Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Virginia Tech have received an $800,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help more African American students obtain graduate degrees in Chemistry and related fields.

“We want to increase the number of underresourced minority students who obtain graduate degrees by building a sustainable platform to support and retain our students throughout the masters and Ph.D. stages,” Natalie Arnett, the principal investigator for this initiative, said.

Undergraduate Student Spotlight

Nicholas DiRoberto is a senior at Florida State University studying biomedical engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Originally from Hollywood, Florida, the eclectic student plans to pursue a law degree after graduating. He’s currently researching genetic engineering, tissue engineering and biomedical devices. 

2025 Update: Diatech is Acquired

In October 2025, Diatech Diabetes announced that its core assets and intellectual property were acquired by DEKA Research & Development. 

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is the proud alma mater of two chemical-biomedical engineering graduates making history. 

Engineering scholars Bobby and Roneisha Haney graduated from Florida A&M University and are the first doctorates of the Center of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program at the college. The two are married and landed prestigious positions after graduating in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Undergraduate Research Spotlight

Max Samuel James is a fourth-year biomedical engineering student at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. He is from Miami Beach, Florida, and researches nano-biotechnology and pharmaceutical drug discovery. In the summer of 2021, James was an undergraduate research assistant through the Industrial and Manufacturing summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (IME-REU) at the High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI).

Maribel Amwake is the new Director of Student Engagement at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. She brings a wealth of academic experience to the position, and her role will be to provide leadership and support to student organizations on campus. She plans to be involved with the mentorship program as well as assist with scholarships and awards at the college.

Marissa Dickerson is a junior chemical engineering student at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. She hails from West Palm Beach, Florida and researches customizable printable 3-D for favorable mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. She took part in the Summer 2021 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the High-Performance Materials Institute closely associated with the college. Dickerson is also a recipient of the Florida A&M University George W. Gore Award.