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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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Were Debunking Sci-Fi Myths: 5 Questions Were Exploring at Florida Polytechnic Universitys #STEMTalks

January 22, 2016

Florida Polytechnic University is hosting its spring edition of #STEMTalks, a Google+ Hangout, at 7 p.m. on February 4, 2016 titled, “Debunking Pop Culture Myths from Core Science Facts.” A panel of Florida Poly professors will discuss topics related to the science portrayed in movies like The Martian and Back to the Future. Here are five questions we may explore with the Florida

Students Travel to Tallahassee to Help Shape Future of High-Tech Learning

January 19, 2016

Annual Florida Poly Day at the Capitol gives students a platform to share ideas for research and entrepreneurship LAKELAND, Fla. (January 19, 2015) – Nearly three dozen Florida Polytechnic University students and officials descended on the Capitol Tuesday to share their vision for the future of research and innovation at the state’s only university dedicated exclusively to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering

University of Tennessee visits FIPR

January 15, 2016

Students from the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department of the University of Tennessee are part of a collaborative research effort within the Critical Materials Institute to develop methods of Rare Earth Element extraction. Dave Desimone (left), Nick Dement and Taylor Forrest (right) prepare samples for further analysis at the Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute laboratories. This week, the Florida

Florida Polytechnic University Student Aims to Take Self-Constructed Electric Bike to the Next Level

December 15, 2015

Fascinated by magnets at an early age, Alberto Pinero Jr. was drawn to electrical engineering. “I knew it was something that I wanted to do, but I wanted something that would basically help drive that feeling,” says the Florida Polytechnic University sophomore from Kissimmee, Fla. So, as a 10th-grader, Pinero decided to build an electric bicycle. Though Pinero’s father, Alberto,

Citrus County Student Creates Fishing App at Florida Polytechnic University

December 5, 2015

Florida Poly student Geoffrey Ruiz, from Lecanto, and his team members created and presented a fishing app, called Identafish, at the University’s STEM Student’s BIO Expo earlier in November. The app is designed to identify and provide information on any fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Through this project, Florida Poly students were encouraged to create a concept that

Florida Polytechnic Universitys IST Building Wins National Steel Building Award

December 4, 2015

(Chicago, IL) – The Innovation, Science and Technology Building (IST) at Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, Fla., has earned national recognition in the 2015 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel awards program (IDEAS2). In honor of this achievement, members of the project team will be presented with awards from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) during

Florida Polytechnic University Board Votes to Name Campus after Senator JD Alexander

December 2, 2015

The Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees voted today to name the university’s campus the John David “JD” Alexander Campus after Senator JD Alexander, Florida Poly’s founder. The naming is also subject to the approval of the Florida Polytechnic University Foundation Board, as required under the university’s policy of Naming of Buildings and Facilities. “Senator Alexander recognized the need for

Florida Polytechnic University Foundation Invites Donors to #BePIVOTAL on #GivingTuesday

November 23, 2015

The Florida Polytechnic University Foundation is raising money to support student scholarships and the university’s innovative mission during #GivingTuesday on December 1. #GivingTuesday is a global movement dedicated to charitable giving during the holiday season. It’s held on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Funds raised by the Florida Polytechnic University Foundation during #GivingTuesday will help to

Florida Polytechnic University Launches STEMStudy.com and the STEM Study App

November 20, 2015

High school students starting their college journeys face a long list of important tasks like preparing for and taking SAT and ACT exams, completing college applications, applying for financial aid and scholarships and selecting the right major. For students interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees, there’s a new website – STEMStudy.com – designed to help them (and their parents)

Technology Inspired by Nature

November 20, 2015

Dr. Melba Horton’s three biology classes (BSC1010) shared their group projects in the IST Commons November 18 and 19 in the first BIO (Biology Integrated Outlook) Expo. Groups of between two to four students presented 30 posters that summarized their class projects on innovative concepts inspired by biology. The goal was for Dr. Horton’s students to apply biology to their

Top 5 Moments from the Fourth Installment of #STEMTalks a Google+ Hangout

November 19, 2015

Florida Polytechnic University hosted #STEMTalks, a Google+ Hangout on November 12, 2015 titled, “Ask Me Anything: Chief Innovation Officer.” The Hangout featured Jim Stikeleather, Chief Innovation Officer of Dell who discussed topics relating to future trends in STEM and emerging technology in computer engineering and IT. Two Florida Poly students, J. Collin Hoedtke and Kylee White asked Mr. Stikeleather questions

5 Things You Should Know about Dells Chief Innovation Officer Jim Stikeleather

November 4, 2015

Florida Polytechnic University is hosting #STEMTalks, a Google+ Hangout, at 7 p.m. on November 12, 2015 titled, “Ask Me Anything: Chief Innovation Officer.” The Hangout features Jim Stikeleather, Chief Innovation Officer of Dell who will discuss topics relating to future trends in STEM and emerging technology in computer engineering and IT. Here are the top five things you should know