More than a dozen students, scholars and faculty from around the world are expanding their research and academic experiences through a growing range of international exchange programs at Florida Polytechnic University this semester.
The incoming group of 14 arrives as the Fulbright Program celebrates its 80th anniversary. The cohort includes seven Fulbright graduate fellows from Germany, alongside visiting researchers from Australia, Brazil and Ecuador. They are pursuing graduate study, faculty collaboration and research in fields strategic to Florida’s financial future and global competitiveness, including critical minerals, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, aerospace technologies, and biotechnology.
“International collaboration is key for modern scientific breakthrough and for our STEM university,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, Florida Poly’s president. “This talented group of scholars brings vital perspectives to our campus, driving the critical research and advanced technological development that powers the economic growth of Florida and the entire United States.”
Scholars include Dr. Willy Susilo, an Australian Laureate Fellow and cybersecurity expert from the University of Wollongong; Dr. Jorge Andres Robalino Lopez, a professor at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja in Ecuador; and Dr. Anderson Ruhoff, an associate professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil (UFRGS).
Dr. Jun Kim, assistant professor of environmental engineering, spent the summer as a Fulbright Specialist at the UFRGS, where he developed water systems research partnerships with Ruhoff.
“My Fulbright experience is more than an academic exchange,” Kim said. “It is an investment in the people, ideas and international partnerships that spark progress, empower communities and create new opportunities for economic growth.”
Recent environmental engineering graduate Sabrina Roggero ’26 completed a research internship at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in South Korea. She engineered nanofiber membranes designed to improve wastewater treatment and will soon begin a master’s program at the University of Central Florida.
“It’s been a roller coaster of new experiences. Being able to adapt to a new country, a new lab environment, and a new area of research has shown me that I’m capable of stepping outside of my comfort zone and learning quickly,” Roggero said. “I’m leaving GIST with new technical skills, great memories and a much stronger appreciation for international research and collaboration.”
Florida Poly students are also building academic bridges across the globe. Computer engineering student Joseph Noble, who participated in Canada’s prestigious Killam Fellowships Program at McGill University last year, is joining the DAAD RISE Germany program this semester. Meanwhile, fellow Killam Scholar William Blaine is set to spend his upcoming exchange term studying at Queen’s University in Canada.
Building strong international partnerships is critical to Florida Poly’s expanding research initiatives, said Mustapha Achoubane, senior global affairs officer at the University.
“We are building an interdisciplinary community of empowered minds from Florida and around the world, creating dynamic clusters of opportunity for our students and faculty to collaborate with global talent, advance the industries of the future, and drive Florida’s economic competitiveness,” Achoubane said.
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange initiative, supporting study, teaching and research in more than 160 countries. In 2025, Florida Poly was recognized by the U.S. State Department as a top producer of U.S. Fulbright STEM scholars.
Contact:
Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
