Florida Institute of Technology

10/16/2026

Congratulations to Adrienne Lafond ’26 M.S., a behavior analysis Ph.D. student, on being named NACE Scholar of the Year for her research on using "Precision Teaching" to improve tactical decision-making in collegiate esports. Go, Panthers! 🐾

Adrienne Lafond ’26 M.S. was named Scholar of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE).

10/15/2026

Meet Sambandamurthy Ganapathy, Ph.D. The new Dean of the College of Engineering and Science brings a vision for an enduring and sustainable evolution of the college. Get to know him, below.

New Dean Sambandamurthy Ganapathy brings vision for ‘enduring and sustainable’ evolution of the College of Engineering and Science.

10/15/2026

Homecoming is just one week away! 🤩

Before you arrive, be sure to check out our Know Before You Go Guide, packed with helpful information to make the most of your week.

You'll find details on navigating campus, picking up Florida Tech gear at the Bookstore, registering for events, and even discovering Melbourne-area businesses owned and operated by Florida Tech alumni.

Driving to campus? Don't forget to register your vehicle for guest parking each day you plan to be on campus!

Make your plans, wear your , and get ready to reconnect with classmates, families, and the Florida Tech community. We can't wait to see you back on campus!

Explore the Homecoming website: https://event.fit.edu/homecoming/

10/14/2026

Howard Chen, assistant professor of space sciences, received a nearly $500,000 grant from NASA to study exoplanet interactions and climates, research that could help advance the search for life beyond our solar system. The grant will also provide students working alongside Chen valuable hands-on experience.

“I am super grateful to be studying science and astronomy in this era in human history,” Chen said.

A nearly $500,000 grant from NASA to assistant professor of space sciences Howard Chen will fund research that could speed up humanity’s search for life by reducing false positives for habitability among exoplanets. The grant, “Unveiling novel spin-orbit-climate dynamics on rocky exoplanets in c...

10/13/2026

Florida Tech student research is headed to the International Space Station!

This morning, students—along with university faculty and leadership—gathered at Kennedy Space Center to watch their research launch into space aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft.

Two teams of Florida Tech students had their experiments selected as winning projects in the university’s Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, a collaboration with Rhodium Scientific.

Each team is investigating a different research question aboard the ISS:

One team is exploring how microgravity affects hydrogels and their ability to shield against radiation. The findings could lead to better radiation protection for astronauts in space and patients undergoing cancer treatment here on Earth.

The second team is investigating tauopathy-related diseases by comparing neurodegeneration in microgravity and on Earth. Their findings could advance our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Congratulations to both teams of student researchers on this incredible achievement!

10/12/2026

Take a look inside Crimson Crossing, Florida Tech’s newest residence hall!

Featuring apartment-style living, modern amenities, and spaces for studying and gathering with friends, Crimson Crossing offers students a place to live, learn and connect. It’s a true reflection of Florida Tech’s continued investment in enhancing the student experience.

Crimson Crossing, the university's newest residence hall, reflects the university’s continued investment in student life.

10/09/2026

A Florida Tech student-designed experiment that may one day help humans travel safely to Mars is set to go to the International Space Station.

The experiment is scheduled to launch Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6:33 a.m. aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo capsule as part of NASA’s CRS-35 resupply mission.

Florida Today recently published an exclusive feature—than ran in multiple Sunshine State newspapers—highlighting the research our students are leading and the invaluable experience they gained in doing so. Learn more about their work ahead of next week’s launch!

After nearly two years of research and lab work, an experiment created by Florida Tech students will head up to the ISS on NASA's SpaceX CRS-35 launch.

10/09/2026

Please join us in congratulating Rian Mehta, Ph.D., on his appointment as Dean of Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics.

Dr. Mehta has played an important role in the college’s growth, serving in leadership roles including associate dean and interim dean. His experience in academia and the aviation industry has helped strengthen academic programs, build industry partnerships and create opportunities for students. A triple Florida Tech alumnus, Dr. Mehta earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Florida Tech.

We look forward to the continued growth of the College of Aeronautics under his leadership when he officially takes on the role in January 2027.

Congratulations, Dr. Mehta!

10/08/2026

Assistant professors Soheil Saedi and Xiang He in the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering each received CAREER Awards from the National Science Foundation—a prestigious, competitive grant that recognizes early-career professors who showcase the potential of making significant academic contributions in their fields.

These five-year grants will fund research projects and support the education of the graduate and undergraduate students that work with Saedi and He.

In the course of just over a month this summer, two Florida Tech faculty members in the same department received CAREER Awards from the National Science Foundation. These prestigious, competitive grants recognize early-career professors who show potential to make significant academic contributions i...

10/07/2026

Panther Dining Hall took us on a tasty journey to the Caribbean! 🏝️

The campus came together for the first Global Kitchen Series of the academic year, enjoying authentic dishes inspired by islands across the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and more.

Thank you to our incredible Campus Dining team for bringing these flavors to campus. We can’t wait to see where the Global Kitchen Series takes us next!