Innovation Research Fellow Grants Advance Breakthrough Research Across Healthcare and Quantum Computing - Hofstra University News

Two interdisciplinary research projects with the potential to improve patient care and accelerate next-generation computing have received more than $50,000 through the 2026 Innovation Research Fellow Grant program at Hofstra University’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Frank G. Zarb School of Business. The competitive grant program supports faculty research with strong potential for societal impact, commercialization, and future external funding. The 2026 awards recognize projects focused on improving prosthetic care for people with limb loss and advancing artificial intelligence tools for quantum materials research. The Innovation Research Fellow Grant program is made possible through the generous support of Leo A. Guthart, a longtime Hofstra trustee and former chair of the Board of Trustees. His philanthropy continues to fuel faculty innovation and interdisciplinary research with the potential to improve lives and address real-world challenges. “The Innovation Research Fellow Grant program reflects the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the Frank G. Zarb School of Business,” said Dean Janet Lenaghan, Zarb School of Business. “By investing in bold, interdisciplinary research with potential to improve lives, we are empowering our faculty to pursue transformative ideas.” “As the program continues to grow, we are seeing stronger collaborations across schools and projects that address pressing challenges in healthcare, technology, education, and beyond,” said Amir Gandomi, Ph.D., associate professor of information systems and business analytics and facilitator of the Innovation Research Fellow Grant program. “The Innovation Fellows program is not simply about funding individual projects. It is about building an ecosystem where innovative research, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary collaboration reinforce one another.” One of this year’s recipients is Mohamed Abdelmegeed, PT, DPT, MSc, DSc, OCS, assistant professor of physical therapy in the School of Health Sciences. His project will develop a customizable, 3-D printed transtibial prosthetic socket with an adjustable closure system designed to improve comfort, fit, and mobility for individuals with lower-limb amputations. “Greater affordability and accessibility could allow more people to obtain prosthetic devices that better meet their needs,” Abdelmegeed said. “Ultimately, we hope this technology will improve comfort, walking ability, confidence, independence, and overall quality of life while reducing long-term health care costs.” “Receiving this grant is both an honor and an important milestone,” he added. “Most importantly, this support moves us closer to translating an innovative concept into a practical solution that could improve the lives of people living with limb loss.” The second grant was awarded to Paul Yang, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics in the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, whose research seeks to dramatically reduce the computing time needed to study semiconductor moiré devices – advanced quantum materials with applications in future electronics and quantum computing. By developing a reusable artificial intelligence “foundation model,” Yang aims to help researchers evaluate new materials in hours instead of weeks. “If successful, this project would turn a powerful but specialized research method into a faster and more broadly usable tools for quantum materials design,” Yang said. “It could help researchers identify promising materials and device structures more efficiently, accelerating progress toward new electronics and quantum technologies.” “Receiving the Innovation Research Fellow Grant is meaningful because it supports both the scientific and practical sides of this project,” Yang added. “The investment will not only advance my research on quantum materials but also strengthen Hofstra’s broader capacity for computational and collaborative research.” According to Gandomi, this year’s proposals reflected the breadth of Hofstra faculty expertise and a shared commitment to solving significant societal challenges. The selected projects were chosen through a rigorous review process that evaluated innovation, feasibility, impact, and future funding potential by a committee of faculty and industry leaders. As a Carnegie-designated R2 research university, Hofstra continues to invest in research that expands knowledge while creating practical solutions to complex challenges. Programs such as the Innovation Research Fellow Grant advance the goals of the Hofstra 100 strategic plan by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and creating opportunities for faculty and students to drive innovation. TagsGrant HCLAS research SHS Zarb School of Business