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Emma Martin, a London native passionate about engineering, found her way to Florida State University (FSU) after attending an overseas career fair at her school. The college’s capstone senior design project program, known for its industry ties and attractive scholarship opportunities, drew her across the Atlantic.
During her sophomore year, an undergraduate research position at the Applied Superconductivity Center (ASC) ignited her passion for superconductivity. The center’s proximity to the college allowed for a seamless integration of academics and research, ultimately leading Martin to pursue a PhD in mechanical engineering at FSU.
“When I was at the end of my undergraduate degree, I knew I wasn’t done with the field and decided I had to stay on at the lab for grad school,” Martin says. “Carrying out my graduate studies here allows me to continue working with researchers at the forefront of the field while also providing me with the knowledge and qualifications I will need to advance in my career.”
FSU consistently ranks among the top 25 public universities nationally, and its engineering program embodies that same excellence. Year after year, faculty and students consistently push the boundaries of engineering knowledge, generating high-impact research that ranks among the best for its campus size.
The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering provides top-notch research facilities and faculty specializing in superconducting materials, engineering resilience, materials science, and sustainable energy. Source: M Wallheiser/FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
With a student body of just over 3,000, the college cultivates a close-knit community where students benefit from a strong faculty-to-student ratio and extensive hands-on learning opportunities. Referring to Professors Lance Cooley, Fumitake Kametani and assistant professor Rebekah Sweat, Martin says, “Both my undergraduate and graduate experiences have been filled with fantastic educators who have taught me so much both inside and outside the classroom.”
But what truly sets this college apart is its unique collaboration with Florida A&M University (FAMU), creating the only joint college of engineering in the US. This partnership fosters an engineering research ecosystem that fuses cutting-edge facilities and a vast array of opportunities for students. Just ask Anna Mills, a graduate of the Chemical Engineering PhD program.
“Since the College of Engineering is a joint college, it offered me countless opportunities to network and practice handling the logistics of working in diverse teams with varied schedules,” she says. “This is a skill I practice weekly, if not daily.”
Martin agrees. “This partnership means that students have access to the resources offered by both universities,” she says. “I have benefitted from this in many ways, most recently by accessing journal articles in the library relevant to my work that were not available to me through my home institution.”
The college offers seven PhD programs designed to equip students with the expertise and research skills needed to thrive in academia and industry. These programs include chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, and industrial engineering. All you need is a bachelor’s degree to apply — research experience is a plus but unnecessary.
No matter which program you opt for, you’ll learn from award-winning faculty who are at the forefront of their fields. One such faculty member who profoundly impacted Mills’s journey was Professor Shayne McConomy. His willingness to discuss engineering and life beyond the classroom proved invaluable. “During my senior year, I took a directed individual study (DIS) course with him called Automotive Systems Integration,” she says. “The DIS explored many nuanced aspects of vehicle design, such as how seat positioning affects how passengers might be injured in a car crash and the factors that go into fuel efficiency. That class really cemented my interest in a career involving electric vehicles (EVs).”
With a student population of just over 3,000, FSU offers a favorable faculty-to-student ratio, providing ample opportunities for hands-on work in high-impact laboratories. Source: M Walleiser/FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
What’s more, students can use state-of-the-art facilities, including the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory‘s magnetic resonance imaging technology. They also benefit from collaborations with nearby research centers like the Applied Superconductivity Center and the Center for Advanced Power Systems — an advantage Martin is well-acquainted with.
“As a researcher in the world of superconductivity, having access to the user facilities at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory has been invaluable,” she says. “The lab’s resources attract users from all over the world and having them in my own backyard has been incredible.”
Beyond research, Martin has gained real-world experience as a teaching assistant for undergraduate engineering students. This role exposed her to the instructor’s perspective, solidifying her own knowledge and sparking an interest in potentially becoming a professor.
“Similarly, working at the lab means having access to many outreach opportunities,” she says. “I have also given lab tours and run engineering demonstrations for middle schoolers. Seeing young people so excited about science and all the possibilities has reinvigorated my passion for my research many times.”
Learn more about the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering at Florida State University.
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