Ezekiel Salama poses with a 35-lb weight in the throwing cage at the FAMU field in Tallahassee, Florida on May 18, 2026. Salama, an Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering doctoral student at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, is again working a summer internship at Sandia National Laboratories. (Scott Holstein/FAMU-FSU College of Engineering)
Meet Ezekiel Salama, a Florida A&M University doctoral student in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
When he’s not conducting research in Professor Tarik Dickens’ laboratory at the High-Performance Materials Institute, you’ll find him competing as an elite hammer and weight thrower for FAMU’s track and field team.
Where Physics Meets Athletics
The hammer and weight throw are as much about physics as they are about raw strength. Every throw demands rotational speed, kinetic energy and precise balance—the same analytical thinking Salama applies in the lab.
His dedication on the track has paid off. He is a three-time SWAC champion and three-time silver medalist, setting school records and redefining what it looks like to be a scholar-athlete at the college.
We sat down with Salama to hear how he manages world-class research, championship training and the drive to keep pushing—in both settings.
When did you first get interested in throwing?
“I first started track and field in middle school with hurdles, then transitioned to the triple jump. In high school, I began throwing the shot put and discus. It wasn’t until college that I began throwing the hammer and the weight throw. The learning curve was difficult, but through blood, sweat and tears, I was able to refine my technique.”
What’s the science behind the throw?
“The hammer (16 lbs.) and the weight throw (35 lbs.) are both throwing implements. The weight throw is only thrown in the indoor season and the hammer throw is thrown in the outdoor season. For each throw, I have to create an orbit and keep the implement extended from my body while maintaining correct posture and explosiveness into the ground.”
How does it feel when you know it’s going to be a good throw?
“When you hit your technical position, you automatically know it’s going to be a good throw. Some throwers hold that feeling in, but the rest of us, me included, cannot help but yell at the top of our lungs. It is said that yelling after finishing the throw adds a few meters (I can attest to this). I was taught to chase the feeling of a good throw rather than the distance. If you can continuously repeat that feeling, then you are golden!”
If you were a superhero, who would you be?
“If I were a superhero, I would have to choose a mix of the Hulk’s strength and dominance and the Black Panther’s elusiveness and calculated movements. In my throwing, I must not only be strong but also be able to move across the circle in precise movements, hitting all my cues.”
Why FAMU and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
What drew you here?
“I chose FAMU and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering for the endless opportunities available for the students. Both universities are strong in research and academic excellence and having two colleges in one is truly one-of-a-kind. Also graduating from Alabama A&M University, which is also an HBCU, made me feel like I was at home! From my perspective, I get the best of both worlds!”
Research and Internship Work
Tell us about your internship with Sandia
“Over the past few summers, I have been working at the Solar Tower at Sandia, where I used weather data and predictive models to identify good/bad test days. The sun is crucial for solar testing, so identifying the times of year and providing those dates of availability to researchers and organizations is critical to site operations. Now, after my first year of my PhD, I have transitioned to more material applications. I will be working on using metal additive manufacturing to reduce defects in additively manufactured components.”
What is your research about?
“Simply speaking, it is 3D printing just with metal. Metal additive manufacturing is beneficial for producing metal structures with complex geometries. It enables design flexibility, reduces manufacturing time and cost and overall material waste compared to alternative manufacturing methods. We can build complex metal components at lower cost and with less material loss (boat propellers, engine brackets, heat exchangers, etc.).”
Gratitude, Advice and What’s Next
What are you most grateful for?
“I would first like to thank God, who is the head of my life. If it were not for my faith in Christ, I would not have been here today. Day in and day out, there were times that I felt like throwing in the towel, but not by my own strength was I able to get through it. To think that I have been excelling in my academics (4.0 GPA) and research (working on state-of-the-art research) and athletics (setting school records and winning championships) is surreal. I am beyond grateful and blessed.
I would also like to thank my family, coaches (especially my throwing coaches, Coach Johnie and Coach Thomas), advisor and teammates/lab mates, who have pushed me to be not just a better athlete but a man each day.”
What advice do you have for students?
“Don’t lose faith and that you are put in the position you are in for a reason, make the best out of it and positively impact those around you. Continue to grind and show up day by day! You got this! Proverbs 3:5-6.”
What’s next after graduation?
“[I’ll be] working in research and development (R&D) and utilizing my research, innovation and leadership skills. I value being on the front lines of innovation and breaking through research. I envision myself working for a national laboratory or an organization that is leading the way in formulating new ideas and creating state-of-the-art technologies.”
Editor’s Note: This article was edited with a custom prompt for Claude Sonnet 4.6, an AI assistant created by Anthropic. The AI improved clarity, structure, SEO/GEO optimization 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: 06/05/2026.