A bird bursting from the ocean or a mobula ray launching skyward makes the transition from water to air look effortless. For unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, it鈥檚 one of the hardest maneuvers to replicate.

Now, 麻豆原创 researchers are studying how wing shape and motion affect that split-second transition 鈥� work that could help improve future amphibious UAVs.

Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering Samik Bhattacharya and aerospace engineering master鈥檚 student Dominic Polidoro 鈥�25 are investigating the physical forces that interact as a wing exits the water and enters the air, a process known as egress. Supported by a grant from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM Army Research Office, the nine-month project aims to develop mathematical models to improve the technology used in military amphibious vehicles.

“This technology can 鈥� enable seamless air-water operations without the need for separate vehicles.”

The research could also expand the use of amphibious UAVs in civilian scenarios such as search-and-rescue missions in coastal areas, ocean monitoring and disaster response.

鈥淭his technology can 鈥� enable seamless air-water operations without the need for separate vehicles,鈥� Bhattacharya says. 鈥淚n 10 years, amphibious UAVs could perform reliable and stable dives and exits with better payload capacity and autonomous control in complex environments, far beyond today鈥檚 unreliable transitions.鈥�

While researchers have extensively studied how drones enter water, far less is understood about how they exit it. Previous studies show that as a wing rises from the water, the lift generated by it will increase until it suddenly reverses direction before stabilizing. Why this occurs is not yet known, but the answer is crucial to understanding UAV performance.

鈥淚n general, when a UAV egresses, it causes lift overshoot followed by a sharp drop,鈥� Bhattacharya says. 鈥淪uch rapid changes in lift forces can create instability, leading to loss of control. Understanding this transition will not only improve our knowledge of creatures in nature but also allow for drone designs that can use or mitigate the lift increase and decrease that occurs.鈥�

Inside the in , Bhattacharya and Polidoro use a water tank and 3D-printed wings to study how surface deformation, waves and vortex shedding interact during egress. They aim to better understand the physical forces that drive this transition.

鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult to disentangle the effects of surface deformation, waves and vortex shedding because they occur simultaneously on very short timescales and strongly influence each other,鈥� Bhattacharya says.

The duo presented earlier findings from their research at the 2026 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech Forum in January.

Faculty Background

Bhattacharya joined 麻豆原创 in 2016. He earned his doctoral degree in aerospace engineering from The Ohio State University, his master鈥檚 degree in aerospace engineering from Auburn University and his bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering from the National Institute of Technology Warangal, located in India.

For almost a century, researchers have known that vertical land motion 鈥� the lifting and sinking of the ground 鈥� affects sea level locally. As the ground sinks, the sea level rises relative to the land. Scientists also assumed this process generally occurred at a steady rate over time. But a research team that includes Thomas Wahl, a 麻豆原创 researcher and associate professor in the , has found that ground subsidence has undergone phases of variable change, creating significant implications for coastal communities.

“In many places, … sea level is going up one to three millimeters a year, but the land is going down 10, 15 times as fast.”

In an article recently published in Nature Geosciences, Wahl and his research collaborators demonstrate that the rate of vertical land motion is nonlinear in many coastal communities, particularly in Louisiana and along the Mississippi Delta. As the land sinks, relative sea level rises, increasing the risk of coastal flooding from high tides and storm surge that can damage homes, businesses and critical infrastructure.

鈥淚n many places like Louisiana, sea level is going up one to three millimeters a year, but the land is going down 10, 15 times as fast,鈥� Wahl says. 鈥淎nd that compounds the effect of sea level rise. As the sea level goes up and land goes down, you have a bigger problem.鈥�

A New Challenge for Coastal Communities

“Our results reveal that … groundwater extraction and … earthquakes have led to periods of rapid sinking or rising of coastal land.”

Current projections of future sea-level change typically assume that ground motion behaves linearly over time. However, the study challenges that assumption. Using observational data from tide gauges, the team, led by Associate Professor S缨nke Dangendorf of Tulane University, reconstructed vertical land motion dating back to the early 20th century.

鈥淥ur results reveal that human activities such as groundwater extraction and natural phenomena such as earthquakes have led to periods of rapid sinking or rising of coastal land,鈥� Dagendorf says. 鈥淭his has largely increased the rates of sea level rise relative to the land, particularly in cities where increasing water demand led to increased groundwater withdrawals and subsequent compaction of the ground.鈥�

The Silver Lining

Wahl says these findings have important implications for coastal infrastructure, including in Florida.

鈥淚t makes it even more critical to plan early and to create adaptation strategies to keep the water away from places where you don鈥檛 want it to be for as long as you can,鈥� Wahl says.

The silver lining, he says, is that some causes of land motion can be managed. Cities such as Tokyo and Shanghai once experienced extreme subsidence 鈥� up to several centimeters per year during the mid鈥�20th century 鈥� but have dramatically slowed the sinking after implementing strict groundwater extraction controls and related land鈥憁anagement policies.

When it comes to addressing the combined challenges of sea level rise and land subsidence, Wahl acknowledges that some areas will be harder to protect than others, and that protection may not be possible everywhere. Still, he remains hopeful.

鈥淗istory has shown that humans are very creative, especially when they have to be,鈥� Wahl says. 鈥淚f you look back to where we were 100 or even 50 years ago and where we are now, there are probably technologies and strategies that we haven鈥檛 even thought of yet that might come up in the future that will be beneficial in that context.鈥�

About the Researcher
Wahl collaborated on the study with researchers from Tulane University, Harvard University and various academic and research institutions in Germany and the Netherlands. Prior to joining 麻豆原创 in 2017, Wahl was a Marie Sklodowska Curie fellow of the European Union at the University of Southampton and a postdoctoral scholar at the University of South Florida. His research focuses on coastal flood risk, sea level rise and storm surges.

On most days, DeAscanis is focused on something many people never think about: the invisible systems that keep modern life running.

Hospitals must power critical equipment. Cities endure record-breaking heat. Data centers aim to hum without interruption. Behind those moments are gas turbines the size of buildings, and a team of engineers determined to make them 聽smarter, faster and more reliable.

At Siemens Energy, DeAscanis helps lead that charge.

Rising to Energy Design Challenges

His bold goal is ambitious: transform how turbines are tested, inspected and manufactured so they can be delivered at the speed and scale global demand now requires. As electricity needs surge worldwide, efficiency is no longer optional.

鈥淚f the turbines don鈥檛 work, the power doesn鈥檛 exist,鈥� he says.

After earning his aerospace engineering degree from 麻豆原创, DeAscanis joined Siemens Energy located just steps from campus. He began on a small team of three engineers developing custom tools to test next-generation engines. The work was intensely hands-on and involved long days refining inspection systems, improving automation and solving problems in real time.

Colleagues describe DeAscanis as calm under pressure and relentlessly curious. He sees constraints not as roadblocks but as design challenges.

That perspective proved essential during lean years in the energy sector, when fluctuating demand forced teams to justify every investment. Rather than scale back, DeAscanis and his colleagues innovated their way forward 鈥� streamlining inspection processes, reducing testing time and building automation systems that improved both speed and precision.

Those efforts produced measurable results. DeAscanis now holds 11 patents, with dozens more innovations developed across his team. Some advances are patented; others remain proprietary trade secrets that strengthen Siemens Energy鈥檚 competitive position in a global marketplace.

Enhancing Expertise to Deliver Impact

Over the past decade, he has also helped grow his organization from fewer than five engineers to nearly 100. His role expanded from technical contributor to strategic leader, overseeing budgets, setting research priorities and securing U.S. Department of Defense contracts to accelerate development. Recognizing the importance of business fluency, he returned to 麻豆原创 to earn his MBA.

鈥淚 knew how to build technology,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 wanted to understand how to scale it.鈥�

His journey traces back to his 麻豆原创 senior design project, where he and three classmates developed a system to manufacture thin carbon nanofiber sheets designed to reinforce aircraft structures against lightning strikes. The project demanded technical rigor, collaboration and applied problem-solving 鈥� the same qualities Siemens Energy looks for in its engineers. It also helped open the door to his first role at Siemens Energy, proving that classroom innovation can translate directly into industry impact.

Fueling the Energy Industry

Learn more about how are accelerating innovation, fueling workforce development and strengthening the future of energy infrastructure.

Today, more than half of the engineers in his facility are 麻豆原创 graduates. Through the Pegasus Partnership, Siemens Energy and 麻豆原创 are not simply recruiting talent 鈥� they are co-developing it. Students gain exposure to real-world challenges long before graduation. Industry gains engineers who are ready to lead from day one.

For DeAscanis, that cycle feels deeply personal.

鈥溌槎乖� gave me the foundation to solve complex problems and the confidence to think bigger,鈥� he says. 鈥淣ow I get to help build the systems 鈥� and the teams 鈥� that will power what comes next.鈥�

As global energy demand accelerates and infrastructure grows more sophisticated, the stakes are rising. The partnership between Siemens Energy and 麻豆原创 reflects a shared belief: that bold thinking, applied research and prepared graduates can shape not just an industry, but the future of how the world runs.

At Kurd Qaburstan, an ancient site in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, a 麻豆原创-led team has uncovered the first substantial group of cuneiform tablets found in the Erbil region, along with evidence of large-scale destruction, mass graves and citywide fortifications. Together, the discoveries are providing one of the clearest archaeological records yet uncovered of siege warfare and urban life during the Middle Bronze Age.

鈥淥ur 2025 research produced clear archaeological evidence linking the site to the siege of Qabra, beginning with the first significant group of cuneiform tablets found on the Erbil Plain,鈥� says Tiffany Earley-Spadoni, associate professor of history at 麻豆原创 and director of the Kurd Qaburstan project. 鈥淪everal tablets are dated within days of each other, matching the timeline of the city鈥檚 fall.鈥�

The project is supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation and conducted in partnership with the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Heritage in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The funded excavations took place during two summer seasons in 2024 and 2025.

A Lost Archive Emerges

Researchers recovered 20 cuneiform tablets and more than 100 administrative sealings from destruction layers within the Lower Town East Palace. The artifacts are being studied by epigraphers Paul Delnero (Johns Hopkins University) and Parker Zane (Yale University), along with art historian Marian Feldman (Johns Hopkins University).

The texts include palace administrative records and a letter that may reference a high-ranking official connected to Qabra. Some inscriptions may also correspond to the destruction described on the Victory Stele of Dadusha.

鈥淢ost of the tablets are administrative and provide a snapshot of palace life and the economy of the ancient city,鈥� Earley-Spadoni says. 鈥淥ne tablet appears to have been written by a high-ranking official in ancient Qabra.鈥�

Evidence of Siege Warfare

Collapsed structures, burned layers and concentrated debris suggest a coordinated and possibly prolonged assault.

鈥淭he two superimposed destructions match the historical sequence of the siege of Qabra and its conquest by Shamshi Addu,鈥� Earley-Spadoni says. 鈥淭he charred debris, the large number of ceramic vessels and individuals who met untimely deaths and were buried in the destruction layers, provide the clearest archaeological case of Middle Bronze Age siege warfare yet discovered in northern Mesopotamia.鈥�

The Human Toll of Conflict

Within the palace destruction layers, researchers discovered the remains of 17 individuals, studied by bioarchaeologist Andrea Zurek-Ost at Michigan State University.

鈥淭he individuals were not formally buried and had no associated grave goods,鈥� Earley-Spadoni says. 鈥淪ome appear to have been left where they died, including possible palace workers. One individual was found face down over a stone basin.鈥�

Researchers also uncovered a preserved street with an engineered drainage system and domestic spaces used for food processing and textile production, pointing to sophisticated infrastructure and economic activity.

Mapping an Ancient City at Scale

鈥淭he evidence from Kurd Qaburstan shows that northern cities could be large, complex, and politically significant, with administrative systems, fortifications, and infrastructure comparable to those of the best-known southern sites.鈥濃�擳iffany Earley-Spadoni, director of the Kurd Qaburstan Project

The team also completed a magnetometer survey covering more than 80 hectares (about 180 acres). The survey, which measures changes in Earth鈥檚 magnetic field to detect buried structures, was led by Andrew Creekmore III at the University of Northern Colorado. The survey revealed a monumental wall with bastions encircling the site.

The fortifications correspond with those depicted on the Victory Stele of Dadusha and support the identification of Kurd Qaburstan as the ancient city of Qabra.

Rewriting the Story of Northern Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is often associated with southern cities like Uruk, long viewed as the center of early urban civilization. Discoveries at Kurd Qaburstan are helping highlight the value of northern cities, Earley-Spadoni says.

鈥淭he evidence from Kurd Qaburstan shows that northern cities could be large, complex, and politically significant, with administrative systems, fortifications, and infrastructure comparable to those of the best-known southern sites,鈥� she says.

These discoveries build on a decade of prior excavation at Kurd Qaburstan by Johns Hopkins University, revealing a city long absent from the historical record.

鈥淟aboratory investigations are underway, including isotopic and ancient DNA analyses of the 17 individuals,鈥� Earley-Spadoni says. 鈥淭his work will help researchers understand their origins and relationships.鈥�

Each discovery brings researchers closer to understanding how this ancient city functioned and how it ultimately fell.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) under Award No. 2344957. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF. Work was conducted with the permission, support, and collaboration of the Directorate-General of Antiquities of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Director-General Kak Kaify Mustafa Ali, and the Erbil Department of Antiquities, Director Kak Nader Babakr.

On how the ocean changed him:

I鈥檝e never been as calm as I’ve been since returning to land. I鈥檓 a kind of restless person in general, somewhat impulsive in certain contexts. I always feel the need to do something, another adventure in nature. I have this fire in me that just makes me adventurous. But I think the success of the crossing, including the three years of preparation, gave me a lot of confidence. And with confidence, I think came the calmness of knowing I didn鈥檛 need to prove anything to anyone anymore.

World Ocean Day is June 8.

On 麻豆原创鈥檚 influence in pursuing his dreams:

It was once a dream of mine to leave my home country and do research with NASA. Coming to 麻豆原创, I realized that dream. Maybe at one point I wouldn’t have been able to think rowing an ocean was possible, but achieving my dream at 麻豆原创 gave me the courage to try.

On the role a common goal can have in a team鈥檚 viability:

Our ultimate goal was to cross the ocean such that we would be willing and able to do it again in the next few years with the same team. This is the first time I am admitting out loud, I think we failed at that 鈥� none of us wishes to row an ocean again, nor are we planning another adventure with the same team.

So, though I have to admit we didn鈥檛 succeed in the ultimate holistic goal that we had, I think our crossing in general was quite successful. What I didn鈥檛 understand going into this was how strongly a common goal can influence your ability to withstand stress, interpersonal stress or annoyances from other team members. Everyone in this team had to work properly for us to be able to complete the goal. So even though we had that interpersonal tension and occasional conflicts, because of the salience of the shared goal, we were able to work through it.

On the breathtaking force of mother nature:

The ocean is so vast and so powerful. You鈥檙e nothing. We felt that the most when we had a school of whales approaching us from the stern. We saw them breaching, and then one whale swam under our boat, and we saw that it was longer than our boat, like 30 feet at least. It could have just pushed our boat over and do whatever it wanted with us. We had no power whatsoever.

And I really enjoyed the storms. During the last week we had such a strong wind coming from behind, with rain falling literally horizontally. It hurts when it hits you. The rain comes on so strong. And then the wind was so strong that it just pushed our boat. We usually did like 3 knots on our own, but the speed at that moment was 7 knots without rowing. We raised our oars and they became sails basically. We felt how the wind pushed through our oars. You鈥檙e just experiencing this unbelievable power of nature. It was amazing.

On his new motto 鈥� 鈥淒on鈥檛 fight with the ocean鈥�:

Just don鈥檛 fight with the ocean because you can鈥檛 win. There is no point. Just let things be, let them go. I think this was one of the things that I really took back with me from the experience. I can apply this anywhere. Like at the workplace, if we have colleagues who are difficult to deal with, you can’t change them. You can鈥檛 fight with the ocean. You can only change your own reactions and thoughts.

On halfway home still being a far way to go:

After we crossed the halfway point, it became more difficult. You would expect that maybe it gets easier because, oh, half is done, only half more to go, but only half more is still 20 days. It鈥檚 three more weeks. It鈥檚 still a lot of time to be thinking about, What do you want do when you finish? What do you want to eat? What are you going to do when you get back home? I think we as a team mentally got to the finish too fast. We really had to take a step back and remind ourselves to take it two hours at a time.

On the feeling of seeing land for the first time after 39 days:

We arrived at sunrise. When the light appeared and we saw those cliffs, it鈥檚 just something so overwhelming and unique, this feeling of, 鈥業t鈥檚 over. It’s done 鈥� 40 days of suffering basically has ended.鈥� As we entered the harbor, we saw our family and friends were up there on the cliff, waving the flags and then the finish flare going off. It was the high point, definitely.

On how the experience gave insight into his research on teams in extreme, isolated and confined environments:

I think one of the main takeaways that I got from this project was really that preparation is everything. Everyone externally was focusing on the mission, the row, because of course that鈥檚 the exciting part. For us, completing the row was the goal, but it鈥檚 the smallest piece of the whole project. The three years of preparation and those difficulties that we had, this was much more important.

So now for my research, I鈥檓 thinking, we鈥檙e always focusing on the part or the actual mission. It鈥檚 not necessarily irrelevant, but the mission is the outcome. The input that we should study is before the mission, the preparations. So that informs my future research quite a bit.

On what鈥檚 next:

I graduate in the summer. Days before we started the race, I accepted a job offer, which was a relief. I was prepared to take job interviews on the boat. I鈥檓聽starting as聽an assistant聽professor of industrial/organizational psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey in August.

I realized that I don鈥檛 like this type of several-weeks-endurance events, it鈥檚 too monotonous, too dull. I was thinking that my next big thing would be skiing across Greenland, which is more than a month as well. But now, no, thank you. There鈥檚 not enough variability, or excitement, for me. I love mountaineering, summiting a mountain in a few days. I just bought new mountain boots, so I think this will be my next thing.

Name:聽Christopher Emrich
笔辞蝉颈迟颈辞苍(蝉):听Boardman Endowed Professor of Environmental Science and Public Administration and聽founding member of 麻豆原创鈥檚 National Center for Integrated Coastal Research

Why are you interested in this research?
A main reason stems from my childhood in Florida 鈥� constantly being exposed to a variety of hazards and seeing how communities were impacted in different ways.聽Being able to study geography at a state university, the 聽University of South Florida, and then completing my Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina under the tutelage of leading experts in the field really helped solidify that I wanted to become an expert in both the hazards themselves and what we can do to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and rebound from them.

My time with FEMA supporting long-term recovery in Florida pushed me further to understand what is keeping people from recovering as quickly as some might expect.聽Tying all of these strings together really helped me pinpoint that one of the problems is that people are thirsty for knowledge.聽Learning how to turn data into information in order to extract meaningful knowledge has positioned me into a place that has meaning and impact for those attempting to make real-time decisions about hazards and disasters 鈥� from before the storm through the recovery period.

Who inspires you to conduct your research?
Seeing the suffering that takes place following disaster 鈥� suffering that could be avoided if society (people, governments and organizations) took the right steps to prepare for disasters 鈥� is what really drives what I do.聽I think that we can make simple changes to the way we do business that could lead to really impactful positive outcomes for disaster survivors.

How does 麻豆原创 empower you to do your research?
麻豆原创 has given me space and opportunity to explore the different aspects of hazard threat identification and vulnerability assessment.聽 Partnering with experts at DIST, and partners at FDOH, and the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (among others) 聽we have been able to create open access websites like hazardaware.org,聽vulnerabilitymap.org,聽hazardrisk.org, and the Florida Public Health Risk Assessment tool (flphrat.com).聽 Each of these share the common goal of translating data into knowledge to support better emergency management decision making and preparedness planning.

What major grants and honors have you earned to support your research?
Since arriving at 麻豆原创, I have been awarded $10.8 million across 34 different extramurally supported grants and contracts.聽This includes grants of over $300K from funders including the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine鈥檚 Gulf Research Program, the State of Florida, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Along the way, I have been awarded 麻豆原创鈥檚 Research Incentive Award twice (2021 and 2026) and 麻豆原创鈥檚 Luminary Award.

Why is this research important?
American political philosopher John Rawl鈥檚 once said, 鈥淭he natural distribution is neither just nor unjust; nor is it unjust that persons are born into society at some particular position.鈥�

I think it is a responsibility of each person, each organization, each governmental entity 聽鈥� and society as a whole 鈥� 聽to support those who need the most help among us.聽If we do not, how can we ever hope to move our society into a better position? My research supports making decisions that help those in most need, including those most at risk and with the least resources, to be better positioned for the next disaster.

Florida鈥檚 coastlines are changing, and so are the fish that depend on them.

As rising temperatures push tropical species northward and mangrove habitats expand into areas historically dominated by salt marshes, scientists are racing to understand how these shifts could affect marine food webs and long-term ecosystem stability.

Meredith Pratt, a 麻豆原创 integrative and conservation biology doctoral student, is helping answer those questions. Her research on sustainable fisheries management along Florida鈥檚 east coast earned her the prestigious Florida Sea Grant/Guy Harvey Fellowship. The highly competitive award supports graduate students conducting research that informs marine conservation and fisheries management while cultivating future leaders in marine science.

Tracking a Changing Ecosystem

Pratt studies how tropicalization 鈥� the northward movement of tropical species and habitats 鈥� is altering Florida鈥檚 coastal ecosystems.

“As temperatures rise, mangroves, traditionally found in warmer, tropical regions, are expanding northward into areas historically dominated by salt marshes,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his shift is influencing the species that live there.鈥�

To understand these changes, Pratt and her team study fish communities along Florida鈥檚 east coast. One fellowship-supported project focuses on predator-prey dynamics among popular sport fish, including common snook, red drum and spotted sea trout.

“The most interesting result so far is that the same fish species are eating different things, … and that raises important questions about how continued mangrove expansion could impact the ecosystem in the long term.鈥�

鈥淭he most interesting result so far is that the same fish species are eating different things depending on whether they inhabit traditional salt marshes or increasingly dominant mangrove environments,鈥� Pratt says. 鈥淲hile most species primarily feed on shrimp, common snook tend to consume more fish, and that raises important questions about how continued mangrove expansion could impact the ecosystem in the long term.鈥�

These findings were supported through lab gut analysis of fish samples collected in the field using seine nets to determine stomach contents. Because digestion can make some prey difficult to identify, Pratt also used stable isotope analysis, which provides insight into a fish鈥檚position in the food web based on chemical signatures in its tissue.

鈥淕ut content analysis shows us exactly what a fish recently ate, while stable isotopes give us a longer-term picture of its diet,鈥� she says. 鈥淭ogether, they allow us to answer questions we couldn鈥檛 with just one method alone.鈥�

Guiding Future Fisheries Management

The research is both environmentally and economically important to Florida. As one of the world鈥檚 premier fishing destinations, the state depends on healthy coastal ecosystems and fish populations to support its recreational and commercial fisheries.

鈥淢any of the fish we rely on start in estuaries and coastal environments,鈥� Pratt says. 鈥淭hey grow in protected areas like mangroves and salt marshes before moving offshore. If we don鈥檛 understand how those habitats are changing, we can鈥檛 effectively manage the fisheries that depend on them.鈥�

Connecting Science and Community

Pratt is also expanding the impact of her research beyond the lab. Through her National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship, she launched the Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) Fisheries Monitoring Program at the GTM National Estuarine Research Reserve.

“Getting people involved and helping them understand the importance of this work makes a big difference.”

The volunteer-driven initiative trains community members to collect fisheries data at designated sites, including species identification, abundance and size measurements. With nearly 20 volunteers participating, the program provides valuable long-term data while increasing public involvement in scientific research.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been one of the most rewarding parts of my Ph.D.,鈥� Pratt says. 鈥淕etting people involved and helping them understand the importance of this work makes a big difference.鈥�

A Full Circle Moment

For Pratt, earning the Florida Sea Grant/Guy Harvey Fellowship was a full-circle moment. As an undergraduate, she completed many of her classes and research experiences at the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center at Nova Southeastern University. Now, funding from Florida Sea Grant and the Guy Harvey Foundation is helping advance her research while providing professional development opportunities in science communication.

鈥淭his fellowship not only supports my research but also allows me to connect with other scientists, stakeholders and the public,鈥� she says. 鈥淪haring our findings and contributing to science communication is a really meaningful part of the experience.鈥�

Looking ahead, Pratt hopes her work will support more informed decision-making around fisheries management and conservation.

鈥淐onservation requires research and education working together,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f we can understand what鈥檚 happening and communicate that effectively, we can make better decisions to protect these ecosystems for future generations.鈥�

This year鈥檚 tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three nations 鈥� United States, Canada and Mexico 鈥� and the first to include an expanded field of 48 teams from across the globe. Eleven U.S. cities will host 78 matches June 11 鈥� July 19, including the championship match in New York and third place playoff in Miami.

This historic event coincides with the United States鈥� 250th anniversary聽and marks the first time since 1994 the country has hosted the men鈥檚 World Cup.

Here鈥檚聽a look at some of the Knights bringing this event to life.

Izzy Angel 鈥�23

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚听颈苍听丑耻尘补苍听肠辞尘尘耻苍颈肠补迟颈辞苍

Role:听惭别诲颈补听辞辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉听补苍诲听蝉别谤惫颈肠别蝉
FIFA location: Atlanta

I will be supporting media logistics, guiding photographers and press to designated areas, and facilitating press conferences and interviews. One of the biggest ways 麻豆原创 prepared me for this opportunity was through its emphasis on networking, collaboration and real-world experience. That mindset opened doors to internships, jobs and experiences that helped me gain confidence in putting myself out there and connecting with people.

It鈥檚 been really fulfilling to meet people with completely different backgrounds and life experiences who are all coming together over a shared passion. Being part of something on such a global scale and feeling that sense of community has been incredibly special.

Brendon Boseja 鈥�25

Bachelor鈥檚 in聽integrated聽business

Role:聽Senior聽coordinator,聽Client Group Management聽Accreditation
FIFA site: Miami

At 麻豆原创, I learned to network and make many connections in the industry and to continue these relationships. This has especially helped me throughout FIFA, especially since my main job is to communicate with every stadium involved in the tournament. Working for a sports organization as big as FIFA has been a dream of mine, and to be involved with an event like the World Cup is surreal to think about.

Taylor Culver 鈥�23 鈥�26MSBM 鈥�26MBA

Bachelor鈥檚 in kinesiology
惭补蝉迟别谤鈥檚听颈苍听蝉辫辞谤迟听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉听尘补苍补驳别尘别苍迟
Master鈥檚 in business administration

Role:聽Event聽executive, FIFA Fan Festival
FIFA site: Houston

鈥淏ecause of the connections, mentorship and opportunities I gained through 麻豆原创, these experiences expanded my confidence and showed me that I truly belong in this industry.鈥�

My role is to help create and execute large-scale fan experiences that bring the energy of the World Cup to life outside of the stadium. Being able to contribute to an event of this magnitude is both humbling and motivating, and I know it will be one of the most impactful experiences of my career. 麻豆原创 prepared me for this opportunity by putting me in real-world sports environments early and constantly challenging me to grow as a leader. Through the program and my experience as a recruiting assistant for 麻豆原创 Athletics with the football team, I learned how to operate in fast-paced environments where organization, communication and adaptability are critical. Because of the connections, mentorship and opportunities I gained through 麻豆原创, these experiences expanded my confidence and showed me that I truly belong in this industry.

Daniel Garzon 鈥�23 鈥�24MSBM 鈥�24MBA

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惭补蝉迟别谤鈥檚听颈苍听蝉辫辞谤迟听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉听尘补苍补驳别尘别苍迟
Master鈥檚 in business聽administration

Role:聽Workforce聽integration聽senior聽coordinator,聽Tournament Operation Center Services
FIFA site:聽Miami

I started my journey at FIFA as an intern with the volunteer management team shortly after graduating from the DeVos Sport Business Management program in 2024. As a recruitment coordinator, I spearheaded communications and recruitment strategy while sourcing and scheduling thousands of candidates. Now in my new role, I will be in the heartbeat of the headquarters of the tournament, fulfilling operational needs for all departments while manipulating data to make informed decisions for all the venues during the World Cup.

William Mendez 鈥�26MSBM 鈥�26MBA

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Master鈥檚 in business聽administration

Role: Team protocol liaison officer
FIFA site:聽Miami

I will provide operational support as a main point of contact for the teams鈥� protocol representatives, managing VIP/VVIP seating, ticket distribution and logistics. I鈥檓 truly excited to be part of an event of this magnitude because FIFA 鈥�26 goes beyond sports by bringing people together across cultures from all over the world.鈥疶he DeVos Sport Business Management program at 麻豆原创 has played a major role in preparing me for this moment, giving me the hands-on experience and confidence I need to contribute to an event of this scale.

Colin O鈥橳oole 鈥�26MSBM 鈥�26MBA

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Master鈥檚聽in business聽administration

Role: Accreditation center coordinator
FIFA site:聽Boston

I grew up watching the World Cup and always dreamed of being part of the most watched sporting event in the world. My experience in the soccer industry through both professional and volunteer roles gave me a strong foundation, and the DeVos program broadened my perspective. It exposed me to the business side of the industry, while simultaneously connecting me with incredible mentors and peers, ultimately giving me the confidence and network to land this opportunity with FIFA.

Connor Pank 鈥�17

Bachelor鈥檚 in聽management

Role:听罢别补尘听蝉别谤惫颈肠别蝉听惫别苍耻别听辞蹿蹿颈肠别谤
FIFA site: Tampa, Florida

The sport business management minor at 麻豆原创 offered plenty of opportunities to gain practical experience in the industry. My junior year, I was fortunate enough to land a season-long internship at Orlando City Soccer Club in the game day operations department, which then turned into a full-time position with seven amazing seasons of constant growth and experiences that I am forever grateful鈥痜or.

Being involved in a FIFA World Cup has been a personal goal of mine since my early days with Orlando City SC, when we hosted a U.S. Soccer vs.聽Panama World Cup Qualifier聽ahead of the聽2018 FIFA World Cup.聽Every team聽participating聽in the World Cup chooses a designated home base,聽which includes the team hotel, training聽site聽and other operational support facilities as needed. My role is centered around acting as FIFA鈥檚 primary operational lead on-site for Cabo Verde鈥檚 home base in Tampa to ensure a seamless, world-class experience.

Annie Quaile 鈥�06

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Role:聽Venue聽manager,聽FIFA Fan Festival
FIFA site: Atlanta

I act as the bridge between FIFA, Atlanta and the commercial and operational partners delivering the Fan Festival experience. My role focuses on coordinating event聽logistics, operations, guest experience, VIP and talent management, and partner integration while ensuring FIFA brand standards are upheld throughout the event.

One of the biggest takeaways from my experience at 麻豆原创 was learning how to balance creativity,聽leadership聽and problem-solving under pressure, which is聽essentially the聽foundation of live event and operational management.聽The FIFA World Cup is one of the few truly global experiences that brings together people from every background,聽culture聽and country around a shared passion.聽All of聽the planning, coordination and operational work happens behind the scenes for months, so finally seeing people from around the world聽gathering together, celebrating and creating memories is incredibly rewarding.

Andres Sifontes 鈥�24

Bachelor鈥檚 in communication

Role:聽Coordinator, Accreditation Documentation and Training Operations
FIFA site: Houston

I joined the FIFA team in September 2024, supporting preparations for both Club World Cup 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2026. In my role now, I oversee Accreditation Center operations in Houston, assist volunteers, and ensure that key stakeholders 鈥� including partners like Coca-Cola, Adidas and Visa 鈥� receive proper credentials. 麻豆原创鈥檚 communication program, and especially my聽Communication Research Methods听笔谤辞蹿别蝉蝉辞谤 , equipped me with the tools I continue to apply every day in my role at FIFA by teaching me how to communicate effectively, carry myself professionally, and think strategically.

Since graduating, my goal has been to contribute to the growth of soccer in the United States. This passion has always been part of who I am, and 麻豆原创 helped me build the foundation to pursue it professionally. After graduation, I worked with Inter Miami CF, and now with FIFA, I鈥檝e been fortunate to play a role in supporting the continued development of the sport. I truly believe we are about to witness unprecedented growth for the game in this country. I hope that at the end of my career, I can look back and say I contributed to that growth 鈥� and that it all started at 麻豆原创.

Dennis Sprenkle 鈥�01

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Role:聽Director of聽workforce聽and聽human聽resources
FIFA site:听惭颈补尘颈

My team oversees the employee journey from recruitment to offboarding across the three host countries (Canada, Mexico and the U.S.) and 16 host cities. We are responsible for everything from workforce planning, training, visa management, benefits, payroll, employee uniforms and just about every other aspect of human resources.

I have always had a keen interest in global political and business affairs, which is why I studied political science with an emphasis on international relations at 麻豆原创. Working for a governing body like FIFA in many respects is akin to working for the United Nations. 鈥� In order to be a successful leader in a global organization like FIFA, it is critical to have an open mind to effectively collaborate, plan and execute the largest sporting event in human history. My education and experience at 麻豆原创 as a leader in Student Government certainly laid the foundation and has helped prepare me for this opportunity.

Ryan Taheri 鈥�24

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Role:听奥辞谤办蹿辞谤肠别听辞辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉听尘补苍补驳别谤
FIFA site: Dallas

I grew up watching the World Cup with my family. Now, I occasionally stop for a second and realize how special it all is to be working behind the scenes on the operational side of the tournament. A big part of what I do in my role is coordinate with different functional areas like transportation, catering, accommodations, uniforms and venue operations to ensure the workforce is supported and operations run smoothly.

鈥溌槎乖� pushed me into leadership opportunities early and taught me how to work in fast-paced environments with a lot of moving parts.鈥�

A lot of the role comes down to staying organized, communicating clearly and solving problems quickly. 麻豆原创 pushed me into leadership opportunities early and taught me how to work in fast-paced environments with a lot of moving parts. Looking back now, I don鈥檛 think I realized at the time how much of my experience at 麻豆原创 directly prepared me for working on something as large and complex as a鈥疐IFA 鈥�26.

Alejandro Tarazona 鈥�22

Bachelor鈥檚 in integrated business

Role:听惭补苍补驳别谤,听罢谤补颈苍颈苍驳听厂颈迟别听痴别苍耻别听罢谤补苍蝉辫辞谤迟
FIFA site: Miami

I鈥痮versee transportation operations and鈥痩ogistics鈥痑t all 75 training sites across U.S., Canada and Mexico 鈥� including shuttles, loading zones, team busses and their fleets, and parking lots for media, volunteers and guests. I grew up in Lake Nona and had an opportunity to play collegiate soccer at a Division II school in Florida, but financially, it just didn鈥檛 make sense for my family and me. Instead I enrolled at Valencia College and earned my degree through the .

麻豆原创 gave me the technical skills I needed for my managerial position now, like creating financial analysis for labor rates across 16 stadiums that鈥痺e鈥檒l鈥痓e using in U.S., Canada and Mexico. As a former soccer player and as someone鈥痺ho is鈥痮bsessed with the sport, working for one of the biggest and best sports organization in the world has been a lifelong goal.鈥疶his experience has taught me to consider redefining what鈥檚 possible and keep setting goals.

Tomas Upegui 鈥�22

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Role:听贵濒别别迟听辞辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉听补苍补濒测蝉迟
FIFA site: Miami

Growing up playing soccer, being involved with FIFA in any capacity is something I never imagined would become reality, especially this early in my career. I am supporting transportation and depot operations across all 16 host cities, contributing to transportation operations involving VIPs and trophy movements. Studying business taught me how to work efficiently in fast-paced environments and quickly adapt while balancing multiple responsibilities at once, which directly translates to my role.

One of the most exciting parts of this experience has been realizing the true scale of the FIFA World Cup and seeing firsthand how much coordination happens behind the scenes to make an event of this magnitude successful.

麻豆原创 College of Medicine Associate Professor Claudia Andl, a throat and oral cancer researcher, is investigating how a simple probiotic could treat and prevent both conditions..

麻豆原创 College of Medicine Associate Professor Claudia Andl, a throat and oral cancer researcher, is investigating how a simple probiotic could treat and prevent both conditions. The research is funded by a one-year, more than $380,000 grant from the Florida Department of Health鈥檚 Florida Cancer Innovation Fund.

Probiotics are live microorganisms 鈥� usually bacteria or yeasts 鈥� that support and strengthen health by increasing the body鈥檚 population of healthy cells. Many people take probiotics to improve gut health and digestion. Andl鈥檚 research is focused on using a healthy bacteria called Lactobacillus spp. to treat esophageal damage caused by acid reflux and improve the microbial environment in the esophagus to reduce the risk of cancer.

In patients with acid reflux 鈥� as well as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a chronic and more severe form of the digestive condition 鈥� stomach acid burns through the lining of the esophagus, causing inflammation and DNA damage to surrounding cells. Over time, those cellular changes can create a condition called Barrett鈥檚 esophagus, which increases the risk for esophageal cancer. In addition, when the throat鈥檚 bacterial environment becomes dominated by stomach acids and salts, healthy bacteria struggle to survive. Harmful bacteria take their place, causing further cell damage and inflammation that increases cancer risk. Introducing Lactobacillus spp. into disease models has solved both issues.

鈥淲e all talk about how important it is to eat yogurt or drink kombucha so that we maintain a healthy bacterial residence in all your organs. And it鈥檚 the same in the esophagus.鈥�

鈥淭he reintroduction of beneficial bacteria works two-fold,鈥� Andl says. 鈥淚t restores a normal environment again, but also these Lactobacilli are known to suppress inflammation and repair the DNA damage.鈥�

鈥淲e all talk about how important it is to eat yogurt or drink kombucha so that we maintain a healthy bacterial residence in all your organs,鈥� Andl continues. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 the same in the esophagus.鈥�

Early results have shown a reduction in Barrett鈥檚 esophagus, and if cancer develops at all, it occurs much later than in models not treated with the probiotic.

Andl says she hopes her research will inform new therapies and provide more information on how to keep the body鈥檚 microbial balance healthy to fight disease. She notes this is especially important as data also shows Barett鈥檚 esophagus and esophageal cancer are increasing in patients under ages 60-70, the average age for these patient populations.

鈥淲e aim to improve outcomes for the large number of reflux patients at risk for cancer,鈥� Andl says. 鈥淧laying a role in that would be incredibly rewarding.鈥�

Andl joined 麻豆原创 in 2016 after receiving her Ph.D. in cell biology from the University Duisburg-Essen in Germany and conducting postdoctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania.

This research is sponsored by the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund and the Florida Department of Health.

贬别谤听research, backed by a five-year $813,130 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases grant, found that an antimicrobial peptide naturally found in cows weakens the biofilm defenses of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria and destroys it.

Now in their fourth year of research, Fleeman and her lab have discovered exactly how the peptide works in findings published in PLOS Pathogens.

鈥淥ur research is very advantageous for healthcare because about 80% of bacterial infections being treated in the clinic are bacteria living in a biofilm state, which makes them resistant to virtually every antibiotic available,鈥� she says.

The results聽represent聽a critical step to potentially applying this peptide as a therapy and eventually treating patients,聽as the findings聽show they can and kill biofilm-embedded bacteria in animal models.

Parsing out the Peptide

K. pneumoniae is found in the intestines and is usually harmless, however, the bacterium develops resistance over a person鈥檚 lifetime as they are exposed to antibiotics. The bacteria also can spread from the intestine to other parts of the body in immunocompromised patients and those who have internal ruptures or exposure to contaminated medical devices. That exposure can lead to pneumonia, urinary tract or wound infections.

鈥淲hat happens is the bacteria聽infects聽the wound, proliferates, and then invades through the bloodstream聽where it travels聽to the liver, kidneys and spleen,鈥� Fleeman聽says. 鈥淲e聽found聽our peptide聽was able to decrease the bacteria聽at the source while limiting聽the bacteria鈥檚聽ability to move聽through the blood.鈥�

Fleeman and her lab鈥檚 most recent study found that the peptide triggers a dual stress response that tricks the bacteria to break out of their protective biofilm.

They discovered the genetics of a specific protein in the bacterium when turned on in the germ causes it to break from its own protective biofilm. The peptide, in effect, damages the protection and then stresses the bacterium into shedding its protection, making the germ more sensitive to antibiotics and the body鈥檚 immune system.

鈥淏y聽hitting the membrane as well as protein synthesis at the same time, it’s聽a double punch that triggers a genetic聽change聽in the cell to make it think it needs to break out of聽the biofilm as a response to our peptide,鈥� Fleeman聽says.

The team says their sustained research aims to demonstrate that their peptide can work synergistically with existing antibiotics. They envision long-term applications could involve a topical cream that weakens the bacteria鈥檚 defenses and allows standard antibiotics to work more effectively.

鈥淲e鈥檙e moving our research聽forward聽and we鈥檙e very hopeful,鈥� Fleeman聽says.

Preparing for the Post-Antibiotic Era

The first author of this new work聽is聽Robert Beckman聽鈥�23, who graduated聽from 麻豆原创聽with a聽bachelor鈥檚 degree in health sciences,聽managed聽Fleeman鈥檚 lab聽and is now on his way to聽the University of Michigan聽for his Ph.D.

His聽previous聽work as an EMT gave him firsthand exposure to聽infectious diseases and their impact on聽patients.聽He聽says聽helping to lead the study and聽working with聽Fleeman helped prepare him for a career in medical research.

鈥淚 have developed a strong foundation in research and gained insight into the many components that define an effective scientist,鈥� he聽says. 鈥淢y long-term goal is to remain in academia and eventually lead my own research lab.聽I plan to continue focusing on bacteriology, with a particular emphasis on pathogenic bacteria and drug discovery applications.鈥�

Funding and Disclosure:

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute聽of Allergy聽and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R00AI163295. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily聽represent聽the official views of the National Institutes of Health.