University of South Florida Research

10/16/2026

A $2 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is launching the first-ever Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Makerspace at a Florida university—right here in the USF Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. 👏

This state-of-the-art facility will empower students and faculty to build, test and refine emerging technologies, advancing research and education in secure and trustworthy AI. With cutting-edge equipment for advanced computing, hardware experimentation and secure data research, the makerspace will support hands-on learning in networking, embedded systems, microcontroller design, reverse engineering and vulnerability analysis.

Thanks to U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee’s advocacy, this project was selected as a federal funding priority, ensuring its success. More than 800 USF students each year will benefit, and faculty are already planning innovative courses like Pe*******on Testing, Hands-on Cybersecurity, Edge-AI, Malware Analysis, and Capture the Flag.

Discover more:

University of South Florida

10/16/2026

Congratulations to University of South Florida Team NeuTrode on winning the People's Choice Award at the National Inventors Hall of Fame College Inventors Competition! 👏 Read more about their invention: https://ow.ly/f0mh50ZYpvV

10/14/2026

Imagine if national security leaders could preview their next move before making it. 🤫At University of South Florida's brand-new Security Analysis and Innovation Lab (SAIL), that’s now possible. By blending expertise in human behavior, artificial intelligence and predictive modeling, SAIL empowers national security partners to anticipate outcomes and make smarter decisions.

USF just celebrated the grand opening of SAIL and its INSIGHT Core facility with a ribbon cutting attended by USF President Moez Limayem, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, USF College of Arts and Sciences Dean Elizabeth Spiller and other champions of innovation.

Supported by a $1.63 million federal appropriation, SAIL is a game-changer for USF’s national security research. The INSIGHT Core team, led by experts recruited from U.S. Central Command, brings advanced modeling and analytics to real-world challenges, connecting USF’s strengths in behavioral science, AI, engineering and more.

SAIL is also a showcase for USF’s HIBAR approach, uniting researchers and partners from the start with the goal of creating a university-wide Human Dynamics and National Security Network that links expertise across disciplines and industries.

Discover how USF and SAIL are shaping the future of national security. Read more: https://ow.ly/A4UE50ZXAsW

10/12/2026

Countdown to history! 🚀 Tomorrow at 6:15 a.m., a microgravity research experiment created by a team of University of South Florida undergrads will launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center to the International Space Station. This marks USF’s first-ever selection for the prestigious Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP)—chosen from over 420 proposals nationwide! Join us in cheering on our Bulls as their innovation heads to space. Don’t miss the live launch:

Coverage of the Launch of NASA’s SpaceX 35th Cargo Resupply Mission to the International Space Station

10/10/2026

When Kate Heath noticed her 12-year-old pug, Ivy, quietly staring at a wall, she sensed something was deeply wrong. As Ivy’s world faded—her vision dimming, hearing slipping away and nights spent wandering lost—Kate became her constant guardian, watching over her beloved companion through the challenges of canine dementia.

For countless dog owners, this heartbreaking journey is all too familiar. But now, USF Health researchers are working to change the story.

Aurelie Joly, research associate at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, is pioneering a gene therapy to treat canine cognitive decline—a condition strikingly similar to Alzheimer’s in humans. While current treatments only manage symptoms, Joly’s approach targets the root cause, using a harmless virus to deliver genetic instructions that help brain cells protect themselves from age-related damage.

Supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Florida High Tech Corridor’s Early-Stage Innovation Fund, Joly and her team at Blue Zone Therapeutics are moving this promising therapy closer to real-world veterinary use. Their work could offer hope to pet owners like Kate, who faced the devastating reality of losing Ivy in 2024.

Discover how this research could change the future for dogs and people alike: https://ow.ly/YYeT50ZWmsS

10/09/2026

Meet Meadow EmmaLou Boes, who is a true “superhero heart warrior”! 💪❤️

Born with a severe congenital heart defect, Meadow underwent her first open-heart surgery at just six days old. Now 4, she’s already braved three major heart surgeries, inspiring everyone around her with her courage and resilience.

Her journey is the driving force behind groundbreaking research at the University of South Florida. Dr. Neda Latifi, assistant professor in the Department of Medical Engineering, leads a team developing tissue-engineered heart valves that could change the future for children like Meadow. By combining advanced biomaterials with a patient’s own cells, Latifi’s lab aims to create living heart valves that grow with the child, thus reducing the need for repeated surgeries and giving kids more time to simply be kids.

Read Meadow’s full story and learn more about this life-changing research: https://ow.ly/e8yp50ZWlvz

University of South Florida

10/09/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Elizabeth Nelson, director of the Florida High Tech Corridor at the University of South Florida, on being named to Tampa Bay Business Observer's "40 Under 40" class of 2026! https://ow.ly/oyoj50ZWhpU

10/08/2026

Exciting news for Florida’s young innovators! 🎉 Invention Convention Florida at the University of South Florida has received a transformational award from Invention Convention Worldwide, powered by The Henry Ford and supported by RTX. This award will open new doors for K-12 students and educators across Florida, expanding access to invention education and inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers.

As Florida’s official state affiliate of Invention Convention Worldwide, ICF at USF connects students with invention education, competitions, and a pathway to the RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals at The Henry Ford Museum. With this award, ICF at USF will reach even more classrooms, equip educators and connect students with inventors and industry leaders.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/etXQ50ZVQge

10/07/2026

This Friday! Early Career Awards Virtual Workshop. Register Here: https://ow.ly/Wmfa50ZVABr

10/07/2026

How do you heal a wound in space? 💫 Spacesuits keep astronauts safe, but their bulky design can make injuries more likely and treating wounds in microgravity is a major challenge. That’s why a team of innovative University of South Florida undergraduates has developed a cutting-edge wound-healing hydrogel, soon to be tested aboard the International Space Station!

On Oct. 13, their experiment is scheduled to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on the SpaceX CRS-35 mission as part of the prestigious Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP). USF’s proposal was selected from over 420 submissions, marking the first time our university will send a student-designed project to space!

Led by mechanical engineering major Krystal Walford, with teammates Jade Fei, Hannah Kirschenmann and Jaiden Brick, the group created a chitosan-based hydrogel that could revolutionize wound care for astronauts. Their research could also have big impacts here on Earth, from healthcare to agriculture.

The project is supported by Rhodium Scientific - Space Biotech and guided by USF faculty and mentors. As a bonus, a winning Mission Patch designed by Hillsborough County student Eeshan Kallu will fly alongside the experiment!

We’re so proud of our students for pushing the boundaries of science and innovation. 🚀 Learn more about this out-of-this-world research: https://ow.ly/2Jmc50ZVoFU