LAKELAND — Florida Polytechnic University will host 21 Fulbright students and scholars during the 2025-26 academic year. The group, participating in the U.S. State Department’s Fulbright program, includes international scholars and students who will pursue research and graduate studies. The university was named a top producer of U.S. Fulbright STEM scholars by the State Department in February 2025, placing it among 5% of four-year institutions nationwide.
“Florida Polytechnic University is entering a new decade of academic and research excellence, attracting world-class innovators, leading researchers, and visionary solution-makers,” said Mustapha Achoubane, senior global affairs officer at the university, in a release.
Graduate fellow Maimouna Keita from Guinea will study data science at Florida Poly.
Three Florida Poly representatives are part of the cohort. Joseph Noble, a junior majoring in computer engineering, will study at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, as a Killam Fellow, while Dr. Ajeet Kaushik, assistant professor of chemistry, and Dr. Chris Kelley, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, served as Fulbright Specialists during the summer. Dr. Xavier Fernando, a Canadian Fulbright scholar and professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, will collaborate with Dr. Rawa Adla at Florida Poly on vehicle-to-everything communication systems. “I am thrilled to collaborate with Dr. Rawa Adla at Florida Poly on advancing vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems,” Fernando said.
“Our work will focus on integrating cutting-edge technologies like visible light communication, AI algorithms, and IoT (Internet of Things) sensor fusion to enhance safety and decision-making in intelligent and autonomous transportation systems.
