Multi-year partnership supports development of future engineers
Danfoss and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering in Tallahassee, Fla., recently launched the Danfoss Research Fellowship Program, which will support joint college graduate students and faculty in engineering research projects in the areas of HVAC sustainability and energy efficiency. The inaugural group of Danfoss Faculty Fellows is comprised of seven faculty members who will conduct research in civil, environmental, industrial, chemical and mechanical engineering in conjunction with Danfoss engineers, FAMU-FSU graduate students and researchers at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU).
“Supporting research at FAMU-FSU is part of our commitment to developing the next generation of HVAC engineers,” said Rogerio Federici, general manager of Tallahassee-based Danfoss Turbocor®. “The research projects align directly with Danfoss’ goals to build a more sustainable future and address critical challenges of energy efficiency and decarbonization.”
The program is part of a multi-year partnership between Danfoss and the school. Ricardo Schneider, Danfoss executive advisor and former president and CEO of Danfoss Turbocor, affirmed that the collaboration “has been growing and the success is benefiting students, faculty, Danfoss. The research projects focus on areas directly related to Danfoss product development and innovation. We are proud to recognize this year’s Danfoss Fellows and look forward to seeing the results of their research.”
Schneider noted that the joint college has cutting-edge research facilities, such as its labs in the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab), Florida Center for Advanced Aero-propulsion Laboratory (FCAAP), Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) and High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI), which have provided valuable insight to Danfoss as the company develops the next generation of its oil-free, magnetic-bearing Turbocor compressors. The opportunity to collaborate on projects utilizing these facilities also benefits researchers at SDU, which has a long history of partnership with Danfoss headquarters in Nordborg, Denmark.
Danfoss will provide each research project with $25,000 to support the researchers in their professional development and international travel, allowing them to benefit fully from collaboration with their colleagues at SDU and to gain real-world experience through participation in events and presentations of their achievements.
“Collaborations with industry leaders like Danfoss are essential to our mission,” said Suvranu De, dean of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “These partnerships provide our students with invaluable real-world experience and ensure that our graduates are prepared to drive progress in today’s rapidly evolving engineering landscape.”