🎓 FAU Jupiter Monthly Newsletter

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SEPTEMBER 2026

Florida Atlantic is Breaking Records

Florida Atlantic University moved up to No. 99 for the first time in the U.S. News & World Report 2027 rankings of “Top Public Schools,” its highest position ever. The one spot gain over last year keeps Florida Atlantic rising among the nation’s Top 100 public universities.

FAU Receives NSF Grant to Advance STEM Workforce Readiness

Florida Atlantic University has received a $400,000 National Science Foundation grant to explore how industry-informed research, entrepreneurship training and early engagement can better prepare undergraduate students for careers in biotechnology and the life sciences.

FAU Graduate Student Studies Connection Between Hearing and Cognition

Claudia Alvarez is a Ph.D. candidate at Florida Atlantic's Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute studying the connection between hearing, cognitive decline and balance in older adults. The Coastal Star recently caught up with Alvarez; her mentor Ali Danesh, Ph.D., professor in the College of Education; and two of the study participants to learn more about why this research is important and its potential impacts on how we understand aging and dementia.

Around Campus

MobileMinds Wins Education Prize

Florida Atlantic University’s Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute (SNBI) is celebrating a recent win at Palm Beach Illustrated’s 2026 Education Awards. SNBI’s MobileMinds program took home this year’s Innovation Award in recognition of the program’s leadership in cutting-edge, tech-forward initiatives that enhance student success in STEM learning.

Opportunities

Apply for Florida Atlantic Laboratory Schools

Florida Atlantic is accepting applications for the 2027-2028 school year for A.D. Henderson University School and Florida Atlantic University High School.

Learn more and apply at adhus.fau.edu/admissions or fauhigh.fau.edu/admissions.

Learn About Research in Introduction to the VIP Program

Interested in research, artificial intelligence or data science? IDS 2933 is a free, zero-credit, eight-week course that helps students build foundational AI, data-science, and academic research skills while exploring opportunities in Florida Atlantic’s Vertically Integrated Projects Program. The course is open to all majors, and no previous experience is required. Classes run Oct. 17–Dec. 16 with daytime and evening sections available.

Learn more at fau.edu/vip or contact vip@fau.edu.

Application Period is Open for FAU Wave

Florida Atlantic Wave is an undergraduate and graduate applied research and entrepreneurial competition challenging students to submit and develop innovative ideas targeting societal problems. Applications for FAU Wave are being accepted now through Oct. 12.

Apply.

Compete in FAU's Three Minute Thesis Competition

Florida Atlantic's Graduate College will host the 10th Annual Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®) live, in-person at the Boca Raton Campus. The 3MT® competition challenges graduate students around the world to pitch their research in only 3 minutes to a live audience. Preliminary rounds will be held Oct. 26 and 27. Championship round will be held Oct. 28. Slide submissions are due Oct. 5.

Learn more and apply.

Art of Science Contest is Open Now

The Art of Science showcases original images and footage of the inherent beauty in research, scholarship and creative activity across Florida Atlantic. Winners will be showcased in the University Galleries, highlighted across social media and news outlets and awarded exciting prizes such as Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses, a Meta Quest 3 V4 headset, Apple 4k TV, Anker products and more. Last year’s winners earned national attention with features in USA Today, Newswise and Science Magazine. Submissions are due Friday, Oct. 9.

Submit your science.

Community

Florida Atlantic's Nicole Baganz, Ph.D., Nominated for Woman of the Year

Nicole Baganz, Ph.D., director of community engagement at FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, has been nominated for a Woman of the Year Award by the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce. In addition to making important discoveries about the molecular mechanisms involved in disorders like depression, Baganz has made a profound impact through her leadership in community engagement at SNBI.

Join the NeuroSquad at NAMIWalks Palm Beach

Help fight the stigma surrounding mental illness by joining Team NeuroSquad at NAMIWalks Palm Beach County on Nov. 1 at John Prince Park in Lake Worth. Registration is free and all team NeuroSquad members will receive a t-shirt.

Support the NeuroSquad.

Keeping Your Brain Fit for Life

Aly Paz, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow at the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, recently contributed an article to the Palm Beach County Bar Association's Bar Bulletin with research-backed tips for maintaining brain health throughout the lifespan.

Read the issue.

Featured Events

Leading Alzheimer's disease experts chart the path from Alzheimer's research to treatment and explore what we can do right now to live well longer. The event features a keynote talk from Christopher Weber, Ph.D., senior director, global scientific initiatives at the Alzheimer's Association, followed by an expert panel comprised of Florida Atlantic research faculty.

The Office of Public Policy Events (OPPE) at Florida Atlantic University promotes education and encourages civic engagement by organizing and hosting open discussions and debate forums. These events are open to the public and focus on various public policy issues ranging in topic and including speakers with differing perspectives and viewpoints.