By: Cassidy Delamarter, University Communications and Marketing
From training robots to integrating artificial intelligence into hardware systems, the 91视频Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing wrapped up its first-ever summer research program, completing a major milestone ahead of its official launch this fall.
As part of the new 91视频Bridge Coalition Program, undergraduate research scholars from the University of Rhode Island were invited to work side-by-side with 91视频faculty to tackle real-world challenges and gain hands-on experience at 91视频that could launch careers in robotics, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
鈥淭his is a historic step forward for USF,鈥� said Sylvia Wilson Thomas, vice president for 91视频Research & Innovation. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a powerful example of what can happen when we create intentional pathways that link students with mentors, labs and real-world challenges.鈥�
The 10-week program, funded by theand 91视频Research & Innovation, is designed to foster collaboration between Research 1 (R1) universities, such as USF, and institutions that have not traditionally had access to the same level of research. The first cohort included three undergraduate students who were matched with 91视频faculty members based on academic goals and research interests.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just about research,鈥� said Saundra Johnson Austin, director of USF鈥檚 Office of Student Engagement in Research and Innovation, who leads the program. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about building bridges between institutions, between students and mentors and between talent and opportunity.鈥�
Johnson Austin with students Texeira, Sicaju and Semedo
鈥淗aving our URI engineering scholars selected for USF's new program is not only a blessing, but a partnership in engineering and science that can last for years to come,鈥� said , assistant dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Rhode Island.
Denilo Semedo, a junior double-majoring in electrical engineering and French with a minor in robotics, is exploring multi-object grasping with , a 91视频professor of computer science and engineering. Multi-object grasping is a complex challenge in the world of robotics, and one of Sun鈥檚 primary areas of focus in his .
鈥淚 was originally torn between mechanical and electrical engineering, but once I got introduced to robotics, I knew this was something I wanted to pursue,鈥� Semedo said. 鈥淭his experience is helping me figure out if this is the right career path.鈥�
The goal of the program is to strengthen national competitiveness, accelerate innovation and cultivate the next generation of research scholars and entrepreneurs. The students spent the summer researching and concluded the program by presenting their findings at the 2025 鈥淥neUSF鈥� Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Texeira's robot
Andrew Texeira was able to showcase an early prototype of the robot he developed this summer: A robot that he made walk, talk and show emotions. The electrical engineering junior is minoring in robotics and dreams of being a robotics engineer after graduation. This summer鈥檚 program provided Texeira with a unique opportunity in the lab of Zhao Han, an assistant professor focused on developing novel robotic systems that are more understandable when interacting with humans.
鈥淭hrough hands-on experiences, they鈥檙e unlocking their creative potential 鈥� asking deeper questions, building curiosity, and discovering solutions they never imagined,鈥� said Florida High Tech Corridor CEO Paul Sohl, who has prioritized and expanded the organization鈥檚 support for undergraduate research and other STEM and innovation learning programs during his five-year tenure.
Working alongside 91视频Associate Professor Hao Zheng, Cesar Sicaju, a junior studying computer and electrical engineering with a minor in computer science, learned about prompt engineering, which is an emerging field that involves curating prompts to feed large language models, such as Microsoft Copilot, to produce the best results.
Sicaju sharing his research at the symposium
鈥淭his opportunity has taught me a lot of skills that I believe will transfer over and be applicable elsewhere,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am honored to have worked with Dr. Zheng throughout this entire process. Some advice for anyone who is looking into programs that are far away from home: Don鈥檛 be afraid to venture into a new environment, sometimes that change is needed.鈥�
The success of this summer鈥檚 pilot cohort has set the stage for future expansion 鈥� Johnson Austin has already started to build upon this year鈥檚 partnership with URI and is working to identify new university partners for the 2026 Bridge Coalition Program.
Also inspired by this year鈥檚 success, Zheng is planning to lead a new National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates in hardware security that鈥檚 open to all universities, making it the college鈥檚 first Research Experience for Undergraduates. The program will provide students with foundational knowledge and supervised research experience in hardware security, a critical component of cybersecurity and national infrastructure. Zheng hopes to begin accepting applications in March 2026.
Denilo Semedo
鈥淧rograms like this not only ignite student innovation, they strengthen Florida鈥檚 talent pipeline and fuel Tampa Bay鈥檚 rise as a national hub for collaboration, opportunity and a high-tech future,鈥� Paul Sohl said.