Joining leaders, faculty and peers from across the state, a group of eight doctoral students represented Florida Tech alongside associate provost for academic affairs Munevver Mine Subasi at the 2026 Conference of Florida Graduate Schools (CFGS) April 22-24 at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The annual conference focused on the evolving needs of graduate education, bringing participants together to exchange ideas and build connections.
The students showcased their work through poster presentation sessions, with research spanning a broad range of disciplines.
Poster Session Presenters:
- Nikhita Agasam, Ph.D. in Aviation Sciences
- Xiaomeng Sun, Ph.D. in Aviation Sciences
- Ernest Savage, Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
- Jessica Liaw, Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology
- Juan Rodriguez Paez, Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering
- Laura Fronchetti Guidugli, Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering
- Andrew (Andy) Walker, Ph.D. in Biological Sciences
In addition, Arianna (Ari) Issitt, a computer engineering Ph.D. student, represented Florida Tech in the Three Minute Thesis Competition, in which participants presented their research in three minutes using a single slide. Issitt earned the People’s Choice Award for her presentation, “When looking good isn’t good enough: Do rendering metrics predict perception?”
“It was truly rewarding to witness these outstanding scholars share their research with a diverse audience and actively engage in thoughtful discussions during the plenary and roundtable sessions,” Subasi said. “Our students represented Florida Tech with distinction and pride. Beyond their academic accomplishments, I greatly appreciate their warm and positive spirit.”
Florida Tech’s presence at CFGS highlights the university’s commitment to hands-on research, interdisciplinary collaboration and preparing graduate students to make meaningful contributions in their fields.
