New College of Florida Secures Three Major Grants Advancing Research, Innovation, and Civic Leadership
SARASOTA, Fla. — New College of Florida today announced three new competitive grant awards supporting cutting-edge research in applied data science, advanced mathematics, and American civic education.
Together, the awards reflect New College’s rapidly expanding research portfolio and the success of its faculty in securing federal and state investment for projects that enhance student learning, scholarly discovery, and public understanding.
USDA Awards $162,000 to Expand AI-Driven Agricultural Research
The Applied Data Science Program at New College of Florida has received a new grant totaling $162,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), nearly doubling last year’s grant to expand hands-on, AI-powered research opportunities for graduate students who will apply statistical and artificial intelligence (AI) methods to address research challenges in modern agriculture.
Current projects include:
- Elif Yildririm exploring how machine learning can prevent pistachio crop losses.
- Rosemary Mejia developing an interactive dashboard that visualizes nearly half a million biological pest-inception records from agricultural imports at U.S. ports of entry.
- Utilizing AI-based anomaly detection in environmental datasets influencing soil and water quality.
This award underscores national recognition of New College’s leadership in applied data science and its commitment to preparing students for high-impact careers.
NSF Supports New College Mathematics Research with $95,000 Grant Transfer
Professor Meng-Che “Turbo” Ho has successfully transferred his active $95,000 National Science Foundation grant—Equivalence Relations in Group Theory—to New College.
The project investigates the complexity of natural equivalence relations in group theory, strengthening the bridge between mathematical logic and abstract algebra. The research promotes deeper connections between historically intertwined fields and introduces new conceptual tools for the broader mathematical community.
New College Receives more than $27,000 America250 Grant for Civic Education
The Florida Board of Governors has awarded New College a $27,777.77 America250 grant (Project AM2509), supporting the college’s leadership in civics and the humanities.
The project includes:
- Public lectures for content creation and digital capture
- Conversion of the content into online educational modules
- Production of an educational text tentatively titled A Short Introduction to Natural Rights in the American Political Tradition
This initiative positions New College as a statewide leader in educating Floridians on the principles of natural rights and constitutional self-government as the nation prepares for the 250th anniversary of American independence. This is in addition to the recently-announced federal grant awarding a $1.8 million from the U.S. Department of Education American History and Civics (AHC) to honor the United States’ Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding in 1776.
Statement from President Richard Corcoran
“These grants demonstrate exactly what New College stands for; academic rigor, cutting-edge scholarship, and a renewed focus on preparing students for meaningful leadership in science, technology, and civic life,” said New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran. “Our faculty continue to distinguish themselves on the national stage, and their success is driving New College forward as America’s most dynamic liberal arts institutions.”