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From NASA to startup: Alumna launches AI platform to bridge tech and policy

September 5, 2025

Payton Barnwell ’19 has dedicated her successful high-tech career to creating meaningful impact through innovation. She helped optimize space station crops as a NASA intern, worked in mission control at Virgin Galactic, and led geospatial product development at SkyFi, creating easy-to-use tools from complex data and imagery. Now, the Florida Polytechnic University alumna has embarked on a new adventure. Barnwell

NSF-funded study uses brain data to rethink engineering education

September 3, 2025

Fueled by a new National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, innovative research at Florida Polytechnic University aims to redefine the way professors approach engineering design education. Dr. Elisabeth Kames, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, received a $200,000 grant to study how students cognitively engage with engineering design challenges. The research will employ neurocognitive tools such as electroencephalography (EEG), as well as

Florida Poly student research uncovers laser light from peacock feathers

August 27, 2025

Undergraduate discovery sparks nationwide scientific attention Florida Polytechnic University senior Anthony Fiorito has captured national attention in the scientific community with groundbreaking research revealing that peacock feathers can emit precise laser light. Fiorito, an engineering physics major, is the first author of a study that has been spotlighted by leading publications including Science, Ars Technica, Interesting Engineering and MSN. The

New SGA president focuses on student voices, organizational strength

August 22, 2025

Connection, communication and advocacy are Colby Manrodt’s top goals as the new president of Florida Polytechnic University’s Student Government Association. “I think our University is in a period of transitioning and going through a lot of change, so we are going to focus this year on bringing better forms of communication to our student body,” said Manrodt, a senior majoring

Florida Poly’s enrollment hits record high, momentum soars

August 18, 2025

Florida Polytechnic University welcomed the new academic year on Monday, Aug. 18 with a record-breaking total enrollment of more than 1,900 students, marking a more than 10% increase over last year’s historic enrollment and the second consecutive year of growth. “This remarkable enrollment underscores the growing recognition of Florida Poly’s value in preparing students for high-demand STEM careers,” said Dr.

Florida Poly reaches new heights with record Fulbright participation

August 13, 2025

Florida Polytechnic University is welcoming the largest cohort of distinguished Fulbright awardees in its history, with international scholars and students set to pursue advanced research and graduate studies during the 2025-26 academic year. The group of 21 graduate students and scholars participating in the prestigious U.S. State Department program reflects the University’s solid commitment to fostering global collaborations and advancing

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Polk County lakes researched as source of biofuel

March 30, 2018

Students at Florida Polytechnic University are looking into ways of creating a source of biofuel by using algae known as diatoms, which are found in Polk County lakes. The search for viable alternatives to fossil fuels is a hot topic worldwide with biofuel being one possible solution. This study, headed by professor of biology Dr. Melba Horton, seeks to determine

Florida Polytechnic University’s high-tech garden seizing the future of agriculture

March 28, 2018

A group of students at Florida Polytechnic University has figured out a way to use a garden to research solutions to feeding our planet’s future population and help provide fresh food to Polk County families in need. The TRAC (Technology, Research, Agriculture and Community) group has spent the past two years building a garden on the university’s campus, aimed at

Florida Polytechnic University students spend spring break interning at Kissimmee company

March 27, 2018

Several Florida Polytechnic University students had the opportunity to take part in an intensive five-day internship during spring break aimed at providing critical hands-on research and application experience. The internship was offered by BRIDG, a nonprofit, industry-led public-private partnership for advanced sensors, semiconductors, photonics and other advanced nanoscale systems, located at the NeoCity technology district in Kissimmee, Florida. “It was

Calvin Ingram: Unafraid of the unknown

March 21, 2018

A new beginning can bring about a range of emotions-happiness, anticipation, confidence, optimism, curiosity. For Calvin Ingram, a mechanical engineering senior at Florida Polytechnic University, the idea of beginning his college experience as part of the university’s inaugural graduating class was one emotion only: excitement. “I loved that I would have the chance to help grow the school. I couldn’t

Cybersecurity takes innovative turn at Florida Polytechnic University

March 21, 2018

Students at Florida Polytechnic University are going beyond theory and enjoying an innovative, hands-on way of learning how to fight cybercrime. The United States is projected to lose $2 trillion to cyber attacks by 2019. And the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals is only growing worse, with 1.8 million jobs going unfilled by 2022, according to a report from TechRepublic.

Florida Polytechnic University wins first National Science Foundation Research Grant

March 21, 2018

Florida Polytechnic University was awarded its first National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to sponsor a cutting-edge research project proposed by computer science professors Drs. Luis Jaimes and Ilhan Akbas. The research on cyber-physical systems applications focuses on crowd-sensing to leverage the power of crowds to monitor a variable of interest such as temperature, pollution or state of infrastructure in smart

Kirsten Benjamin: Meet your freshman boss

March 13, 2018

At 19, Kirsten Benjamin found herself with her hands full and dealing with exciting responsibilities she never saw coming. She was just a freshman at Florida Polytechnic University, yet she was already hiring employees for a high-tech project. Benjamin successfully completed an internship with the Boston tech company VisitDays, where she learned new program languages, reviewed code, and immersed herself

Planting the seeds of economic development at Florida Polytechnic University

March 8, 2018

Business, government and economic development leaders gathered at Florida Polytechnic University for its first Economic Development Symposium in early March, to begin discussions on how to create long-term economic growth partnerships around the university campus. ABB, Heacock Insurance and Saunders Ralston Dantzler Realty were among the businesses represented at the event, which was sponsored by the Central Florida Development Council,

Alex Kiss: Building a career on computer passion

March 7, 2018

Growing up, Alex Kiss watched his uncle build computers for neighbors and friends. “I thought it was the coolest thing in the world,” said Kiss. “I couldn’t believe you could go from almost nothing, put a few pieces together, and then be able to do all these amazing things.” His fascination with computers grew stronger while growing up, and once

New Student Development Center opens at Florida Polytechnic University

February 28, 2018

Students at Florida Polytechnic University have a new state-of-the-art facility designed enhance their on-campus experience. The Student Development Center is located at 4600 Polytechnic Circle and officially opened its doors on Wednesday, Feb. 28. The 8,600 square feet building is shaped like a phoenix (the university’s mascot) and has a strength and cardio training area with exercise machines, free weights

Marine Sergeant rediscovers passion for engineering at Florida Polytechnic University

February 26, 2018

David Duré walks the hallways of Florida Polytechnic University like a man on a mission. And at age 30, his career mission is very clear: to become an aerospace military contractor. The Marine veteran will graduate from Florida Poly in December 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. This summer he’ll intern with Goldman Sachs, a global investment firm, in

Industry experts become Sharks at the Florida Polytechnic University Tank

February 23, 2018

A panel of industry experts had the difficult task of judging eight innovative ideas presented by Florida Polytechnic University students during the Great Eight competition, which was held on Friday, Feb. 23 at the university’s Innovation, Science & Technology building. The students pitched their projects “Shark Tank” style to a group of six successful entrepreneurs, investors, and business mentors: Todd