Building the Future: FAMU–Boeing Research Partnership Propels Students Toward Innovation and Industry Impact
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Inside the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, the pulse of innovation beats louder each year. Laptops glow, prototypes hum and the energy of discovery fills the halls as Florida A&M University students prepare to present their work to one of the world’s top aerospace companies.
This year marks the third installment of FAMU’s annual Boeing Research Review — a signature moment in a rapidly expanding partnership that blends hands-on research, corporate collaboration and transformative student opportunity. The review showcases four major engineering projects sponsored by The Boeing Company, each led by FAMU doctoral students contributing to emerging technologies with national impact.
FAMU and Boeing representatives participate in a collaborative review session, discussing
research progress, student development initiatives, and opportunities to strengthen
the long-standing partnership.(Photo by Glenn Beil/FAMU Communications)
For Boeing, FAMU is more than a collaborator; it is one of a select group of universities entrusted with research that supports the company’s long-term innovation goals. For students, the partnership represents a gateway to discovery, careers and global influence.
A Rattler Returns to Invest in the Next Generation
For Nathan Brooks, Boeing Senior Technical Fellow and proud FAMU alumnus, the partnership is deeply personal.
“FAMU really put their arms around me,” Brooks said. “That kind of support is why I do the work I do today.”
Brooks, who oversees the university’s sponsored research portfolio for Boeing’s Enterprise Technology Office, said returning to FAMU feels like closing a meaningful circle.
“Seeing students like Destiny (Law) come through this program is the brightest part of my job,” he said. “There are plenty of places I could work within Boeing, but nothing compares to pouring into the next generation of Rattlers.”
With a thoughtful smile and a sharp eye for progress, Brooks contributes to conversations
that move academic excellence and industry collaboration forward. (Photo by Glenn Beil/FAMU Communications)
A former Life-Gets-Better Scholar and Boeing Fellow during his time on the Hill, Brooks said FAMU shaped both his academic foundation and his family’s future at a critical time in his life.
“FAMU didn’t treat me like a number,” he said. “They supported me, my wife and my
newborn son. I’m indebted to this university.”
This fall, Boeing expects to reach its highest number of FAMU hires since the pandemic — a milestone Brooks said reflects both the company’s needs and the university’s rising prominence.
Student Innovation in Motion: Powering the Ocean with Seawater
Among the standout researchers is Destiny Law, a third-year electrical engineering Ph.D. candidate and the first doctoral student to emerge from the renewed FAMU–Boeing partnership.
Law is developing a lithium seawater flow battery, an energy system designed for unmanned submarines, underwater vehicles and remote exploration. By using seawater in its chemistry, the battery has the potential to deliver more than 10 times the energy density of conventional lithium-ion batteries.
“It’s low-power and non-rechargeable, but perfect for long-term underwater missions,” Law said.
Law’s adviser, Petru Andrei, professor of electrical and computer engineering, described her progress as “remarkable,” noting that she has presented at major international conferences — from San Francisco to Montreal — and remains on track to complete her doctorate next spring.
Brooks said recognizing Law during the review was one of the day’s most meaningful moments.
“We stopped the agenda to acknowledge Destiny,” he said. “She’s the first Ph.D. to come out of this renewed partnership. Her journey is extraordinary — first in her family to graduate college, first to earn a Ph.D. and now heading to Boeing full-time. That’s what this is all about.”
Law is currently optimizing battery materials and performance with the goal of producing a prototype capable of running continuously for several weeks — a key milestone for deployment.
Destiny Law stands with adviser Petru Andrei as she continues advancing her doctoral
research in battery innovation. (Photo by Glenn Beil/FAMU Communications)
A Life-Changing Email That Sparked a Career
Law’s path to graduate research began with an unexpected opportunity.
“A few days before graduating, I checked my email and saw Boeing was looking for a Ph.D. student,” she said. “They were offering funding, a stipend and a potential job afterward. I wasn’t planning on grad school but I thought, ‘Why not?”’
Three years later, Law has accepted a full-time position in Boeing’s Electromagnetic Interference Lab in Seattle.
“From undergrad to grad school, FAMU opened so many doors for me,” she said. “Even on the tough days, I’m grateful. This university changed my life.”
Strengthening the Research Pipeline
In addition to Law’s work, Boeing sponsors three additional engineering projects at the College of Engineering focused on wideband beamforming, digital-twin and extended reality technologies, and electronic component reliability. Each initiative supports a FAMU doctoral student and reflects the university’s expanding capacity for high-level research.
Brooks said these projects also strengthen FAMU’s long-term goal of achieving R1 research status.
“We’re deliberate in ensuring that FAMU dollars support FAMU Ph.D. students,” he said. “That’s how you build an R1 institution — through real research and real opportunity.”
A Partnership Built on Progress
Brooks believes the partnership is just getting started.
“I’m excited to see this grow from four projects to more,” he said. “We want to develop future leaders, future researchers and future innovators right here at FAMU.”
And for Andrei, the impact is already clear.
“Destiny’s trajectory is just the beginning,” he said. “Our students are proving they can compete with anyone in the world.”
With expanding corporate partnerships, growing sponsored research and students excelling in labs and classrooms, Florida A&M University continues cementing its place as a national leader in innovation on the Highest of Seven Hills and beyond.
FAMU President Marva Johnson, J.D., joins University and Boeing leadership to celebrate
continued collaboration and strengthened pathways for research excellence and student
achievement. (Photo by Glenn Beil/FAMU Communications)
Media Contact:
Ashley Flete
Senior Communications Specialist
ashley1.flete@famu.edu
