FIU’s College of Engineering & Computing rises to meet the demands of booming Florida

FIU is a top producer of engineers in Florida and the top producer of minority engineers and computer scientists in the country. Now the burgeoning economies of Florida and, especially, South Florida require more such individuals to meet needs in the technology field, startup industries, biomedical sciences and other areas – and FIU’s College of Engineering & Computing is stepping up to deliver.

Currently, the college serves nearly 8,500 engineering and computing students, including more than 1,200 graduate students. Eighteen new faculty members have been hired by the college since 2022. The university already operates a free-standing, 250,000-square-foot engineering center on 38 acres that hosts specialized labs such as the NSF-funded Wall of Wind, the world’s largest such university research facility, known for testing construction materials at hurricane strength.

To build on its momentum, FIU will soon complete construction of a state-of-the-art Innovation Engineering Complex on its main campus. The six-story, 215,000-square-foot signature Innovation Engineering Complex will facilitate collaboration across the university and unite teams around shared projects relating to health, automation, information technology and cybersecurity. Active learning classrooms, makerspaces and teaching labs will be complemented by so-called collision space that invite cross-disciplinary cooperation as well as locations designated for student entrepreneurial endeavors.

The Innovation Engineering Complex will enhance existing strengths while opening new possibilities. Upon completion, it will reflect an investment of nearly $200 million in state appropriations, research funding and philanthropic gifts.

“Our college is committed to student success, transformational innovation and impactful research,” said John L.Volakis, dean of the College of Engineering and Computing. “We are constantly working to position our students at the epicenter of technologies that drive our society forward.”

A LEADING SOURCE OF TECH TALENT

The city of Miami is experiencing the biggest growth in technology jobs in the country, and FIU plays a pivotal role in filling them. Already the country’s top producer of minority graduates in STEM overall, FIU has a commitment to honing talent within the state of Florida. “Why import tech workers when we can grow our own?” ask leaders such as Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, an FIU alumnus. Enrollment in computing and information technology majors at FIU has doubled in recent years.

It was growing demand from Miamians who are increasingly seeking careers in tech and from companies seeking skilled talent – in addition to FIU’s determination to meet those demands – that motivated the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to invest $10 million in the renamed Knight Foundation School of Computing in the FIU College of Engineering and Computing. That vote of confidence has furthered the college’s reputation as a go-to resource within the region not only in computing but a variety of engineering fields.

RESEARCHERS LEADING ACROSS DISCIPLINES

Much of the success of the college hinges on the high-quality research and dedicated teaching of faculty whose findings and inventions have broad impact.

Professor Stavros Georgakopoulos has attracted millions of dollars in government funding for defense-related research applications crucial to the U.S. military. “Origami antennas” have revolutionized communications on the battlefield and will soon do the same in the spheres of airborne and spaceborne exploration.

Professor Atorod Azizinamini is a national leader in developing innovative bridge systems and an outspoken proponent of addressing the nation’s aging infrastructure. A resource for projects around the world, he is an expert on bridge design and materials, accelerated construction methods and infrastructure testing and maintenance using novel techniques.

Associate Professor Anuradha Godavarty has harnessed the power of near-infrared light to help doctors spot and reverse devastating medical conditions that affect millions worldwide. Her low-cost, portable technology promises the hope of easy, early detection to prevent the worst complications of tissue and bone damage associated with diabetes and peripheral vascular disease.

Associate Professor Anamika Prasad is the principal investigator on NSF-funded research that examines the fibrous sunflower stem, recognized for its strength and flexibility, as a model for developing medical-grade biomaterial “patches” capable of promoting wound healing in the heart muscle.