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Florida Polytechnic University employees watch the live broadcast of a NASA diver performing an underwater test of the University’s student-designed tool dock as part of NASA’s Micro-g NExT Challenge.

NASA tests Florida Poly student-designed tool to improve spacewalks

August 7, 2026

When astronauts venture outside the International Space Station to perform critical maintenance, it is essential for them to access and store their tools quickly and conveniently. Every tool must remain securely attached to their spacesuit while still being readily available when needed. A team of Florida Polytechnic University mechanical engineering students spent 10 months developing a one-handed wearable tool dock designed to make that process easier, faster and more efficient. NASA put the team’s tool to the test at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Florida Polytechnic University senior Avery Reef at his internship location, Watts Water Technologies.

Student internship brings product development ideas to life

August 6, 2026

Avery Reef, a mechanical engineering student at Florida Polytechnic University, is getting a front-row seat to how products progress from a simple idea to the factory floor. The hands-on experience is helping shape his future engineering career. Reef is an intern with Watts Water Technologies, a global leader in water system solutions.

Polk State College President Anastasios Kamoutsas and Florida Polytechnic University President Devin Stephenson sign an expanded transfer agreement July 30 at Florida Poly’s Barnett Applied Research Center, joined by legislators, trustees, industry representatives and students.

Polk State and Florida Poly partner to build regional STEM pipeline

July 30, 2026

Polk State College and Florida Polytechnic University have entered into an articulation agreement, establishing the Eagle to Phoenix Pathway program for students. Polk State President Anastasios Kamoutsas and Florida Poly President Devin Stephenson signed the agreement on Thursday, July 30, strengthening the partnership between the institutions and expanding opportunities for students.

Florida Poly electrical engineering student Cooper Hawk at The Haskell Company in Jacksonville where he is an intern this summer.

Florida Poly student designs electrical systems for real-world impact

July 28, 2026

When Cooper Hawk began searching for his first engineering internship, he was looking for more than a typical summer job. He wanted hands-on experience with real impact.
The Florida Polytechnic University electrical engineering student found exactly that with The Haskell Company in Jacksonville, Florida,

An aerial view of the Florida Polytechnic University campus. Florida Poly's degree are among the highest paying in New York Federal Reserve Bank analysis.

Florida Poly degrees match nation’s highest-paying majors

July 27, 2026

Engineering and technology fields dominate the nation’s highest-paying college majors, according to a recent analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. At Florida Polytechnic University, students are preparing for careers at the forefront of those high-demand, high-wage fields.

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Florida Poly President Randy Avent to step down after decade of growing success

July 24, 2023

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

President Avent’s Retirement Announcement

July 24, 2023

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 Poly student makes waves in marine engineering internship

July 20, 2023

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

New chair to shape future of engineering physics at Florida Poly

July 18, 2023

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,

Alum works on autonomous vehicle technology at NVIDIA

July 13, 2023

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.

Accreditation Team Invites Public Comments About Florida Polytechnic University Police Department

July 12, 2023

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

Tech, defense business leaders join Florida Poly Foundation Board

July 11, 2023

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

Florida Poly student learns the ropes of road resurfacing at FDOT internship

July 3, 2023

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

Electrical engineering major drives automation, high-tech innovation at national lab internship

June 22, 2023

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

Alum’s dream career in aerospace blasts off

June 20, 2023

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

Dutch Charlemagne Fellow explores deep tech startups with Florida Poly faculty

June 12, 2023

Sabine Kerssens, a Dutch systems engineer, is pursuing research in collaboration with Florida Polytechnic University about how effective European research institutes are at commercializing advances in knowledge and using them for economic, social, and environmental impact. Kerssens received the prominent European Charlemagne Prize Fellowship and is working on her research with support from Dr. Rei Sanchez-Arias, assistant chair of Florida

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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.