Joseph Noble, a rising senior at Florida Polytechnic University, is taking on a global challenge that could help transform the use of generative artificial intelligence in mechanical engineering.
Noble, a computer engineering major, is working at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany from May through August as part of the country’s highly selective DAAD Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) program. He is helping develop state-of-the-art generative AI methods for computer-aided design (CAD) model generation of 2D and 3D objects.
“Being selected for the DAAD RISE program is an incredible honor,” said Noble, a graduate of Lawton Chiles High School in Tallahassee, Florida. “Generative AI is moving at such a high speed, and I wanted this opportunity to apply my computer engineering skills directly to real-world manufacturing challenges.”
The initiative highlights the importance of international collaboration.
“Progress thrives when exceptional minds share diverse perspectives,” said Christian Strowa, director of DAAD North America German Academic Exchange Service. “The RISE program empowers young researchers to push technological boundaries and strengthen international scientific ties.”
KIT, located in Southwest Germany, ranks among the top institutions globally for mechanical engineering in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.
“Working at an elite institution like KIT is amazing,” Noble said. “The research infrastructure is amazing, and I think being surrounded by some of the top minds in engineering will give me a new global perspective and help elevate my own work.”
Under the DAAD RISE research proposal, Noble’s responsibilities include:
- Reviewing existing data, AI methods, and 3D formats used to create CAD models
- Creating, training, and testing an AI system to create CAD models
- Evaluating how these AI methods can be used in real-world engineering workflows
“Building an AI system from scratch and training the models is going to be challenging but also so much fun,” Noble said. “I’m excited to dive into the technical details and see how the algorithms I write could eventually influence how engineers design physical components.”
This is Noble’s second highly competitive international collegiate experience. In Fall 2025, he studied at McGill University in Montreal as a Killam Fellow through Fulbright Canada.
“Joseph is a superb example of the world-class talent we cultivate at Florida Poly in our relentless pursuit of academic and research excellence,” said Mustapha Achoubane, Florida Poly’s senior global affairs officer. “Our students harness the latest advancements in science and technology to drive Florida’s high-tech economy, and this recognition helps bring back top-tier intellectual capital to their home institution.”
Florida Poly’s academic partnership with Germany highlights the growing relationship between the state and the European nation. Germany is Florida’s third-largest foreign direct investor, and the state’s top investor from the European Union, according to SelectFlorida, the state’s official international trade and investment promotion agency.
“We are proud to welcome exceptional scholars like Joseph to Germany through the RISE program,” said Christofer Burger, the consul general of Germany in Miami. “By connecting bright minds from Florida Poly with institutions like KIT, we can advance critical AI research and strengthen the vital bonds between our nations.”
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Lydia Guzmán
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