Aidan Hoolihan, a materials science graduate student at the joint college and Florida State University, won the 2025 ORNL Summer REU poster competition at Oak Ridge National Lab. (Courtesy Hoolihan)
Aidan “AJ” Hoolihan, a mechanical engineering graduate student at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, earned the 2025 Summer Student Best Poster Award at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for his superconductivity research.
Hoolihan is pursuing his master’s degree with a focus on superconducting materials—substances that conduct electricity without resistance at extremely low temperatures. His award-winning research at ORNL examined Nb3Sn (niobium-tin) superconducting wire, competing against hundreds of student interns across multiple scientific disciplines.
Research Excellence at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
“Without a doubt, the best part of my ORNL experience was seeing the scale of it all,” Hoolihan said. “Everything was massive. It was this epicenter of research from all subjects in science and the site’s rich history, especially related to the Manhattan Project, really fascinated me.”
The competition included student researchers from diverse fields across the laboratory’s extensive facilities.
“Competing with hundreds of interns across the site in all of these different fields really made me so proud of my achievement,” he continued. “I remember thinking that if I had something in my mind, there were probably hundreds of other people thinking the same. It made the competition feel out of reach.”
Hoolihan described the final presentation days as energizing. “The last two days there were a ridiculous amount of people my age scurrying around showing off what they did. There was a great sense of completion in the air, kind of like graduation day. Everybody was nervous and happy all at the same time.”
Clear Communication: The Key to Award-Winning Research Presentation
Hoolihan’s poster examined superconducting wire fabricated with Nb3Sn that conducts electricity without resistance when cooled to cryogenic temperatures. The research aims to improve understanding and manufacturing processes for superconducting wires used in advanced technology applications.
His presentation strategy emphasized accessibility over complexity.
“I aimed to provide enough information and background so that anyone could follow along,” he remarked. “To be honest I think that correlated to my success in the competition. A lot of posters I saw at ORNL made the mistake of assuming the reader understood even one or two bits of crucial information before jumping into their complex work.”
Understanding Superconductivity Research at FAMU-FSU
“I study superconductivity, where materials can carry electricity without resistance at very low temperatures,” Hoolihan said. “I research at the Applied Superconductivity Center at the college, under Professor David Larbalestier. We work on many types of superconducting materials, with mine being Nb3Sn (3 parts Niobium, 1 part Tin). Nb3Sn notably powers the magnets inside of MRI machines but also has application in things like nuclear fusion reactors and particle accelerators.”
The Applied Superconductivity Center at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is a leading research facility for superconducting materials development. Hoolihan works under the mentorship of Professor David Larbalestier, a prominent figure in applied superconductivity research.
“My job is to research ways to make these materials even better,” he continued. “The work relies a lot on microscopic investigation and small-scale improvement can lead to large-scale results. I got interested in this field through a Materials Science class and Professor Larbalestier, who later became my mentor.”
Life Beyond the Laboratory
Outside his research, Hoolihan maintains diverse interests. He has watched 244 films this year and enjoys detective novels by Dashiell Hammett and J.D. Salinger. He also creates handmade jewelry.
“I’ve been selling handmade spoon rings since high school and wear eight every day,” he says with a smile. “The only one I didn’t make is the one from the Order of the Engineer.”
The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Advantage
“I appreciate how the College of Engineering is tucked away from FAMU and FSU alike,” Hoolihan said. “I take pride in being part of something that unites two major colleges under a shared commitment of engineering and education. The college’s location at Innovation Park offers abundant opportunities for students, and I enjoy the convenience of driving to campus and working just a short walk away at the ASC.”
Career Plans: From Academia to Industry
“While I enjoy research, I’m ready for a change and want to explore industry opportunities first, keeping the idea of a Ph.D. on the horizon,” Hoolihan shared. “I look forward to applying my knowledge of superconductivity and microscopy at the upcoming career fair.”
Hoolihan’s achievement demonstrates the research excellence cultivated at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. His work in superconducting materials contributes to advancing technologies in medical imaging, fusion energy, and particle physics.
Editor’s Note: This article was edited with a custom prompt for Claude Sonnet 4.5, an AI assistant created by Anthropic. The AI optimized the article for SEO discoverability, improved clarity, structure and readability while preserving the original reporting and factual content. All information and viewpoints remain those of the author and publication. This article was edited and fact-checked by college staff before being published. This disclosure is part of our commitment to transparency in our editorial process. Last edited: 10/01/2025.
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