Every online Amazon order triggers a complex, behind-the-scenes system, speeding the product to its recipient as quickly and efficiently as possible. This summer, Florida Polytechnic University senior Megan Demeritt is getting an inside look at those operations while helping make them even better as an area manager intern with the e-commerce giant.
Florida Polytechnic University’s Phoenix Racing team is preparing for its first 1,500-mile cross-country solar race, the centerpiece of two national competitions in Minnesota this month. The team will compete in the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix and the Electrek American Solar Challenge, a grueling endurance race from the Twin Cities to Texas.
Gov. Ron DeSantis approved $19 million for Florida Polytechnic University in the state’s 2026-2027 budget on Monday, June 29, fueling the University’s continued growth and expansion as Florida’s only public STEM university.
Florida Polytechnic University had the largest one-year performance gain among all state universities in the Florida Board of Governors’ 2025-26 Performance-Based Funding Model, earning a score of 87 out of 100 and securing nearly $11 million in performance funding.
Florida Polytechnic University graduates earn the highest salaries among alumni from Florida’s public universities five years after graduation, according to a recent analysis by the Tampa Bay Business Journal based on new Florida Department of Education data.
The Florida Polytechnic University Foundation Board of Directors has new leadership, five new members, and five reappointed community leaders. The Florida Poly Board of Trustees approved the appointments on May 22.
When it comes to filling the need for qualified STEM professionals, Florida Polytechnic University is among the nation’s best. In a recent analysis by EdSmart, a nationally recognized publisher of college resources and rankings, Florida Poly ranked No. 2 in the United States for having the most students enrolled in popular STEM programs. With high-paying jobs in rapidly growing fields
A passion for computer science and implementing technological solutions has Florida Polytechnic University rising senior John Lowery feeling right at home in his second summer internship with Mercedes-Benz Vans. He is working as a business analyst intern implementing cloud technologies into the company’s everyday operation at its location in Charleston, South Carolina. “I’m learning a lot about the business aspect
Dr. Randy K. Avent, president of Florida Polytechnic University, announced today that he is stepping down from the position at the end of the 2023-24 academic year, 10 years after he began leading the all-STEM institution to remarkable accomplishments. Avent was named Florida Poly’s inaugural president in 2014, the same year the University opened its doors to welcome students for
Dear Florida Poly family, It’s with enormous optimism for the future, and pride in all Florida Polytechnic University has accomplished, that I share important personal news with you today. After careful consideration and contemplation, I have decided to step down from my role as president of Florida Poly in July of 2024. Leading the University from its infancy to the
Florida Polytechnic University rising junior Abryn Peters is putting his summer days to good use with an internship at Measutronics, a nationwide provider of positioning, guidance, and underwater imaging solutions for marine construction and dredging. “I’m one of their main R&D (research and development) people,” said Peters, who is working at the company’s Lakeland, Florida location. “I’m using the computer
As the new chair of Florida Polytechnic University’s Engineering Physics Department, Dr. Ian Bentley said he plans to redesign the physics curriculum and work with his department to take the first-year physics program to a new level. Bentley most recently was director of the Dual Degree Engineering Program at SaintMary’s College, and an adjunct associate professor at his alma mater,
Mihir Lad ’22 is living out his dream of working on autonomous vehicle (AV) technology as a part of the fleet engineering team at NVIDIA, a leader in AI and accelerated computing, based in Santa Clara, California.
LAKELAND, Fla. – A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive Tuesday, Aug. 15 at Florida Polytechnic University to examine all aspects of the University’s Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. Florida Polytechnic University Police Department (FPPD must comply with numerous standards to receive accredited status. Many of the
Johnnie Curls, Jr., owner and CEO of Barney’s Pumps, and Alen Tomczak, a national director for digital intelligence company Cellebrite, have been named to the Florida Polytechnic University Foundation Board of Directors. The Foundation’s mission is to “partner with Florida Poly to engage the community, inspire investment, and steward resources to build a world-class university.” The two business leaders bring
An encounter at Florida Polytechnic University’s Career and Internship Fair drove Catarina Andrade to a summer internship that sees her working with engineering-related departments at the Florida Department of Transportation. The mechanical engineering major is a pavement evaluation intern and primarily works with the group of professionals responsible for road resurfacing at the agency’s offices in Bartow, Florida. Other technical
Florida Polytechnic University rising sophomore Josh Alletto’s knowledge, confidence, and high-tech skills earned him a summer internship that he’s sure will change his life. Alletto, an electrical engineering major, is spending his summer working at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois. The laboratory is a federally funded research and development center owned by the U.S. Department of Energy. The opportunity
From the time Austin Adams ’22 was a child, thoughts of humans making discoveries and charting new paths in space captivated his imagination. “Space has always been my passion,” said Adams, who received a bachelor’s degree in business analytics from Florida Polytechnic University in 2022. “When I’d watch a rocket launch and leave the Earth to benefit humanity and make
Dr. Lily Li is a Professor of Physics at Florida Polytechnic University, where she specializes in materials science, analytical imaging, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical devices. Prior to joining Florida Poly in 2025, she spent 11 years at SUNY Potsdam, where she advanced to Full Professor and developed a 3-2 Engineering dual-degree program with Clarkson University. Her work emphasizes experiential learning and research-driven education to prepare students for careers in STEM fields.
