David Larbalestier’s career has been all about the right stuff — finding the best materials for superconductors as a scientist at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, teaching students as a FAMU-FSU College of Engineering professor and developing himself as a scientist at Imperial College London, where he earned undergraduate and doctoral degrees in metallurgy.

Although the U.S. is a global leader in aerospace and aviation talent, there is a lag in the number of students, especially underresourced minorities (URM), attracted to the field. A new program at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering seeks to change that.

Wei Guo, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and a researcher at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, has been elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS).

Guo received the honor for the development and advancement of flow visualization techniques using both molecular tracers and solidified particle tracers in liquid helium and their application to the study of quantum fluid dynamics in superfluid helium-4.

Ryan Alicea, a mechanical engineering alumnus from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, recently received a € 1.1 million grant for his startup company Powered Orthotics.

The firm developed a revolutionary robotic glove that brings life back to paralyzed hands. The grant is from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the European Social Funds. 

Unnikrishnan Sasidharan Nair, an assistant professor in mechanical engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, received the 2024 Young Investigator Program (YIP)Award from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in the Department of Defense for his work in aerodynamics. He is one of 24 recipients and will receive funding to conduct innovative scientific research for the Department of Navy.