Researchers convening at �鶹ӳ����ý underscores the university’s national role as America’s Space University and its growing influence in hypersonic science, aerospace innovation, and defense research.

“Bringing this national team to �鶹ӳ����ý is a tremendous step forward,” says Trustee Chair Professor Kareem Ahmed, director of the �鶹ӳ����ý HyperSpace Research Center. “This program will advance our understanding of the fundamental science behind hypersonic material interactions, driving breakthroughs in advanced materials, propulsion systems, and next-generation vehicle technologies.”

The five-year MURI will develop new methods that combine laboratory experiments, operando testing, and atomistic simulations using advanced deep-generative algorithms. These techniques can disentangle multiple drivers of observed behavior, handle noisy measurements, and overcome nonlinear and chaotic relationships between what scientists can measure and what they need to infer. The goal: integrate diverse datasets and pinpoint which inputs matter most.

“Known for boldly advancing critical hypersonic technologies, �鶹ӳ����ý’s world-class faculty are well-positioned to join their colleagues at other leading research universities to strengthen our nation’s capabilities in this area of significant national interest,” says �鶹ӳ����ý Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld. “Fitting for the nation’s top provider of graduates to the aerospace and defense industries, this partnership also will provide invaluable hands-on experiences for dozens of student researchers at the ���������貹���������Գٱ��, ensuring a highly trained workforce.”

The initiative is expected to influence future U.S. Department of Defense hypersonic systems.

The initiative is expected to influence future U.S. Department of Defense hypersonic systems — from vehicles and weapons to propulsion technologies — by improving material models, enhancing reliability assessments, and providing a framework that can be replicated across other advanced materials programs.

The team includes leading experts in probabilistic inference (Assad Oberai, University of Southern California; Romit Maulik, Purdue University); hypersonic flight experiments and simulation (Kareem Ahmed, �鶹ӳ����ý; Savio Poovathingal, University of Kentucky; Onkar Sahni, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute); and micro-scale solid–gas interface physics (Aiichiro Nakano, University of Southern California).

In addition, the program will train the next generation of researchers through hands-on work with four postdoctoral scholars, 10 graduate students and 10 undergraduate students in areas such as scientific machine learning, high-speed flows, computational physics, and materials science.

This MURI marks a major step forward in advancing the science behind hypersonic systems and will help pave the way for safer, more reliable, and more capable technologies for national defense.

Buckwalter is a proven leader with more than 20 years of experience in academia and a deep passion for student success and faculty support. Most recently serving as provost at Boise State University, he led transformative interdisciplinary initiatives and championed student achievement.

“Dr. Buckwalter brings a results-driven mindset and a deep understanding of the mission of a public research university,” �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright says. “His leadership reflects a clear focus on student success, faculty performance and excellence, and strengthening collaborative efforts that support workforce growth and economic development. I am confident he will be a strong partner in advancing �鶹ӳ����ý’s role as Florida’s Premier Engineering and Technology University and growing our university as an engine of opportunity and talent for the state of Florida.”

“I am honored to join �鶹ӳ����ý at such an exciting time in the university’s trajectory,” Buckwalter said. “The university’s momentum, commitment to excellence, and clear, strategic mission are inspiring and energizing. I look forward to working alongside the Board of Trustees, President Cartwright, faculty, employees and students to advance academic quality; support workforce and research needs; and deliver meaningful impact for our students, community, and state.”

“I am honored to join �鶹ӳ����ý at such an exciting time in the university’s trajectory.” — John Buckwalter

Prior to Boise State, Buckwalter served as dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences at Kansas State University, where he expanded graduate programs, grew the college’s endowment by more than 40%, secured new research space and established an innovative, career-focused mentoring program for students. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at the University of Texas at Arlington, including associate dean for research and chair of the Department of Kinesiology.

Buckwalter holds a doctoral degree and master’s degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise physiology from the University of Arkansas. He earned two bachelor’s degrees — one in Spanish and one in and health and physical education — from Centenary College. His research has focused on the neural and cardiovascular regulation of blood flow during exercise, and he is a fellow of both the American Physiological Society and the American College of Sports Medicine.

Buckwalter’s appointment follows a national search, led by a committee of students, faculty and employees, that brought forward an outstanding group of candidates who participated in on-campus visits with various stakeholder groups.

“On behalf of the search committee, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Buckwalter to �鶹ӳ����ý,” says Winston Schoenfeld, vice president of research and co-chair of the search committee. “His distinguished record of academic leadership brings invaluable experience to �鶹ӳ����ý that will help us reach our strategic goals, and I look forward to working closely with him to advance �鶹ӳ����ý’s research enterprise and elevate our impact across our region, our state and beyond.”

“I’m truly excited to welcome our new provost, Dr. Buckwalter,” says Carolina Cruz-Neira, Agere Chair Professor in Computer Science and co-chair of the search committee. “His leadership brings fresh momentum to our shared commitment to advancing faculty excellence and fostering a thriving environment for research and innovation. I look forward to collaborating with him to broaden �鶹ӳ����ý’s impact in our region, nation and the world.”

Outgoing Provost Michael D. Johnson retires this summer following 35 years of service to �鶹ӳ����ý, first as a faculty member in the College of Sciences, then as the college’s dean before moving into the role of provost. Under his leadership, �鶹ӳ����ý has grown into a world-class academic institution, recognized for top-ranked programs, renowned faculty and exceptional students.

“Over three decades of service — including during pivotal moments in our university’s growth — Provost Johnson has helped shape the excellence and ambition that define us today,” Cartwright says. “Please join me in warmly thanking him as we welcome Dr. Buckwalter to continue �鶹ӳ����ý’s trajectory of excellence and impact.”

�鶹ӳ����ý’s membership in the UARC allows researchers and DoD project sponsors to better directly connect with one another and collaborate on meaningful research through exclusive access to a designated allotment of federal grant funds of about $105 million a year over five years.

UARCs are strategic research centers associated with one or more universities. They are formally established by the Director of Defense Research and Engineering, Office of the Secretary of Defense, to ensure defense critical engineering and technology capabilities are maintained and advanced.

According to SERC’s mission, establishing a community of focused systems engineering researchers delivers impact and research well beyond what one university could accomplish.

SERC is housed at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey and it was formed in 2008 to bring together leading universities with a strong track record for advancing engineering and defense innovations.

Additionally, �鶹ӳ����ý gained membership to the Acquisition Innovation Research Center (AIRC) also at the Stevens University of Technology. AIRC was established in September 2020 by the Department of Defense to infuse innovation and alternative disciplines from academia and successfully translate them into use.

Twenty-five universities comprise SERC and AIRC network, and �鶹ӳ����ý joins the University of South Florida as the only two universities representing Florida.

In mid-December, Dinesh Verma, professor at Stevens Institute of Technology and SERC/AIRC executive director, visited �鶹ӳ����ý and spoke on the evolving research priorities of the SERC/AIRC at the College of Business Administration.

Verma said to attending �鶹ӳ����ý faculty that collaboration was key.

“A UARC is a very powerful construct,” he said. “Each has a different goal. We’re here to help you get to know the SERC and its faculty.”

�鶹ӳ����ý’s ability to provide engineering expertise and tap into critical resources through the SERC network is a superb way to enrich systems engineering research, says Winston V. Schoenfeld, �鶹ӳ����ý vice president for research and innovation.

“�鶹ӳ����ý’s addition into the Systems Engineering Research Center UARC speaks volumes about the quality of our engineering research, and our commitment to supporting key DoD research objectives,” he says. “Our faculty will greatly benefit from the resources and collaboration the SERC UARC brings, enabling us to produce meaningful advancements in systems engineering of high value to the DoD.”

�鶹ӳ����ý has an impressive track record of cultivating a STEM workforce and producing impactful research through its College of Engineering and Computer Science and .

U.S. National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey from FY 2023 showed that �鶹ӳ����ý is No. 2 in Florida for DoD funding and in the top 11% nationally. �鶹ӳ����ý is first in Florida and among the top 14% nationally for aerospace engineering expenditures, and third in Florida and among the top 13% nationally for mechanical engineering expenditures.

�鶹ӳ����ý is also recognized as the most innovative university in Florida for the seventh consecutive year, according to the 2025 Best Colleges rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

Whiting is one of only seven geographic combatant commanders, and the visit showcased key research areas and opportunities for collaboration that align with DoD transformative technology and national security research priorities.

�鶹ӳ����ý recently joined USSPACECOM’s Academic Engagement Enterprise, which allows for further collaboration opportunities with the command.

Whiting began the visit by hearing from several �鶹ӳ����ý leaders about the university’s unique space-related research endeavors, including Winston V. Schoenfeld, vice president for research and innovation; David Hagan, dean of CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics; Greg Autry, associate provost for space commercialization and strategy; David Metcalf, associate research professor and director of the Mixed Emerging Technology Integration Lab; Stephen Eikenberry, professor of physics and optics and photonics; Tarek Elgohary, associate professor and director of the Astrodynamics, Space and Robotics Laboratory; and Eric “Tubby” Shwedo, assistant vice president for federal relations.

In the introductory briefing, Whiting was exposed to cutting-edge research in areas such as cislunar developments, space photonics, and modeling and simulation.

The visit further exemplifies �鶹ӳ����ý’s track record for advancing meaningful space research, Schoenfeld says.

“Here at �鶹ӳ����ý, we have a rich history of exceptional research in key defense areas beneficial to USSPACECOM such as hypersonics, optics, cybersecurity, materials science and modeling and simulation — just to name a few,” he says. “Our research in these areas has benefitted from significant DoD support — with more than 30% of our federal funding coming from DoD sources for over a decade. I am excited about the collaborative partnership between �鶹ӳ����ý and USSPACECOM to further the impact our research activities of direct interest to USSPACECOM.”

After the roundtable introduction, the USSPACECOM delegation visited with �鶹ӳ����ý’s highly regarded ROTC programs — Army ROTC Fighting Knights Battalion and Air Force Detachment 159 — to see firsthand how �鶹ӳ����ý is cultivating the officers and leaders of tomorrow.

�鶹ӳ����ý’s AFROTC program, which has been developing officers for the Air Force and Space Force for more than 50 years, has earned the DoD’s ROTC and Educational Institutional Partnership Excellence Award for multiple areas of excellence.

They met with President Alexander N. Cartwright to learn about workforce development and how �鶹ӳ����ý plays a critical role in supplying quality STEM professionals who are ready to unleash their potential at the crossroads of space and innovation.

The tour concluded with a visit to the newly established Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion (HyperSpace Center) to delve into the groundbreaking aerodynamics, propulsion and hypersonic research being conducted at the unique testing facility.

Kareem Ahmed, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, discussed specialized detonation methods and carefully crafted fuels that can enhance the efficiency and efficacy of propulsion technologies.

The HyperSpace Center stands out as a pioneering research and testing hub dedicated to advancing next-generation technologies in space propulsion and high-speed travel, playing a vital role in shaping the future of space exploration and defense capabilities.

Ahmed’s team has received multiple DoD grants to develop hypersonic technology, which will be capable of traveling at speeds of Mach 6 to 17 (4,600 to 13,000 mph).

Additionally, undergraduate and graduate students working under Ahmed presented projects in specific areas of hypersonic research, including a live demonstration test of one of their experimental engines.

�鶹ӳ����ý is well-positioned to continue delivering impactful research for the aerospace industry, having recently joined the newly founded Florida University Space Research Consortium. As the state’s official space research entity designated by Space Florida, the consortium will facilitate the awarding of NASA research grants in partnership with Kennedy Space Center.

The USSPACECOM visit to �鶹ӳ����ý is a culmination of mutual interest, partnerships and prior tours earlier in 2024, such as when USSPACECOM Major General Samuel Keener visited �鶹ӳ����ý when it hosted NASA’s Lunabotics competition.

The tour included visits with key �鶹ӳ����ý research centers, such as (IST), , and the Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion (HyperSpace Center).

While Grady toured �鶹ӳ����ý’s defense-related research, his wife, Christine Grady, visited �鶹ӳ����ý’s Office of Military and Veteran Student Success; , a clinic dedicated to treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and met with �鶹ӳ����ý Army and Air Force ROTC cadets.

“The visit from Admiral and Mrs. Grady underscores the vital role �鶹ӳ����ý plays in advancing national security and defense research, supporting critical DOD needs, and preparing the next generation of military leaders,” says Winston V. Schoenfeld, �鶹ӳ����ý’s vice president for research and innovation. “Over 30% of �鶹ӳ����ý’s federal funding has come from the DOD for more than a decade, positioning �鶹ӳ����ý as a national leader in delivering key innovations to the DOD.”

The Tour

Grady began his visit with a meeting alongside �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright, where they discussed �鶹ӳ����ý’s longstanding commitment to supporting the nation’s defense through cutting-edge research and workforce development.

While with CREOL, Admiral Grady received a briefing on directed energy research and its applications for DOD missions, particularly the capabilities of the Townes Institute for Science and Technology Experimentation Facility. The institute, located at Kennedy Space Center, supports multidisciplinary research with a focus on space science, optics and other advanced technologies.

At IST, �鶹ӳ����ý showcased the latest advancements in digital twin technology, such as real-time 3D digital twins of structures and areas, and artificial intelligence for DOD-decision making tools.

Grady’s visit to the HyperSpace Center focused on the integration of students into the research process and the timeline for the hypersonic technology, which would allow air travel at speeds of up to 13,000 miles per hour (Mach 17).

Commitment to National Defense and Military Success

�鶹ӳ����ý is a national leader in supporting military and defense initiatives through education, research and industry partnerships.

�鶹ӳ����ý’s Office of Military and Veteran Student Success supports more than 3,200 military-connected students, including veterans, active-duty and dependents, by providing academic advising, transition assistance and tailored guidance.

�鶹ӳ����ý RESTORES offers innovative, no-cost PTSD treatment for veterans and first responders, with clinical trials achieving a 100% success rate in just 14 days for participants completing VR-assisted exposure therapy. The program has treated more than 500 veterans and 950 first responders, with the majority no longer meeting PTSD criteria.

�鶹ӳ����ý also boasts top-ranked ROTC programs, with the Army ROTC Fighting Knights Battalion and Air Force Detachment 159 preparing leaders for military and civilian careers. �鶹ӳ����ý’s AFROTC program, which has been developing officers for the Air Force and Space Force for more than 50 years, has earned the DOD’s ROTC and Educational Institutional Partnership Excellence Award for multiple areas of excellence.

In research, �鶹ӳ����ý’s close ties to the defense industry are amplified through Central Florida Research Park, a $7 billion hub for modeling and simulation adjacent to �鶹ӳ����ý’s main campus, which is also home to six DOD headquarters. �鶹ӳ����ý also ranks No. 1 in Florida for VA certifications, is leading the nation in the number of cybersecurity championships, and is the top supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industries.

The robot rovers won’t be going into space — but they will face the next best challenge: to build a berm structure which would be useful to NASA’s Artemis program for navigating during lunar landings and launches, shading cryogenic propellant tank farms, providing radiation protection around a nuclear power plant and other mission-critical uses.

NASA created the Lunabotics Challenge in support of the Artemis program. �鶹ӳ����ý’s Florida Space Institute and its Exolith Lab will host the first round, sponsored by Caterpillar Inc., on May 11-14. The top 10 teams will advance to the demonstrations phase of the competition at the Kennedy Space Center May 15-17.

At �鶹ӳ����ý, students will be testing and showcasing their rovers in the same regolith bin that NASA, the European Space Agency and many companies use to evaluate and improve new equipment and technologies before launching them into space. Leaders in key industries that are important to Florida’s and the region’s workforce will serve as judges.

“Lunabotics gives students from throughout the United States an unrivaled opportunity to apply their knowledge of robotics and space to NASA’s design and construction processes,” says Winston Schoenfeld, �鶹ӳ����ý interim vice president for research. “The future of our space and many other high-tech industries depends on preparing a talented workforce that can innovate and work in highly collaborative team environments.”

Each team of college students has spent months designing and building a robot rover to NASA specifications that, during this challenge, will autonomously navigate a lunar-simulated arena and excavate regolith. They will compete two teams at a time per round, being given a set amount of time to collect regolith from the construction zone and dump it into a berm zone. Teams will be judged on a variety of factors, chiefly, the size of the berm they are able to build up in the regolith material with the rover.

The top 10 teams then travel to Kennedy Space Center for the culminating event, to demonstrate the operation of their functional tele-operated or autonomous robot to complete the lunar construction tasks. Students benefit from participating and having their work evaluated by NASA and private sector engineers, technicians and educators. NASA benefits by assessing student designs and data the same way it does for its own designs, encouraging innovation in student designs and identifying clever solutions to the many challenges inherent in future Artemis missions.

“NASA’s Artemis program is our plan to return humanity to the surface of the moon in a way that is sustainable over the long term.  And the task of robotically building berm structures will be important for preparation and support of crewed lunar missions.  These competing teams are not only building critical engineering skills that will assist their future careers, but they are literally helping NASA prepare for our future Artemis missions,” says NASA Software Developer & In-Situ Resource Specialization (ISRU) Researcher Kurt Leucht.

Founded to help fuel talent for the nearby space industry, �鶹ӳ����ý continues to build its reputation as SpaceU. NASA, with more than 50 years of research support from �鶹ӳ����ý, has advanced its Artemis program with the goal of establishing a sustainable human presence on the moon and preparing for missions to Mars. Prominent �鶹ӳ����ý space researchers are actively engaged in multiple collaborations with NASA — particularly within the Artemis program — and 29% of Kennedy Space Center employees are �鶹ӳ����ý alums.

“Students are taking on a challenge that also faces all of our top space agencies and companies — how can we design and build an autonomous vehicle that can reliably perform tasks on the surface of the moon?” says Julie Brisset, interim director of �鶹ӳ����ý’s Florida Space Institute. “The hands-on experience is invaluable for students and will help set them up for success on their campuses and in their future careers.”

Soil simulants used in the Lunabotics Challenge at �鶹ӳ����ý are created from crushed minerals. Once produced by �鶹ӳ����ý’s Exolith Lab, this regolith is now manufactured by a successful spinoff company, Space Resource Technologies. Other sponsors include Allen & Company, Lunar Outpost, Riegl USA and Venturi Astrolab.

As for the �鶹ӳ����ý Team, comprised of nine mechanical engineering and computer science students, learning how to work together as a team was as worthwhile an output as the lunar robot itself.

“Our ‘move fast and break things’ mindset has led to lots of creativity flowing to solve problems that came up with the design,” says Lee Marshall, who serves as team lead for �鶹ӳ����ý.

Their biggest challenge was creating a custom mechanical solution from scratch for the controls, according to Marshall. For the robot rover, materials came from 3D printers, an Xbox Connect being used as a camera and depth sensor, and other materials found in the Robotics Club lab.

“From observing the team, you can see their dedication, innate drive and determination to make it through the qualifying event,” says Crystal Maraj, faculty advisor for the �鶹ӳ����ý Robotics Club and an assistant professor with the Institute for Simulation and Training. “It takes a lot of time and effort, and I applaud these students for their success to iterate the design and utility of the robot for competition.”

Members of the public will be able to watch the competition rounds of the Lunabotics Challenge on the Florida Space Institute’s YouTube Channel. The Lunabotics .

The worldwide rankings, , place �鶹ӳ����ý in a tie with Yale University (57) and ahead of U.S. institutions such as Vanderbilt (56), Princeton (44) and Florida State University (38).

The NAI rankings may be further adjusted as patent corrections are submitted by universities.

This is the 11^th year that �鶹ӳ����ý has ranked in the top 100 universities in the world for patents.

“Innovation is at the heart of our mission at �鶹ӳ����ý, and these latest patent rankings reaffirm our commitment to pushing boundaries and making impactful advancements,” says Winston V. Schoenfeld, �鶹ӳ����ý’s interim vice president for research and innovation. “The range of inventions reflects the dedication and ingenuity of our researchers across the research enterprise, and their efforts continue to position �鶹ӳ����ý as a leader in innovation, both nationally and globally.”

The patents were secured by �鶹ӳ����ý’s , which brings discoveries to the marketplace and connects �鶹ӳ����ý researchers with companies and entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into successful products.

Svetlana Shtrom��’08MBA, director of �鶹ӳ����ý’s Technology Transfer Office, says university patents are a valuable asset for universities, industry and society.

“Patents facilitate transfer of technology from universities and foster collaboration between academia and the private sector,” Shtrom says. “Through collaboration with industry, university technologies provide solutions to pressing problems and create new products and services that benefit the public.”

She says the patents also reflect the commitment of the university’s researchers to innovation, and they serve as a beacon to attract more students and faculty who are interested in cutting-edge research and entrepreneurship.

Here are a few of the �鶹ӳ����ý inventions that led to patents in 2023:

Passive Insect Surveillance Sensor Device
Lead researcher: Bradley Willenberg, assistant professor, �鶹ӳ����ý

�鶹ӳ����ý researchers have developed a low-cost, easy-to-use device for detection of mosquitos and other insects that also indicates whether an insect carries a specific infectious disease. Through simple color-based tests (colorimetric assays) and biomolecular tools for detection (DNA aptamers conjugated to nanoparticles), a user can monitor viral presence in insect saliva samples. By doing so, various mosquito-borne emerging pathogens, including Zika, Dengue, and Chikunguya, can be detected.  The easily deployable technology can potentially help in the global fight and prevention against these deadly diseases. The .

Antiplasmodial Compounds
Lead researcher: Debopam Chakrabarti, professor and head,

This technology is a method of treatment for malaria by administration of specific fungus-derived compounds. Annually, malaria affects more than 200 million people and kills more than 600,000. Caused by Plasmodium parasites carried in mosquitos, an effective treatment is desperately needed. �鶹ӳ����ý researchers used a  library of fungi found in habitats and ecological niches across the U.S. to find potential antimalarial compounds. The unique chemicals they identified provide starting points for developing lead compounds of new drugs against malaria. The research team is .

Coating for Capturing and Killing Viruses on Surfaces
Lead researcher: Suditpa Seal, Pegasus Professor and chair,

This technology is a nano-coating designed to capture, hold and kill viruses on a surface, such as on personal protective equipment and clothing, using natural light sources to protect against infections.

The COVID-killing coating is made with a nanomaterial that activates under white light, such as sunlight or LED light. As long as the nanomaterial is exposed to a continuous light source, it can regenerate its antiviral properties, creating a self-cleaning effect.

The efficacy of the disinfectant was shown through a study that was published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces this past year. The study found that the coating can not only destroy the COVID-19 virus, but it can also combat the spread of Zika virus, SARS, parainfluenza, rhinovirus and vesicular stomatitis.

Production of Nanoporous Films
Lead researcher: Yang Yang, associate professor,

�鶹ӳ����ý researchers have created , such as for fuel cells, hydrogen production, photocatalysts, sensing and energy storage, and electrodes in supercapacitors. The method improves performance and versatility and does not require use of costly precious metals, such as gold. Instead, the �鶹ӳ����ý technology uses low-cost, earth-abundant resources such as iron, cobalt and nickel. The nanoporous thin films are designed to help meet today’s challenges in renewable energy production and conversion applications.

Method of Forming High-Throughput 3d Printed Microelectrode Array
Lead researcher: Swaminathan Rajaraman, associate professor, NanoScience Technology Center

This invention is a . The device has small channels and chambers that guide liquids, like samples or chemicals, to a central area where there are special electrodes. These electrodes can send and record electrical signals from tiny groups of cells called spheroids. Scientists can use this to see how cells react to different conditions and substances. The innovation offers an easy way to study biological cells, tissues and electrophysiological responses. The technology can help lead to advancements in disease modeling, toxicity assessments and drug discovery.

Adaptive Visual Overlay for Anatomical Simulation
Lead researcher: Greg Welch, Pegasus Professor, AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation,

This anatomical simulation allows users to wear a head-mounted display that presents an anatomical scenario onto a patient to allow for medical training, surgical training or other instruction. Users who experience the simulation will see a real body part or other anatomical items projected through an augmented reality system. The innovative, and provides constant, dynamic feedback to medical trainees as they treat wounds. Almost like a video game in real-life, the Tactile-Visual Wound Simulation Unit portrays the look, feel, and even the smell of different types of human wounds (such as a puncture, stab, slice or tear). It also tracks and analyzes a trainee’s treatment responses and provides corrective instructions.

System for Extracting Water from Lunar Regolith and Associated Method
Lead researcher: Phil Metzger ’00MS’05PhD, associate scientist,

This invention is and help to establish the industry. The process consists of robot mining of the regolith (loose, heterogeneous superficial deposits covering solid rock), transferring the mined material to a conveyer, and passing the soil through grinding and crushing stages. Included are mechanisms to sort the material into ice, metals, and other minerals, and final transport and cleanup. This technology allows mining water on the moon, which supports NASA missions, enables further commercial operations in space, and supports Space Force activities.

Inorganic Paint Pigment with Plasmonic Aluminum Reflector Layers and Related Methods
Lead researcher: Debashis Chanda, professor, NanoScience Technology Center

This invention, a plasmonic paint, draws inspiration from butterflies to create the first environmentally friendly, large-scale and multicolor alternative to pigment-based colorants, which can contribute to energy-saving efforts and help reduce impacts on climate.

The plasmonic paint uses nanoscale structural arrangement of colorless materials — aluminum and aluminum oxide — instead of pigments to create colors.

While pigment colorants control light absorption based on the electronic property of the pigment material, hence every color needs a new molecule, structural colorants control the way light is reflected, scattered or absorbed based on the geometrical arrangement of nanostructures.

Such structural colors are environmentally friendly as they only use metals and oxides, unlike pigment-based colors that use artificially synthesized molecules.

The researchers have combined their structural color flakes with a commercial binder to form long-lasting paints of all colors. And because plasmonic paint reflects the entire infrared spectrum, less heat is absorbed by the paint, resulting in the underneath surface staying 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than it would if it were covered with standard commercial paint.

Plasmonic paint is also lightweight, a result of the paint’s large area-to-thickness ratio, with full coloration achieved at a paint thickness of only 150 nanometers, making it the lightest paint in the world.

System and Method for Radio Frequency Power Sensing and Scavenging Based on Phonon-electron Coupling in Acoustic Waveguides
Lead researcher: Hakhamanesh Mansoorzare ’21, postdoctoral researcher,

To meet the growing energy needs of the internet of things (IoT) and wireless communication systems, this new technology is .

The invention harvests ambient energy, specifically radio frequency electromagnetic waves, the most abundant form of communication among IoT nodes and hubs.

The technology can reduce the electronic industry’s reliance on batteries and broaden the expansion of the IoT and its energy needs.

To further tap into the hidden gems of research produced by faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, �鶹ӳ����ý is initiating a new program backed by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) with mentoring from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The $6 million, NSF-funded interdisciplinary project, led by Ivan Garibay, an associate professor in the will create a �鶹ӳ����ý Venture Lab that supports budding entrepreneurs through the commercialization process and establishes a newly organized research umbrella at the university.

The funding for the �鶹ӳ����ý Venture Lab is provided through NSF’s Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program, housed in the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. �鶹ӳ����ý is one of 18 U.S. universities to receive funding through this newly established program.

“NSF endeavors to empower academic institutions to build the pathways and structures needed to speed and scale their research into products and services that benefit the nation,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan in a release. “The Accelerating Research Translation program in NSF’s new Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate identifies, and champions institutions positioned to expand their research translation capacity by investing in activities essential to move results to practice.”

The �鶹ӳ����ý Venture Lab will train and enable faculty, graduate students and postdocs to identify and launch viable businesses based on their novel research. It will provide guidelines on business development, match �鶹ӳ����ý researchers with relevant industry partners and, for a select few, provide funding through the NSF ART grant. The entity will be modeled after the business startup program at Georgia Tech, which will provide mentorship during the development phase.

“�鶹ӳ����ý’s world-class faculty are preparing students to work and lead in the industries of tomorrow, and we are grateful to the NSF for their support in enabling us to speed up research, discovery, and entrepreneurship,” says �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright. “Working with Georgia Institute of Technology, which will serve as a mentoring institution, we look forward to expanding pathways for ideas, products, and programs that make positive impacts on society and keep pace with the speed of innovation.”

Garibay says after comparing notes with Georgia Tech, the project team realized they would benefit from a Venture Lab dedicated to the commercialization of �鶹ӳ����ý research.

“We plan to create that infrastructure here at �鶹ӳ����ý and hope to accelerate the growth of these businesses,” Garibay says.

Community and Societal Impact

Georgia Tech will serve as a mentoring partner for �鶹ӳ����ý’s Venture Lab development. Keith McGregor, the founder of the Georgia Tech VentureLab, will serve as one of the mentors to the �鶹ӳ����ý team, which includes co-principal investigators Carolina Cruz-Neira, a professor in the ; Cameron Ford, an associate professor in the , Svetlana Shtrom, the director of the ; and Winston Schoenfeld, interim vice president for research and innovation. The University of Florida will also collaborate on the project, providing input that will help �鶹ӳ����ý adapt Georgia Tech’s model to the Florida ecosystem.

Locally, the program is expected to have a positive impact on the Orlando area.

“Central Florida is mostly a service-based economy,” Garibay says. “Our median salary is below the nationwide average. The �鶹ӳ����ý Venture Lab will foster creation of technology companies, which will generate high-paying jobs and will attract a lot of growth to this area.”

The program will also provide pathways for local industry to partner with �鶹ӳ����ý researchers. Organizations such as DeepWork Capital, the Entrepreneurs Alliance of Orlando and the National Security Innovation Network have already agreed to mentor the �鶹ӳ����ý entrepreneurs and to participate in the ART project advisory board.

ART Seed Translational Research Projects

Multiple seed translational research projects will be selected for funding through the ART program. The first project, led by Professor Guifang Li of the College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL), will establish a prototype receiver capable of high-speed space-to-ground laser communication that resists atmospheric turbulence. Once the prototype is developed, Li and his team plan to test the project at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. Potential clients for the receiver include Blue Origin, OneWeb Technologies and SpaceX.

The second project is led by Center for Research in Computer Vision Assistant Professor Yogesh Rawat. He plans to develop a prototype software that can detect human activities shown in live video streams while ensuring that private information isn’t exposed. The software would be used in surveillance systems to identify emergency situations or potential threats to public safety so that law enforcement or first responders could act quickly to prevent harm.

Other seed translational research projects will be selected through a university competition that will commence next August. �鶹ӳ����ý researchers from all disciplines will be encouraged to apply.

Education Through Action

�鶹ӳ����ý graduates like Wolfe, Drake and countless others were able to launch their businesses with the aid of the skills they developed at �鶹ӳ����ý as well as the encouragement they received from �鶹ӳ����ý researchers and business development programs. To keep the pipeline of Knight-trepreneurs flowing, the NSF ART grant will enhance �鶹ӳ����ý’s educational offerings in entrepreneurship.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Business Administration courses already offered in this topic would expand to allow graduate students and postdocs to take the courses, allowing for a greater diversity of knowledge, skill and perspective in the classroom.

The goal is to instill an entrepreneurial skillset in the next generation so they can better qualify for jobs in changing industries or launch and grow their own business ventures, says Ford, who is also the executive director of the Blackstone LaunchPad and the director for the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

“The careers that our students are going into are dynamic,” Ford says. “We’re seeing a lot of changes and disruptions to the industries they work in, so our students need to be adaptable and resilient. They can add value to the companies they work for if they can learn to solve novel problems and execute initiatives. It’s not enough to innovate solutions – the goal is to deliver innovations to those who need them, improving social and economic wellbeing in the process.”

Garibay says that, for engineering students in particular, learning about entrepreneurship can change their whole mindset.

“I think it’s life-changing,” Garibay says. “Entrepreneurship is something we’ve done for a long time and the feedback that I get back from students is that it’s transformative.”

�鶹ӳ����ý Innovate

The NSF ART program doesn’t just allow �鶹ӳ����ý to create a business hub and enhance graduate education – it also establishes a new research umbrella for the university called �鶹ӳ����ý Innovate. This enhanced infrastructure will bring together the Office of Technology Transfer, the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Business Incubation Program along with the developing Venture Lab. �鶹ӳ����ý Innovate will be overseen by Schoenfeld, who leads the Office of Research.

“�鶹ӳ����ý has been consistently ranked as a leading technology-generating institution with a strong entrepreneurial spirit among faculty and students,” Schoenfeld says. “The NSF ART program leverages this to drive new levels of technology translation that ensures strong societal benefit from the innovation across �鶹ӳ����ý.”

Shtrom says that through the ART program, the Office of Technology Transfer will strengthen and enhance the university’s commercialization infrastructure to transform promising research results into products that solve pressing problems and improve people’s lives.

“The NSF funding will allow us to dedicate resources toward cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset and culture at �鶹ӳ����ý, increasing the number of startup companies launched to commercialize university technologies, and growing funding and licensing revenue to support and expand the research enterprise,” Shtrom says. “�鶹ӳ����ý is committed to nurturing and sustaining this virtuous cycle of research and innovation to maximize impact for �鶹ӳ����ý, Central Florida, and the nation.”

Effective today, he will oversee the areas previously led by Professor John Weishampel, who this month started a two-year-appointment at the National Science Foundation in Washington D.C.

Schoenfeld is familiar with many aspects of administration and graduate studies. He has served as Director of the Solar Technologies Research Division at the Florida Solar Energy Center and is leading �鶹ӳ����ý’s university-wide Energy Initiative. He has also served on multiple University-level committees, including chairing the �鶹ӳ����ý Graduate Appeals Committee for many years, during which time he has become familiar with graduate studies operations.

Schoenfeld will continue to work on the �鶹ӳ����ý Energy Initiative in addition to taking on many of the areas that Professor Weishampel managed including the development of new academic degrees and the postdoctoral program. He will work with the rest of the graduate studies administrative team and program directors to enhance the graduate student experience at �鶹ӳ����ý.

Schoenfeld earned his doctorate degree in materials science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a master’s and bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Florida. Before joining �鶹ӳ����ý in 2004, Schoenfeld worked in industry in the area of high brightness light emitting diodes (LEDs). He is a Fellow of the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) and recognized for his strong contributions in the fields of compound semiconductors and solar energy technologies.

The �鶹ӳ����ý is a leader in this exciting field that studies light and all the things it can do from creating sensors that detect cancer without biopsies to creating ultrafast computer connections that could change how we communicate with each other.

Since �鶹ӳ����ý opened , its College of Optics & Photonics, in 1987 it has been making a name for itself in this pioneering area. That’s why last fall the university formed a consortium to compete for a focused on integrated photonics (or light-based) manufacturing, which if awarded could push its work forward even faster.

�鶹ӳ����ý’s team, which includes 68 industry and 24 academic partners including Georgia Tech, Clemson University, North Carolina – Charlotte and the universities of Alabama-Huntsville and Illinois, is one of three chosen by the Department of Defense as finalists for the award.

“Integrated photonics will help us move to the next generation of innovation,” said Winston Schoenfeld, leader of PRISM – the Photonics Research Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing coalition. PRISM has reach across the nation and is poised to position Central Florida as the leader in this new technology revolution.

PRISM is anchored by the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Center, a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing research facility already under construction in Osceola County.  The center is focused on the next generation of universal smart sensors. The project has the support of various partners including Osceola, �鶹ӳ����ý and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council backed by $170 million. The commitment is indicative of strong regional investment in innovative infrastructure.

More than 40 U.S. House representatives and senators from across the South support PRISM’s bid for the federal funds.

“�鶹ӳ����ý’s proposal for a photonics research institute for sustainable manufacturing known as PRISM would allow the Department of Defense to utilize the expertise within the university’s renowned College of Optics & Photonics,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.  “The research �鶹ӳ����ý is proposing would not only enhance the nation’s security and global competitiveness, it would be of great value to the Department of Defense and our nation as a whole.”

The possibilities are enormous. Optics and photonics is the science and technology of light: lasers, LEDs, LCDs, optical fibers, sensors and imaging systems for applications in industry, defense and medicine.

To see a video about �鶹ӳ����ý and its expertise in this field, .

Even as �鶹ӳ����ý waits to see if it lands the federal money, its researchers in CREOL and in partnership with others across the university are making headlines for their cutting-edge work. Among the most recent breakthroughs: