The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, or NASEM, is recognizing a FAMU-FSU College of Engineering faculty member for her research that supports safe and clean water for communities in Florida and beyond.

Associate Professor Nasrin Alamdari is part of the 2026-2028 cohort for NASEM’s Gulf Research Program Early-Career Research Fellowship, which supports emerging scientific leaders whose work strengthens the well-being of coastal communities and ecosystems. She is the fourth faculty member in Florida State University history to receive this national fellowship.

“It is an honor to be selected,” Alamdari said. “Part of what makes it meaningful is that this fellowship funds people rather than a single project. Over the next two years, I aim to bridge the gap between forecasting and helping planners with real-world decisions.”

Research to support healthy coastal communities

Alamdari’s research focuses on watershed hydrology, stormwater management, predicting and mitigating harmful algal blooms and developing natural and nature-based solutions. She uses data-driven and process-based models to address water resource problems.

Her team developed fine-scale hydrologic models of Florida’s urban watersheds involving individual stormwater practices such as rain gardens, bioretention cells and retention ponds. They also used machine learning models to forecast cyanobacteria blooms in lakes and coastal estuaries, including Biscayne Bay and Lake Okeechobee.

Her work has produced statewide decision-support tools that help municipalities identify and size stormwater practices for nutrient reduction, estimate the monetary value of green infrastructure assets and predict cyanobacteria in freshwater lakes.

“Data is scarcest precisely in the communities facing the greatest risk,” Alamdari said. “But if we can predict bacteria levels or an algal bloom a few days in advance, even in a county with almost no monitoring, we can transform when warnings are issued and how much a community must spend responding afterward. If a family can make a safer decision about where their children swim or what comes out of their tap, then the research did its job.”

NASEM Fellowship

The NASEM Fellowship supports scientists, engineers and health professionals in the critical pre-tenure phase of their careers, providing a two-year grant for research and professional development.

During the fellowship, Alamdari plans to connect her water quality and algal bloom forecasts to public health data in partnership with health departments and public health researchers and to evaluate how infrastructure performs through events such as back-to-back storms or simultaneous drought and extreme heat.

Alamdari received the fellowship through the program’s Community Track, which supports applied research on climate-related stressors such as heat, flooding and pollution and their impacts on human health, community resilience and regional economies.

Alamdari

Alamdari is an associate professor in the college’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a member of the Resilient Infrastructure & Disaster Response Center, or RIDER. She has led 15 funded projects, supported by organizations like the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Alamdari holds a doctorate in biological systems engineering from Virginia Tech and completed postdoctoral research at the Colorado School of Mines. In 2025, she received the American Water Resources Association’s A. Ivan Johnson Young Professional Award.

She was also selected for the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Atmospheric Research Faculty Innovator Program, which supports her project to integrate high-resolution atmospheric and hydrologic forecasts into an artificial intelligence-driven statewide early warning system for harmful algal blooms.

 Visit  Alamdari’s website to learn more about her work. Visit the National Academies website to learn more about the Early-Career Research Fellowship and see the 2026-2028 cohorts.

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Florida State University faculty are helping build stronger structures by examining how wave-shaped patterns on exterior walls and roofs reduce wind loads on low-rise buildings by up to 60%.

The research, which was published in Engineering Structures, could help architects and engineers combat hurricane-force winds through innovative building shapes.

“Changing a building’s shape can significantly reduce the intensity of wind forces it has to withstand”, said Pedro Fernández-Cabán, one of the co-authors of the work and an assistant professor of civil engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “These nonconventional building shapes reduce the damage from worst-case severe weather scenarios. It’s another tool for engineers and designers to protect against wind damage.”

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Third-year biomedical engineering student Riley Criss holds leadership positions in two engineering clubs that build a community for STEM students. 

Criss served as the treasurer of the Generational Relief in Prosthetics Club (GRiP) which works to design prosthetics and assistive devices that improve everyday functionality for humans and animals. She secured GRiP’s first-ever Student Government Association (SGA) funding allocation, which will finance cutting-edge software programs to create new devices and distribute them to the local community. This year, Criss has stepped into the role of GRiP President and continues to advocate for user-centric engineering to increase accessibility.  

Criss is also motivated to increase the visibility of women in STEM. She connects more than 50 students with mentors, peers and employers through the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). On the SWE fundraising committee and as the 2026-2027 SWE Fundraising Chair, Criss obtained funding for scholarships that will grant recipients the opportunity to pursue their academics and empower the next generation of women engineers at FSU.  

Outside of engineering, Criss was a First Year Abroad (FYA) student in Valencia, Spain, during the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters.  

Why did you choose Florida State University?

I chose to attend FSU not only for its academic excellence but also for its dedication to student development. While touring campuses, I looked for a school where the students genuinely wanted to be on campus and involved in the community. The students at FSU embodied a true family. Programs that helped with out-of-state finances, such as the FYA program, showed me that FSU not only hoped to produce experts in academia, but also well-rounded, cultured individuals.   

What academic achievements have you accomplished at FSU?

I earned a place on the President’s List for four of my first five semesters. This accomplishment was driven by my dedication to learning and going the extra mile to understand the concepts in my biomedical engineering coursework. I attribute this consistent success to the support of my biomedical engineering cohort, professors and upperclassmen through effective communication and collaboration.  

How do you serve the community at FSU and beyond?

My most significant leadership contribution at FSU was increasing the financial capabilities of the GRiP as its treasurer. I successfully secured our first SGA funding allocation. This achievement allows the club to accept more projects, fund our community outreach, expand student opportunities for technical skill-building and strengthen our internal community by hosting events that build a sense of belonging among GRiP members.  

My work with the SWE is centered on fostering student opportunities and inclusion for women in STEM. I have contributed through participating in outreach programs that inspire our local community and facilitating networking events that successfully connected more than 50 students with potential STEM employers and mentors. To ensure the sustainability of these efforts, I served on the fundraising committee and now as Fundraising Chair, where I help secure funding for workshops and scholarships that empower women in engineering at FSU. 

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A Florida State University doctoral student has developed a new approach to destroying “forever chemicals” and is now taking the technology beyond the laboratory through the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program.

Kimberley Christopher, a doctoral candidate in FSU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, studies new ways to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. Because these synthetic chemicals persist in the environment for decades or longer, they have been nicknamed “forever chemicals” and have become a major environmental and public health concern.

Around 200 million people in the U.S. drink PFAS-contaminated water daily, and more than 97% of Americans have PFAS in their blood. Exposure to certain PFAS has been associated with a range of adverse health effects, including increased risk of some cancers.

Through NSF I-Corps, Christopher is expanding the scope of her research: not just whether the chemistry works, but where the technology could have the greatest impact.

“This program makes you think about how to translate your technology to have a much bigger and more meaningful impact,” Christopher said. “You start seeing a world of opportunity everywhere. Once you get that kind of mentality, it just doesn’t go away.”

I-Corps trains scientists and engineers to develop products based on their work. Program teams include a graduate student as the entrepreneurial lead, a technical lead with deep expertise in the technology area and an industry mentor who provides business experience and is independent from the technical development of the product.

When Christopher began pursuing a doctorate in computational physical organic chemistry, she had not thought about starting a business. I-Corps showed her possibilities that could help bring her research to more people.

Christopher is working with Professor Bruce R. Locke and Robert Wandell, director for engineering innovation, from the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, and Professor Igor Alabugin, a distinguished research professor in FSU’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. They will continue advancing a framework she developed that uses plasma and electrons to jumpstart a permanent and cost-effective breakdown of PFAS ‘forever chemicals.’

From idea to impact with regional and national I-Corps programs

Christopher’s work expands upon previous research by offering a permanent and more effective method for removing PFAS from the environment.

Current approaches transfer PFAS from one medium to another, generating hazardous waste that landfills are reluctant to accept. Whereas other treatment methods capture PFAS, Christopher’s patent-pending Radi-Reactor plasma process permanently destroys it.

Christopher heard about the NSF’s I-Corps regional program at an event organized by IGNITE-FSU, part of the National Science Foundation’s new Accelerating Research Translation program. IGNITE-FSU builds capacity for translational research through resources, programs and partnerships to help build an innovation ecosystem that benefits North Florida’s economy.

“Everything started with IGNITE,” she said. “After we went to IGNITE, things just started to click with the commercialization potential of this idea. We said, ‘Okay, we have a real business here.’”

During a regional I-Corps program, Christopher conducted 30 “discovery interviews” to understand how potential users currently address PFAS contamination, what problems remain unsolved and which customer segments might benefit most from the technology. PFAS are present in thousands of products as varied as non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, furniture, household cleaners, microwavable popcorn and more, so it was important to learn how customers’ needs might differ depending on their industry.

After the regional program concluded, Christopher was nominated by the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship to enter the Florida Venture Forum Collegiate Pitch Competition, where she presented her framework to investors, venture capitalists and other potential patrons. With IGNITE-FSU’s support, Christopher won first place at the pitch competition.

Christopher’s team began NSF’s National I-Corps program in early September. This opportunity offers up to $50,000 in federal funding and deeper immersion into the ecosystem for evaluating the commercial potential of their technology. As the entrepreneurial lead of the team, Christopher works primarily on commercial applications.

The team will complete 100 discovery interviews in just seven weeks from September through October to further refine their understanding of the market and learn more about how the invention can make an impact. Christopher plans to identify a specific customer segment to target and to secure investor backing for the technology.

“I thrive under pressure; it really forces you to be creative,” she said. “You have to take a step back and think, ‘What customer gains are you creating and what pains are you alleviating?’”

Christopher’s goal is to continue developing the effectiveness and cost-competitiveness of her PFAS-destroying technology to make it the cornerstone of her new company, Radical Solutions Corp.

“There’s no better place to start a business than a university,” she said. “You have all of the resources you can dream of available to you, and everybody wants to see you succeed.”

Interested in I-Corps? For more information about I-Corps at FSU, contact FSU Commercialization.

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Curiosity, creativity and cutting-edge research will come together at “Glittering Science,” a free FSU Discovery Days event exploring the hidden beauty of materials science.

The event brings together William Meier, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, and Scott Holstein, the college’s professional photographer, for an exploration of how scientific discovery can become visual art.

In his laboratory, Meier grows tiny metallic crystals to investigate fundamental questions about materials and their properties. Through specialized macro photography, Holstein transforms those same crystals into striking images that reveal intricate shapes, textures and colors that are nearly impossible to appreciate with the naked eye.

“Glittering Science” will feature a lecture, reception and gallery showcasing crystals grown by Meier and his students alongside Holstein’s photographs. The event will take place:

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21

6:30 – 8 P.M.

INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AND COMMERCIALIZATION BUILDING

2001 LEVY AVE.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA

Visit the event website for more information and to register.

Crystals like those produced in Meier’s laboratory can play a role in technologies including microchips, lasers, quantum sensors and fusion reactor components. Large, high-quality single crystals are especially valuable because researchers can measure how properties such as electrical conductivity and magnetism change in different directions, offering important clues about the behavior of electrons within a material.

But science does not always produce exactly what researchers expect. Sometimes the surprises are the most visually interesting.

“Some of the most beautiful crystals are those that don’t go as planned,” Meier said.

Although visually striking, the crystals are created first and foremost for scientific discovery.

“We grow crystals to support scientific experiments and to answer fundamental questions about materials,” Meier said. “By studying their behaviors, such as magnetism, superconductivity and how they conduct electricity, we gain insight into the underlying physics and can design new materials to solve technological challenges.”

Capturing crystal photographs

While Meier studies what the crystals can reveal about the physics of materials, Holstein approaches them from a different perspective.

“When I saw the crystals up close, through the lens, they looked like other-worldly landscapes,” Holstein said. “It took a macro lens that was able to magnify the crystal up to five times its actual size to see the details of this secret world.”

Capturing those details required much more than simply pointing a camera at a crystal. At extreme magnification, only a tiny portion of the object can appear sharp in a single photograph. Holstein used a technique called focus stacking, combining numerous photographs taken at slightly different focal points to create a single detailed image.

“At 5-to-1 magnification, just a sliver of the crystal is sharp in a shot, so stacking is a must,” Holstein said.

Each finished photograph may combine dozens or even hundreds of individual images, revealing a world of unexpected structures and patterns in crystals only millimeters across.

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Florida State University researchers have developed a method to make a class of materials more robust and potentially easier to manufacture for advanced radiation detection devices, including those used in medical imaging and radiation therapy as well as space technologies.

Nearly a decade ago, FSU Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Biwu Ma and his lab pioneered research on low-dimensional organic metal halide hybrids, or OMHHs, and have since expanded the materials’ structures, properties and applications across a range of technologies and industries. Now, in collaboration with Robert O. Lawton Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Joseph Schlenoff and 3M Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Subramanian Ramakrishnan, the team has developed a novel technique to stabilize the materials and expand their potential for practical applications. Their joint findings were published this month in Advanced Functional Materials.

“Using a technique called crosslinking, we’re shaping OMHHs before locking them into a more durable form,” Ma said. “A familiar example is rubber in car tires. Crosslinking transforms rubber into a much more robust and durable material capable of withstanding demanding conditions. Our chemistry is different, but the fundamental idea is similar: Connecting individual molecular components into a network can dramatically improve the physical robustness and stability of a material.”

Promising materials made more practical

OMHHs combine organic and inorganic components whose optical, electrical and magnetic properties can be tailored through molecular design. Researchers design these materials for technologies ranging from LEDs and solar cells to direct X-ray detectors and scintillators — materials that convert X-rays or other high-energy radiation into visible light.

Despite their versatility, some OMHHs can be challenging to process into stable, durable structures because they can dissolve or degrade when exposed to water or common polar solvents. In this study, Ma and his team developed zero-dimensional, or 0D, OMHHs in which individual metal-halide units are isolated from each other, and they incorporated reactive groups directly into the organic components of the 0D OMHH. After the material was solution-processed into a film, exposure to UV light connected these components into a covalent network that locked the isolated metal-halide units in place.

This provided an important combination of processability before crosslinking and robusticity afterward, while retaining the material’s useful properties. In testing, un-crosslinked films dissolved quickly in water and other solvents while crosslinked films remained intact after prolonged exposure.

“A material may perform well as a small laboratory sample, but real-world applications require reproducible manufacturing, long-term stability, integration with other components, and competitive cost and performance,” Ma said. “Our research is increasingly focused not only on discovering materials with better properties, but also on how those materials can be processed, stabilized, manufactured, and integrated into practical devices. The crosslinking strategy is an important step in that direction because it addresses processability and stability at the molecular-design level.”

Building upon interdisciplinary research

Graduate students played important roles in advancing the research. Tunde Shonde, a former doctoral student in Ma’s group and current scientist at BASF, the world’s largest chemical producer, conducted initial experiments that established the feasibility of crosslinking 0D OMHHs. Sahel Moslemi, a third-year doctoral student and the study’s first author, further developed the materials and led much of the experimental work and characterization.

Ramakrishnan and his team at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering collaborate with Ma’s group to explore how OMHHs could eventually be processed using 3D-printing techniques. Supported by NASA’s In-Space Manufacturing program, the broader effort combines molecularly engineered materials with additive manufacturing to develop functional devices, including radiation detectors with customized structures and technologies that could eventually be manufactured in space.

Schlenoff and his lab, whose research includes polymer and surface chemistry, examined how crosslinking changed the properties of thin OMHH films, including how their surfaces interacted with water. Their analysis helped the team better understand how crosslinking affected the films’ durability.

“Developing new materials can change what technologies are possible,” Ma said. “The crosslinkable materials we created provide an interesting foundation for future developments. We envision applying our research to create printable formulations of OMHHs that can be deposited into customized patterns and 3D structures and then crosslinked to stabilize those structures. This could allow us to manufacture radiation detectors and other technologies with customized or complex structures for specific applications.”

Expanding OMHH research impact

This work is also supported by Inspiring the Generation of New Ideas and Translational Excellence at FSU, or IGNITE-FSU, through a Strategic Translational Research Program project aimed at moving OMHH technologies from fundamental materials discoveries toward practical applications and commercialization.

“Dr. Ma’s work has helped an important area of materials chemistry change direction, reaching neighboring fields of science and engineering,” said Wei Yang, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry chair. “Our department has a deeply rooted tradition of fostering collaborative and interdisciplinary research, which provides a strong vehicle for producing high-impact science and extending research into new frontiers. Following this culture, Dr. Ma has developed a strong core research program and established collaborations across different disciplines to extend the impact and reach of his research.”

To learn more about research conducted in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, visit chem.fsu.edu. For more on research in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, visit eng.famu.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University will establish a campus-scale quantum communication testing platform with $2.1 million in federal Community Project Funding through the National Institute of Standards and Technology, secured with support from U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster of Florida’s 11th Congressional District.

The testbed will link a central quantum communication hub in FSU’s Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building (IRCB) with receiver nodes at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab). Researchers will study how quantum communication hardware and optical links perform under challenging conditions, including strong air turbulence, high magnetic fields and cryogenic thermal cycling.

Quantum communication uses quantum properties of light, including entanglement, to transmit and protect information in ways that are fundamentally different from conventional networks. A major challenge is moving quantum communication from carefully controlled laboratory demonstrations to reliable systems that can operate in real-world conditions.

“Florida State University leads the nation in quantum science and engineering,” said Rep. Webster. “I fought for this investment in Congress as it will help establish the first quantum communications testbed facility in the southeastern United States. These resources will help expand their important work and strengthen American innovation. Advancements in quantum technology are critical to our national security and will help ensure the United States remains a leader in these emerging technologies as we counter adversaries like China.”

The testbed will connect the hub to the nodes through campus fiber resources. It will generate and distribute entangled photons and monitor measures such as link reliability, allowing researchers to improve system performance. The system will also include reconfigurable optical links so researchers can deliberately expose components and communication channels to controlled environmental stresses.

“The next frontier is not simply demonstrating quantum communication in an ideal laboratory, but understanding how to make these systems reliable in the environments where they will ultimately operate,” said Suvranu De, dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “This investment gives us a platform to connect fundamental quantum science with engineering validation, workforce development and future partnerships with government, industry and other universities. It is an important step toward secure and resilient quantum networks that can operate in the real world.”

 FSU expands quantum research

The project continues FSU’s commitment to advancing research in quantum science and engineering. Since launching the FSU Quantum Initiative in 2023, the university has hired 10 new faculty members to reach a total of 45 faculty members researching quantum topics, developed Florida’s first graduate credential in quantum information science and engineering, hosted the inaugural Florida Quantum Conference and joined with other universities around the state to establish the Florida Alliance for Quantum Technology.

In July, the U.S. Department of Energy chose FSU to lead four major projects as part of the Genesis Mission, including a project to develop AI that acts as a real-time diagnostic system for quantum computers and another to improve scientists’ understanding of atomic nuclei and other quantum systems.

“This is an important research infrastructure investment that can support future quantum-networking activities and position FSU for larger-scale opportunities,” said Wei Guo, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, head of the MagLab’s cryogenics lab and co-director of the FSU Quantum Initiative. “Just as importantly, it will give students and researchers hands-on experience across the full quantum-networking stack, from photons and detectors to controls, data, networks and demanding operating environments.”

For more information about ongoing quantum research at Florida State, visit the FSU Quantum initiative website.

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Researchers at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, or MagLab, have shown that a potential stroke treatment derived from stem cells may be more effective for women.

In a study published in Theranostics, the research team used human mesenchymal stem cells, which can transform into a variety of different cell types, to harvest extracellular vesicles, or EVs — small particles released by cells as chemical messengers. They tested those EVs as a therapy for ischemic stroke, when blood is blocked from reaching the brain.

The research could help scientists improve drug-based treatments for stroke patients and refine care strategies, even tailoring those that may be impacted by a patient’s sex.

What they did

Extracellular vesicles have shown potential as a treatment for various diseases, both as a way to deliver medicines to specific targets in patients and as a therapy on their own.

In this study, researchers used EVs to treat rats with strokes, then tracked changes in their brains over several weeks with the MagLab’s 21.1-T ultra-widebore magnet using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy.

In both males and females, the EV treatment improved post-stroke recovery. MRI scans showed improvements to damaged brain tissue and the brain’s chemical and metabolic activity after treatment.

But the benefits were not the same for each sex, suggesting that biological differences may influence treatment effectiveness.

Why it matters: Personalizing treatment for patients

The primary female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, have protective effects for the brain. In this study, the researchers saw that EVs augmented the positive effects of these naturally occurring hormones.

“Extracellular vesicles are a way to use the body’s own biological messaging system to promote healing,” said study co-author Yan Li, a professor at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “That natural capacity to promote repair and restore balance could transform how we treat some of the most challenging diseases.”

Preclinical work, including animal and cellular studies, often uses male subjects to avoid data variations caused by female hormonal cycles. By understanding the role sex hormones play in stroke recovery, the research could eventually help scientists implement more effective treatments for women.

Extracellular vesicles: An avenue for targeted treatment

EVs are a promising treatment for various diseases because they offer the regenerative and anti-inflammatory benefits of cell therapies without the risks of using living cells.

Drugs used to treat strokes must cross the blood-brain barrier to target the area where they are needed. EVs are small and can penetrate deeper into the brain than stem cells, which are more likely to be identified and attacked by a patient’s immune system.

“You’re getting an extra bang for your buck as a patient,” said study co-author Samuel Grant, a professor at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “Even though estrogen is helping recovery, the EV therapy has the added benefit of helping to recover faster, to salvage more tissue and reestablish regulation of metabolic processes in the brain.”

Collaborators and support

Former FSU doctoral student Jamini Bhagu was the lead author on this study. FSU graduate students and undergraduate students were also co-authors. This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation through the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and the State of Florida.

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Florida State University researchers at the College of Medicine and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering will study how physical changes in cells contribute to the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common type of pancreatic cancer and the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

The research, which is supported by a $2.8 million grant from the National Cancer Institute, will help scientists understand how the shape and organization of pancreatic cells change as the disease develops and whether these physical changes help tumors grow and spread to other parts of the body.

Pancreatic cancer progression

Changes in cell structure and organization are a hallmark of pancreatic cancer progression and are routinely used by pathologists to assess disease stage and progression. Using human-derived pancreatic organoids — miniature 3D models of pancreatic tissue grown in the lab — the researchers will recreate key structural features seen in real patient tumors, from normal pancreatic tissue to advanced cancer.

Normal organoids have a central hollow space, called a lumen, surrounded by a thin layer of cells, similar to the structure of a normal pancreatic duct in the body. In pancreatic cells with primary tumors or metastatic tumors, the lumen is different.

“Primary tumor organoids still have a lumen, but the surrounding cell layer becomes much thicker,” said grant co-investigator Jerome Irianto, assistant professor at the College of Medicine. “In metastatic organoids, the central lumen collapses and is replaced by multiple small lumen-like structures, resembling the disorganized architecture seen in advanced pancreatic tumors. This led us to ask two important questions: What drives these structural changes, and what are the consequences for cancer progression?”

How it works: Cellular physics

The lumen depends on the movement of ions and water to maintain its shape and fluid balance. As ions are transported into the lumen, water follows. The surrounding layer of epithelial cells contains this fluid, creating physical forces that help shape the organoid.

When fewer ion and water channels are present, this delicate balance is disrupted. 

“A major factor driving the collapse of the lumen is the loss of ion transport that normally helps build pressure inside it, almost like filling a balloon,” said mechanobiologist Tristan Driscoll, assistant professor at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and a co-investigator on the grant. “When that pressure changes, it also changes the mechanical forces experienced by the surrounding cells and how those cells sense and respond to those forces.”

These physical changes may have important consequences for tumor progression. Previous research by the Irianto Lab has identified ion and water channels as potential drivers of changes in lumen structure. In pancreatic tumor organoids, genes responsible for these channels are expressed at lower levels than in normal pancreatic cells. Their expression decreases even further as tumors progress and spread, suggesting a connection between these channels, changes in lumen structure and cancer progression. 

The research team will measure forces between neighboring epithelial cells and the forces transmitted to the nuclear envelope surrounding the cell’s DNA to examine how changes in lumen pressure may ultimately affect cell behavior. 

Yes-associated protein

The Irianto Lab will investigate whether these changes affect a force-sensitive protein called yes-associated protein, or YAP.

Using gene-editing techniques, Irianto and his team will test how changes in ion and water transport, lumen structure and YAP activity work together to influence pancreatic cancer progression.

Under normal cellular conditions, YAP remains outside of the nucleus in an inactive state. When physical forces change or the cell is compressed, YAP moves into the nucleus in its active state to turn on genes that control cell growth, survival and other behaviors important in cancer.

Why it matters: Improving pancreatic cancer survival rates

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a particularly deadly and prevalent form of pancreatic cancer. The disease accounts for more than 80% of pancreatic cancer cases, and the five-year survival rate is around 13%.

Most patients have tumors that cannot be removed with surgery or that have grown larger or spread into nearby tissues. Traditional treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery and radiation have not been shown to significantly improve survival.

“Our goal is to reveal new vulnerabilities in pancreatic cancer that could shape future treatment strategies,” Irianto said. “Despite advancements in care, this continues to be an especially deadly disease that kills tens of thousands of people every year. The better we understand how this works within cells, the better we will be at stopping it.”

Multidisciplinary research to drive impact

Irianto and Driscoll will work with mathematical modeler Katarzyna Rejniak from the Moffitt Cancer Center, pancreatic cancer biologist Chang-il Hwang from UC Davis, and pathologist Jose I. Diaz from the FSU College of Medicine. By combining engineering, cell biology, cancer biology, mathematical modeling and pathology, the team hopes to uncover aspects of pancreatic cancer that cannot be fully understood by studying genes or biochemical pathways alone.

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Researchers at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the Florida State University-headquartered National High Magnetic Field Laboratory have designed new quantum computing architecture that uses magnetic levitation to smooth over design flaws in the intricate bits necessary to run a quantum computer.

Quantum bits, or qubits, can be as small as a few nanometers, and manufacturing them inevitably introduces random flaws onto their surface. By using superconducting magnets to levitate neon particles, the research addresses a challenge in electron-on-neon qubit devices: the tendency for electrons to become trapped by random tiny bumps on the neon surface, making them function unpredictably.

The study, published in the American Physical Society journal PRX Quantum, could help pave the way for more reproducible and scalable quantum computing technologies.

“Instead of hoping that the right nanoscale feature appears in the right place, we want to decide where each electron qubit sits,” said study co-author Wei Guo, a professor at Florida State University, the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, or MagLab.  “Magnetic levitation gives us a way to place a clean neon carrier above the chip, while the chip still provides the circuitry needed to control and read the qubit. In this architecture, the qubit is no longer found by chance. It is built by design.”

What they made: A new design for electron-on-neon qubits

The researchers proposed a chip design that uses superconducting loops to magnetically hold tiny solid-neon particles above the chip surface. Instead of placing a solid-neon film directly on the chip, where it can inherit roughness from the substrate underneath, the new architecture uses nearly spherical neon microparticles as carriers for electron qubits.

“A simple way to think about it is that we give the electron a tiny, clean, floating island to sit on, rather than asking it to find a good spot on a rough landscape,” said study co-author Yinghe Qi, a MagLab postdoctoral researcher. “The chip underneath still provides the microwave circuits needed to control and read the qubit.”

Why it matters: Engineering a better chip

The work opens a path toward a new class of hybrid quantum devices, where clean quantum materials are integrated directly with chip-based control circuits.

“We have not built a full quantum computer in this paper, but we showed that the essential ingredients can work together in a realistic design: clean electron confinement, tunable qubit energy levels, strong coupling to microwave circuits and a way for neighboring qubits to communicate,” Guo said.

Technological advantages

Unlike the bits in ordinary computers, which store information as 0s or 1s, qubits use the rules of quantum mechanics to process information that can represent multiple possibilities at the same time until it is measured. To build a useful quantum computer, researchers need qubits that are clean, stable, controllable and practical to arrange in large numbers on a chip — a mix of properties that is difficult to achieve.

Electron-on-neon qubits, which use a single electron held above solid neon, are a promising platform for qubit design because of their accuracy and their ability to maintain their quantum information long enough to perform calculations. The electron sits in a clean environment, while the chip underneath provides the microwave circuits needed for control and readout.

The design shown in this study preserves the advantages of these qubits while using levitation to remove the randomness of a bumpy surface. 

“The main advantage is reproducibility,” said study co-author Yiming Xing, an assistant professor in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “Right now, useful electron-on-neon qubits depend on random nanoscale surface features, almost like hoping the right defect appears in the right place. Our approach replaces those random traps with designed, clean neon carriers placed at intended locations on a chip. If demonstrated experimentally, this could make electron-on-neon devices more predictable, reduce unwanted charge noise and make it easier to build larger arrays of qubits.”

Future research: Building a working prototype

The researchers plan to use their design to build a working prototype of an electron-on-neon qubit.

The main components of their design — superconducting loops, microwave resonators and patterned chip structures — are compatible with fabrication methods already used in quantum-device research, which will help researchers move from design to prototype and beyond.

Collaborators and support

Co-authors on this study included FSU postdoctoral researchers Sosuke Inui and Charles Peretti. Dafei Jin, an associate professor at the University of Notre Dame, was also a co-author.

The project received support from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and the Florida State University Quantum Initiative. The FAMU Center for Quantum Science and Engineering supported contributions by Xing and supported the Notre Dame team through the National Science Foundation ExpandQISE grant administered by Florida A&M University.

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New FSU Quantum Initiative certificate will prepare students and professionals for careers in the rapidly expanding quantum workforce

Florida State University is launching Florida’s first formal graduate-level credential in quantum information science and engineering, opening a new pathway for students and professionals to enter one of the world’s fastest-growing technology fields. The Graduate Certificate in Quantum Science & Technology is now accepting applications for Spring 2027 enrollment.

Administered by the FSU Quantum Initiative, the interdisciplinary certificate will give graduate students and working professionals rigorous training across quantum physics, materials science, chemistry, computer science and engineering. Drawing on courses from multiple departments and two colleges — the FSU College of Arts and Sciences and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering — the program positions FSU to help build the emerging quantum workforce vital to the nation’s technological leadership and security.

“Quantum science is reshaping the future of computing, communication, materials and national security, and Florida State University is positioning itself at the forefront of that transformation,” said FSU Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “This new graduate certificate reflects the strength of our research enterprise and our commitment to preparing students for the high-demand careers that will drive the next generation of discovery and innovation.”

Students will complete required coursework in quantum information and computing, choose from a broad selection of electives and gain access to world-class research facilities, including the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and the new Interdisciplinary Research & Commercialization Building. The building houses cleanroom and nanofabrication facilities as well as dilution refrigerators for low-temperature quantum experiments. The FSU Quantum Initiative also is developing partnerships with leading quantum technology companies and national centers to connect students directly with career opportunities in the rapidly growing quantum industry.

“Florida State University is an ideal place for students to pursue training in quantum science and technology because of the extraordinary breadth of expertise across our campus,” said Sam Huckaba, dean of the FSU College of Arts and Sciences. “Students in this program will learn from faculty working at the cutting edge of physics, chemistry, materials science, mathematics, computer science and related fields, while also benefiting from access to world-class research facilities. That combination of talent, infrastructure and opportunity will prepare them to make meaningful contributions in a rapidly evolving field.”

FSU has made bold investments in quantum science and engineering, including hiring ten new faculty. Many of these faculty will teach new courses that will serve both their departments and interdisciplinary programs.

“The most important challenges in emerging technologies cannot be solved within the boundaries of a single discipline,” said Suvranu De, dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “This certificate reflects the strength of the partnership between the College of Arts and Sciences and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, bringing together complementary expertise to prepare students for a future where quantum information science and engineering is transforming computing, sensing, communications, and enabling new approaches to materials discovery. It is exactly the kind of interdisciplinary collaboration needed to tackle fundamental scientific challenges and develop the quantum technologies of tomorrow.”

FSU is extending its commitment to quantum education beyond the graduate level. The university already offers introductory quantum computing courses for undergraduate and high school students, and plans are underway to develop formal programs for both groups. Together, these efforts will create a comprehensive quantum education pipeline that introduces students to the field early and supports them through advanced training.

“Quantum information science is not just a frontier for research; it is becoming a foundation for the economy of the 21st century,” said Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Michael Shatruk, director of the FSU Quantum Initiative. “With this certificate program, we are giving students in Florida the tools to be part of that future. And by reaching students at the undergraduate and high school levels, we will be planting those seeds early.” 

The FSU QIST Graduate Certificate Program is accepting applications for the Spring 2027 cohort through Oct. 1, 2026. The program is open to current FSU graduate students in relevant STEM disciplines as well as external post-baccalaureate applicants, including industry professionals seeking foundational knowledge in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum materials and related technologies. More information and the online application are available on the program website.

About the FSU Quantum Initiative

The FSU Quantum Initiative is a cross-departmental research and education hub spanning the departments of Physics, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Materials Science & Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at Florida State University. FSU Quantum coordinates quantum science and engineering research, education, and industry partnerships across the university, with access to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and the Interdisciplinary Research & Commercialization Building.

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