Endeavors 2025

DIVISION OF RESEARCH

ENDEAVORS

FSU DIVISION OF RESEARCH 2025 REPORT

WHEN RESEARCH BECOMES

DISCOVERY

FSU RESEARCH | 1U R E S ANNUAL E A R C REPORT H . F S U2025 .ED

DIVISION OF RESEARCH VISION: The Office of Research will be a service-driven organization that broadly supports and celebrates the advancement of knowledge, transformative discoveries, and creative endeavors that benefit individuals and communities across Florida, the nation, and the world.

MISSION: To inspire excellence in research, scholarship, and creative activities that support and promote: •

a culture of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship,

•

an inclusive environment that values individuals and ideas,

•

collaborations that strengthen competitiveness, and

•

ethical awareness and conduct.

VALUES THAT INSPIRE:

I

INNOVATIVE: identifying and embracing novel solutions

N

NIMBLE: adapting quickly and responding to opportunities

S

SERVICE: providing support that promotes sustained success

P

PARTNERSHIP: collaborating to align and support common interests

I

INTEGRITY: demonstrating ethical and professional behavior

R

RESPECT: recognizing and valuing individuals and ideas

E

EXCELLENCE: striving for high quality achievement

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LETTER FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

Dear Colleagues, As we reflect on another remarkable year at Florida State University, I am proud to share the progress, achievements, and resilience that define our research community.

The federal landscape for research funding and policy continues to evolve, presenting new challenges for universities across the nation. Navigating shifting priorities, regulatory changes, and increased competition, our faculty, staff, and students have shown unwavering determination and adaptability.

Despite these challenges, FSU has persevered and excelled.

This year, our researchers submitted more than $1.2 billion in proposals—an extraordinary testament to their ambition, innovation, and commitment to advancing knowledge. Even more impressive, our university achieved a record in research expenditures—$487 million—demonstrating the impactful work being conducted in our laboratories, centers, and collaborative partnerships.

These milestones are not merely numbers; they represent the dedication of our scholars and the strength of our institution.

That is the FSU spirit at its finest. Vires, Artes, Mores. Strength.

Skill. Character.

and enthusiasm for supporting the university’s robust research and creative mission. Endeavors 2025 highlights just some of our collective accomplishments over the past year.

The Office of Research is honored to serve the faculty, staff and students at FSU and we look forward to seeing what we can achieve in 2026.

FSU’s research enterprise is driving discoveries that improve lives, foster economic growth, and address pressing societal challenges.

With warm regards,

I am deeply grateful to the faculty for putting in the hard work to write proposals and create scholarship, research and creative works that change our world. And I’m incredibly thankful for the Office of Research team for their dedication

Stacey Patterson, Ph.D. Vice President for Research Florida State University

TABLE OF CONTENTS

04 06 12

Division of Research Metrics FSU Research News Academies & Awards

14 16 18

Discovery Days Faculty Awards CRC Funding Recipients

FSU RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2025 | 3

BY THE NUMBERS

DIVISION OF RESEARCH

2025 in Review

$3.6M CRC

Research Support The Council on Research & Creativity supports internal investments to FSU researchers

60+

FSU Centers & Institutes

Doubled National Academy Members Recruited 7 new FSU faculty fellows of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

3 New Research Research Connections Institutes Launched online at fsuhealth.fsu.edu/research-support

150,000+ ft² New space opened for research • IGNITE Tallahassee • Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building (IRCB)

• The Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD) • The Institute for Connecting Nutrition and Health (ICON-Health) • Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education (InSPIRE)

34

Discovery Days events promoting research & creative endeavors at FSU

$1.22B Grant Proposals

Submitted in fiscal year 2025

$2B+ Total Research Expenditures Over the past 5 years

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THE Last 5 years FISCAL YEARS 2021-2025

TOTAL RESEARCH EXPENDITURES $500M

President Richard McCullough challenged faculty to reach $500 million in total research.

The research community has responded and in fiscal year 2025, FSU reported an all-time high in research at $487 million, representing a 48% increase since his arrival in 2021!

$487M $460.7M $414.4M

$400M

$356M $328.6M $300M

TOTAL RESEARCH EXPENDITURES

+48% IN 5 YEARS

$200M FY 21

FY 22

FY 23

FY 24

FY 25

SUBMITTED PROPOSALS (QUANTITY)

SUBMITTED PROPOSALS (TOTAL $ AMOUNT) 1533

1500

$1.4B

$1.2B

$1.22B

$1.169B* $1.087B

1452 1400

$1B

$873M

1375 $800M

1321

1300

1304

$730M

$600M

$400M

1200 FY 21

FY 22

FY 23

FY 24

FY 25

FY 21

FY 22

FY 23

FY 24

FY 25

*FY21 proposal submission includes $300M for MagLab renewal

FSU RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2025 | 5

THIS YEAR’S Discoveries

FSU RESEARCH NEWS

Deciphering Human Behavior with Geospatial Data • • •

Florida State University has launched the Spatial Data Science Center (SDSC) within the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (COSSPP), establishing a new hub for interdisciplinary research dedicated to solving complex societal problems using advanced spatial data analytics.

Led by renowned spatial data scientist A. Stewart Fotheringham, Krafft Professor of Spatial Data Science in the Department of Geography, the SDSC leverages technologies such as GPS and satellite-based remote sensing to analyze human behavior and societal patterns in a geographical context. The research will address critical issues related to public health, transportation, crime, poverty, the environment, and more.

Foteringham joined FSU in spring 2025 and, as an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, he is widely recognized for his contributions to spatial analysis and geocomputation, including the development of Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) — a method used extensively in public health, urban planning, and numerous other disciplines.

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A. Stewart Fotheringham Krafft Professor of Spatial Data Science

Leading the Nation in Nutrition Research • • •

A new Florida State University research center, the Institute for Connecting Nutrition and Health, or ICON-Health, is pioneering a comprehensive approach to tackle diet-related chronic diseases through multidisciplinary nutrition research.

The institute is engaging faculty expertise across virtually all FSU colleges and programs and leveraging FSU Health and partnering medical centers to lead research with a laser focus on improving public health and economic prosperity.

“ICON-Health sets the foundation for where we’re heading in nutrition and health outcomes, lowering chronic disease and improving life for millions of people,” said Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “FSU has an opportunity to bring together brilliant researchers from a variety of disciplines to work on problems that will move nutritional science forward.”

Regan Bailey

The institute is led by National Academy of Medicine member Regan Bailey, a professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, and National Academy of Sciences member Patrick Stover, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, both at the FSU College of Medicine.

Patrick Stover

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FSU RESEARCH NEWS

FSU Health Hospital in Panama City Beach • • •

With the goal of improving access and innovation in health and health care in Northwest Florida, Florida State University has announced plans to build an acute care hospital in Panama City Beach under the FSU Health name.

Pending approval by the State of Florida, the plan paves the way to construct a stateof-the-art medical facility that will serve the residents of Bay and Walton counties.

Bond financing for the project, estimated to be approximately $414 million, was approved on March 26, 2025 by the Florida Board of Governors, the 17-member board responsible for the operation and coordination of the state’s 12 public universities.

The 13-member FSU Board of Trustees approved the bond financing in a meeting earlier the same day.

The university plans to partner with an operator, anticipated to be Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) pending approval by the City of Tallahassee, to lease and operate the new hospital. This arrangement will ensure long-term quality performance that aligns with growing community needs and innovative best practices.

Former Aviation Test Pilot Leading FSU InSPIRE • • •

Florida State University tapped aerospace leader and decorated test pilot Drew Allen to head its high-impact initiative, InSPIRE — the Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education.

InSPIRE is FSU’s effort to turn Northwest Florida into a hub for aerospace and defense innovation. The institute focuses on applied research, high-speed aerodynamics, advanced manufacturing and building a strong STEM workforce.

Allen brings more than two decades of military aviation experience and a strong track record in defense research and partnerships. He joins FSU from the Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Innovation Institute, where he helped secure more than $50 million in federal contracts and built collaborations with more than 25 aerospace and defense companies in just two years.

InSPIRE bridges university research with industry needs and includes partnerships with major regional players like Bay Economic Development Alliance, Florida’s Great Northwest, and Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.

Allen, a former U.S. Air Force commander and the only pilot ever qualified in every modern USAF fighter jet — the F-15, F-16, F-22, F-35 and F-117 — has led teams of thousands and managed budgets topping $1 billion.

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Drew Allen

Festival of the Creative Arts • • •

Florida State University’s Office of Research hosted the Festival of the Creative Arts, a campuswide collaborative event highlighting the different voices, talents and creativity of FSU faculty and students throughout January and February.

Departments from across campus celebrated the innovation and creative excellence that result from combining various modes of expression and subjects.

“The festival highlights many areas of interdisciplinary research across campus with faculty and students engaged in performances, symposia, and talks,” said Professor of Organ, Iain Quinn, festival director and FSU’s Research Fellow in the arts and humanities.

“Research is the core of our scholarly work, and we look forward to sharing new discoveries, multiple premieres and superb performances, all while enjoying great conversations with the larger community.”

Several events were offered for K-12 students, including the popular “Sing with the Symphony” concert, in which the audience sang a new piece with an orchestra; FSU Math Fun Day; a sing-along screening of “The Wizard of Oz;” and events at the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee.

Photo by: Meagan Helman/School of Dance

FSU RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2025 | 9

FSU RESEARCH NEWS

SHARED EQUIPMENT

$1M+

SECURE OFFICES

MEETING SPACE

20+

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10+ LAB SPACE

30+

FSU IGNITE(s) Local Startups • • •

Florida State University is expanding its impact with the launch of IGNITE Tallahassee — a 40,000-square-foot startup incubator located in Innovation Park.

In partnership with the Leon County Research and Development Authority, FSU actively supports deep-tech ventures with the infrastructure, expertise, and programming needed to turn bold ideas into scalable businesses.

IGNITE supports founders through tailored entrepreneurial services, funding strategy, mentorship, and a robust network of partners. Programming includes targeted workshops and seminars on SBIR/STTR proposal writing, intellectual property strategy, and startup growth. Collaborations with TiE Tampa Bay, local business leaders, and academic researchers help extend the impact across the broader North Florida community.

The facility itself features more than 30 labs — both private and shared — alongside over 20 private offices, a dozen meeting rooms, and collaborative spaces designed to foster innovation. Shared lab access and high-end equipment allow startups to begin research immediately, avoiding costly infrastructure buildouts and accelerating their path to market.

Driving Innovation Through Patented Work • • •

Florida State University honored university innovators who produced patented research in the 2024 fiscal year in a ceremony in the spring.

President McCullough and Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson honored 41 individuals who received patents during the fiscal year 2024 for a wide variety of research including work on the dengue virus, organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites, and an active vortex generator to improve heat transfer in heat exchangers.

“What a wonderful day to be able to celebrate years of work and innovation, showcasing that innovation really is truly everywhere at Florida State University,” Patterson said. “We’re really proud of our faculty, staff and students on how they come together to really have impact on society at large. Patents are one piece of that, demonstrating the innovation culture we have at FSU.”

Improving Reading Outcomes • • •

Florida State University researchers are working with Wisconsin-based Ventris Learning to move new tools into elementary school classrooms that will help teachers identify children who are at risk for reading difficulties.

The university has licensed advanced screening assessments developed by researchers Yaacov Petscher and Hugh Catts as part of the Reach Every Reader Project, funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

The assessments use computer games as a quick tool to determine if a young learner is at risk of being a struggling reader.

Ventris is specifically capitalizing on assessments for three areas key in literacy — phonological awareness, word reading, and non-word reading. The company is putting additional technology in place so that schools can actively use the tool developed by FSU researchers to help make individualized decisions for students based on how well they perform on the assessment.

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Academies & AWARDS

FSU RESEARCH NEWS

“Florida State University is a leading research university and an excellent place to grow an academic career.

Our ability to attract these esteemed faculty members is a testament to that commitment.”

FSU President Richard McCullough

FSU Doubles Number of National Academy Members • • • With recent hires in the College of Medicine and the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, Florida State University has doubled the number of its faculty who are members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a prestigious organization that unites leading researchers from around the country.

“Florida State University is a leading research university and an excellent place to grow an academic career,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “Our ability to attract these esteemed faculty members is a testament to that commitment.”

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, or NASEM, are private, nonprofit institutions that provide expert advice on some of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and world. Their work helps shape sound policies, inform public opinion and advance the pursuit of science, engineering and medicine.

The university now counts 12 NASEM members among its faculty, an increase from six in 2024.

This year, FSU added National Academy members A. Stewart Fotheringham to the Department of Geography, Regan Bailey to the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, and Patrick Stover to the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

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National Academy of Inventors • • • Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson was named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, an honor that is nationally recognized as the highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors. Patterson holds several U.S. patents that focus on novel detection platforms and engineered cell lines used to accelerate drug discovery and toxicity testing.

Four FSU faculty members—Hoyong Chung, Yaacov Petscher, Prashant Singh and Branko Stefanovic—were also named 2025 NAI Senior Members.

NAI Senior Members are active faculty, scientists and administrators with success in patents, licensing and commercialization and have produced technologies that have had real impact on the welfare of society.

Academy of Science, Engineering & Medicine of Florida • • •

Six Florida State University researchers have been named to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida in recognition of their extraordinary research accomplishments.

“These six researchers are outstanding faculty members who have made significant contributions to their fields,” said FSU Vice President for Research Stacey S. Patterson. “We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and congratulate them on being named to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida.”

Founded in 2018, the academy studies issues in science, engineering and medicine of interest to the people of Florida and provides unbiased, expert advice related to these issues.

This year’s members are Professor of Behavioral Science Angelina Sutin, Professor of Psychology Chris Patrick, Professor of Chemistry Igor Alabugin, Professor of Chemistry Joseph Schlenoff, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Professor Richard Liang, and National MagLab NMR Director Robert Schurko.

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Across Florida State University, faculty, staff and students are conducting exciting research and creative work. The third annual FSU Discovery Days, held Oct. 18-25, was an opportunity to celebrate those endeavors and to highlight the ways that research is having an impact.

The weeklong showcase introduced a new center that will use food and nutrition as the solution to human health, highlighted resources for entrepreneurs and researchers looking to partner with each other, featured research presentations from students and more.

More than 2,500 people attended 34 Discovery Days events.

Here are some snapshots of the week.

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2025

FSU RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2025 | 15

FACULTY AWARDS

Excellence in Research and Innovation

FSU proudly celebrates our world-class faculty, whose groundbreaking research and innovative discoveries continue to set new standards of excellence. Each year, the Division of Research spotlights extraordinary achievements with three prestigious faculty awards: Distinguished Research Professor, Developing Scholar, and Distinguished University Scholar. Here are this year’s winners.

DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH PROFESSORS Professor Qing-Xiang Sang leads pioneering research in chemistry and biochemistry, focusing on the intricate processes of cell development to uncover new pathways for understanding and treating cancer.

Professor Matthew Goff stands out in the field of religion, recognized for his depth of scholarship in Early Judaism and Biblical Studies. His prolific work continues to shape the academic landscape and inspire future research.

Professor Antonio Terracciano is driving new insights into medicine by exploring the connections between personality traits and dementia, seeking breakthroughs that advance mental health and patient care.

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DEVELOPING SCHOLARS Associate Professor Robert Tomko is advancing biomedical sciences through his research on the ubiquitin-proteasome system, investigating its essential role in maintaining health and understanding disease mechanisms.

Associate Professor Elizabeth Cecil brings a multidimensional approach to the study of religion, utilizing texts, images, monuments, and landscapes to illuminate the history of Hindu religions throughout South and Southeast Asia.

Associate Professor Aaron Wilber is at the forefront of neuroscience, examining how neural networks are impacted by mental and memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, with the goal of fostering innovative treatments.

Associate Professor Yanshuo Sun elevates engineering by applying advanced mathematical modeling to optimize the planning and management of transportation systems, enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS Senior Research Scientist Xiaobiao Xu is transforming climate science at the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, employing high-resolution numerical models to decode large-scale ocean circulation and its impact on global climate patterns.

Research Faculty III Jan Jaroszynski is setting new standards in material science and scientific instrumentation development at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, propelling forward-thinking solutions and technological innovation.

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$3.6 Million+

in CRC Research Support Aaron Wilber

Brendan Lantz

Erol Koymen

Jiajin Sun

Alexander Jimenez

Brian Miller

Evan Saltzman

Jie Chen

Ali Kara

Bryan Kudisch

Fengjiao Liu

John Mathias

Alisa Houser

Bryan Quaife

Folarin Ajibade

Joseph Schlenoff

Amanda Driscoll

Cammy Crolic

He Zhao

Joseph Watso

Amy Webster

Carolina Velasquez Calderon

Heather Maranges

Joshua Mysona

Ana-Maria Dimand

Carrie Danielson

Hristo Chipilski

Julie Brancale

Andre Figueiredo Maciel

Celia Reddick

Ian MacCormack

Justin LaFavor

Andrea DeGiorgi

Christen Garcia

Ilias Filippou

Karen Large

Andrea Lobene

Claudia Anderson

Irene Zanini-Cordi

Kristin Dowell

Anna Cohen

Clifton Callender

James Jordan

Kyle Smith

Antonio Terracciano

David Foster

James Marvel

Laura Copenhaver

Arianne Quinn

Dotan Haim

Jamie Ho

Lauren Gillis

Artur Luz Nunes Queiroz

Dylan Principi

Jan Jaroszynski

Liling Chang

Aubrey Lauersdorf

Ebrahim Ahmadisharaf

Jasmine Bracey

Longfeng Li

Brady DeCouto

Edward Kalkreuter

Jean Shon

Lori Gooding

Braidyn Lazenby

Elizabeth Cecil

Jennifer Atkins

Lukasz Dusanowski

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Florida State University’s Council on Research and Creativity supported researchers with $3,638,197 in grants in 2025.

Congratulations to these award winners!

Lyndsay Jenkins

Natalie Sherer

Shibo Li

Yan Zeng

Madeleine Martin

Neetesh Sharma

Silvia Valisa

Yanshuo Sun

Margaret Hanson

Nia Love

Sladjana Lukic

Yanzhu Chen

Maria Ryan

Olga Lenczewska

Songhee Han

Yin Yang

Mario Jackson

Panayotis League

Sonia Hazard

Yuan Wang

Mark Souva

Partha Sarkar

Sophie McGuinness

Yue Wang

Mary Matthews

Paul Peluso

Subhasree Sengupta

Yunjung Kim

Matthew Goff

Peng Xiong

Sylwia Piatkowska

Yushun Dong

Matthew Lenard

Qing Mai

Tatjana Soldat-Jaffe

Zhengguang Lu

Matthew Patience

Qing-Xiang Sang

Umedjon Ibragimov

Zhixin Pan

McKenna Stenson

Robert Tomko

Veronica White

Zucai Suo

Michelle Therrien

Ruosi Shao

William Cockriel

Min Sook Park

Sandra Brooke

William Jackson

Mohamed Kabbaj

Sarah Brown

William Olivera Serrano

Mora Beauchamp-Byrd

Seth Young

Xiangpeng Li

Mykhailo Shatruk

Shangqian Gao

Xiaobiao Xu

Narendra Bosukonda

Shannon LaPoint

Xin Liu

FSU RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2025 | 19

ENDEAVORS 2025 REPORT FSU DIVISION OF RESEARCH

DIVISION OF RESEARCH MAIN OFFICE 3012 Westcott North Tallahassee, FL 32306

CONTACT US (850) 644-9694 Research.fsu.edu