutionize computing in the years ahead,” said Michael Liehr, SUNY Poly Executive Vice President of Innovation and Technology and Vice President of Research.

“We are delighted that the Air Force Research Lab has recognized this cutting-edge work,” Liehr added.