FIU graduates push boundaries, shaping the future through innovation and impact

FIU celebrated the graduation of nearly 5,000 students during summer commencement ceremonies from August 4–7. This season’s graduates are driving innovation, breaking barriers, and turning challenges into opportunities, making their mark across science, technology, medicine, and beyond. 

This summer’s graduates include a computer engineer helping the visually impaired “see;” a Fulbright scholar developing nanotechnology to protect crops and fight food insecurity; a cancer researcher working toward next-generation therapies; a physicist who maps the complexities of the human brain; and an environmental innovator who uses AI to predict floods and improve global weather forecasting.

“Our FIU graduates are innovators, leaders, and problem-solvers,” said FIU President Jeanette M. Nuñez. “They carry the spirit of FIU into every field –science, health, technology, and beyond. Their education has prepared them to think boldly, act with integrity, and create meaningful change. We are proud of their accomplishments and confident they will make a lasting impact on the world.”

All commencement ceremonies were held at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, located at FIU’s Modesto Maidique Campus at 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, 33199.

FIU’s outstanding graduates include:

Gabriel Habech, 22, is on a mission to redefine accessibility through technology. As the founder of Fovionics, he is developing smart glasses designed to empower individuals with visual impairments. These glasses can read text, provide navigational guidance, and offer immersive haptic feedback for real-time object detection. With support from StartUP FIU, Habech has combined his expertise in electrical engineering with cutting-edge AI to bring this innovative solution to market. A participant in Techstars, one of the world’s leading tech accelerators, he has raised investment to build a product that merges AI with haptic technology, enhancing spatial awareness and independence for the visually impaired. Habech received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the College of Engineering and Computing on Thursday, August 7, at 10 a.m.

Ivan Oyege, 33, is a Fulbright-sponsored doctoral student from Kampala, Uganda. Formerly a university professor of chemistry in his home country, Oyege aimed his FIU research at stopping a very destructive caterpillar –the fall armyworm– from destroying hundreds of crops. By integrating organic agriculture, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and economics, his research is the first to demonstrate vermicompost (worm composting) and vermicompost tea products can be used to suppress the attack of fall armyworms in agricultural fields. He’s now working to patent his nanotechnology innovation and transform it into a practical product that farmers all over the world can use. In addition to his academic achievements, which includes more than a dozen published papers during his time at FIU, Oyege mentors junior researchers and contributes to community-based agricultural outreach. After graduation, he will continue as a postdoctoral fellow at FIU. Oyege received a Doctor of Philosophy in Earth Systems Science from the College of Arts, Sciences & Education on Monday, August 4, at 3 p.m.

Lee Seng Lau, 35, studies how specific sugars –called glycans– help cancer cells evade immune detection, even during advanced treatments, in the lab of Charles Dimitroff. Working alongside Baptist Health physicians, her research has shown promising results and aims to improve the safety and effectiveness of therapies for treatment-resistant cancers. Throughout her academic journey, Lau has earned numerous honors, including the McKnight Fellowship and induction into Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society. She draws strength and inspiration from her two daughters, one of whom was born during her doctoral studies. After graduation, Lau will continue her work at the College of Medicine as a postdoctoral researcher, committed to advancing cancer therapies and inspiring the next generation of young women in science. Lau graduated with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine on Tuesday, August 5, at 3 p.m.

Julio Peraza, 30, grew up in Cuba, where his fascination with how things work began at an early age. Encouraged by family who nurtured his curiosity, he developed a passion for understanding the principles behind everyday phenomena. His love for science drove him to spend countless hours reading about physics and space, inspired by his father’s dream of seeing him work at NASA one day. That drive carried him into advanced research at FIU, where he has explored brain dynamics from a fundamental physics perspective. At FIU, Peraza has gone beyond his background in physics to engage in transdisciplinary research at the intersection of physics and neuroscience. For this work, he helped develop the next generation of neuroimaging meta-analysis tools, incorporating recent advances from machine learning and generative artificial intelligence. His research bridges physics, neuroscience, and computational methods to better understand the human brain. Peraza received a Ph.D. in Physics from the College of Arts, Sciences & Education on Monday, August 4, at 10 a.m.

Driven by a belief that technology should serve humanity's greatest needs, Jimeng Shi, 32, represents the next generation of researchers using cutting-edge AI to protect communities and the environment. Shi has dedicated his research to developing artificial intelligence tools that tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges. Working under the guidance of Professor Giri Narasimhan and supported by National Science Foundation funding, he has focused on creating AI systems that can predict and help manage natural disasters. His work has particular relevance for South Florida, where he developed an AI model to better predict flooding in the region's complex canal system during storms. Beyond flood prediction, Shi also has created advanced weather forecasting models that could improve global weather prediction capabilities. His groundbreaking research has been published in prestigious academic journals and will be presented at the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence in a track dedicated to "AI for Social Good." Shi, a student in the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences, graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science from the College of Engineering & Computing on Thursday, August 7, at 10 a.m.

FIU Trustee Jesus Lebeña spoke at the 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. ceremonies on Tuesday, August 5.
 
James Louis Weir, 100, a World War II veteran and decorated patriot, received a Courage Award during the 3 p.m. ceremony on Wednesday, August 6. Answering the call of duty in 1943, Weir enlisted in the United States Navy and played a pivotal role in the historic D-Day, crossing the English Channel aboard an amphibious tank to deliver vital armor and troops onto the beaches of Normandy. His service extended to fierce campaigns in the Philippines and later as part of the occupation forces in Japan.

Video clips and photos for media use were uploaded to this folder, which will continue to be updated during graduation days with new images and videos.

Editor's note: This story was updated on Aug. 8, 2025 to reflect past tense after commencement ceremonies took place. It was initially published on Aug. 4.