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In 2025, Â鶹´«Ã½ faculty research ranged from collaborations with NASA to advancing cancer treatments, while students made headlines with innovations in brain injury detection and marine mammal conservation.  

Â鶹´«Ã½ research didn’t just make headlines. It moved the needle across critical disciplines, including science, health, technology, logistics and coastal resilience. The addition of over 50 new faculty members this fall complements the university’s longstanding commitment to research excellence, positioning Â鶹´«Ã½ as a hub for high-impact inquiry and interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Dr. Kimberly Mayer joined Â鶹´«Ã½ this summer as chief research officer, drawn by the University’s commitment to advancing research with real-world impact. 

“Â鶹´«Ã½ takes research from the laboratory to industry and to the community, locally and globally,” Mayer said. “Our faculty and students work directly with companies and stakeholders to advance knowledge and solve real problems.” 

In the process, students gain hands-on experience at both the undergraduate and graduate levels that leads directly to further research and career opportunities. 

“It’s an exciting time as the University builds strategically toward R1 status and continues changing lives through mentorship and meaningful research,” Mayer said. 

Hands-on research and community impact 

Â鶹´«Ã½’s innovative research is advancing critical technologies while changing students’ lives.  

Diana Antonella Soto, Â鶹´«Ã½ senior studying biomedical sciences who will graduate this December, is working with Drs. Brian Knuckley, Fatima Reham and Corey Causey on groundbreaking cancer research and plans to continue her work as a master’s student at Â鶹´«Ã½ this spring.  

“Being part of the research team has been a truly life-changing experience knowing we are playing a role in advancing cancer treatment,” she said. “It has solidified my desire to pursue a career in biomedical research and medicine and inspired me to approach science not just as a subject, but as a lifelong pursuit of discovery.”  

Those opportunities are possible because of the expertise and research skills of Â鶹´«Ã½’s faculty across disciplines.  

This year, Knuckley received the 2025 Distinguished Professor Award. 

Dr. Kerry Clark was awarded the Terry Professorship to continue research challenging the rarity of Lyme Disease. 

Also, Dr. Josh Gellers was named Â鶹´«Ã½’s first faculty fellow for artificial intelligence to work with campus partners to expand AI literacy, support interdisciplinary AI research and foster community and industry partnerships that position Â鶹´«Ã½ as the hub for AI innovation in the region. This fall, he helped shepherd the Â鶹´«Ã½ AI for Work and Life Certificate program, which has already seen more than 30,000 people register throughout Northeast Florida and from around the world. 

University-wide highlights 

• Â鶹´«Ã½ names Dr. Kimberly Mayer as Chief Research Officer.  
• Â鶹´«Ã½ chemistry chair earns prestigious Professor of the Year award.  
• Â鶹´«Ã½ names Josh Gellers as first faculty fellow for artificial intelligence.  
• Â鶹´«Ã½ awards Terry Professorship to Dr. Kerry Clark to continue research challenging rarity of Lyme Disease. 
• Â鶹´«Ã½ first in U.S. to enter international consortium on AI and logistics solutions.  
• Â鶹´«Ã½ celebrates grand opening of Allen Lastinger Center for Florida History.  
• Â鶹´«Ã½ receives $2.1M Dept. of Education grant to strengthen civics education.  

Faculty highlights  

• After receiving second patent, Â鶹´«Ã½ researchers closer to producing drug that can “turn off” cancer.  
• Â鶹´«Ã½ receives $1.3M National Science Foundation grant to support STEM education.  
• Â鶹´«Ã½ receives NIH grant to investigate a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.  
• Sporting JAX and Â鶹´«Ã½ forge national blueprint for sport innovation.  
• First Â鶹´«Ã½ faculty member picked for Naval Research Laboratory summer program.  
• Â鶹´«Ã½ team selected by NASA to investigate sun’s radiation impacts this summer.  

Student highlights  

• After Â鶹´«Ã½ opens doors to a healthcare career, graduate student creates opportunities for others to conduct 3D materials science research.  
• Â鶹´«Ã½ grad student conservationist dives deep into marine mammal research.  
• Â鶹´«Ã½ engineering students develop groundbreaking technology to detect traumatic brain injuries in sports.  
• Â鶹´«Ã½ archaeology and NPS digging deeper into curious shell formations at Timucuan Preserve. 
• Independent study leads to high-demand AI internship with NLP Logix for Â鶹´«Ã½ senior.