Soaring High: Senior Daphney McCoy

Senior Daphney McCoy is taking the scientific world by storm. During her undergraduate studies as a Biology major in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, she has built a foundation of academic and personal accomplishments, including filing for her first provisional patent.

In 2021, she was selected to be part of the college’s 2020 Soar-in-4 cohort. McCoy said she had the privilege of attending mentorship meetings with Evonne Rezler, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.

“I am immensely proud of Daphney and all of her accomplishments,” said Evonne Rezler, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. “Her scientific curiosity and passion for research is exceptional. I have no doubt that Daphney will be highly successful as a graduate student and advance scientific discovery in her future career.”

“Exceptional mentors have been instrumental in my academic and professional development,” shared McCoy. “The opportunity to learn and have one’s talents nurtured and reinforced is the most valuable asset to a student - an asset FAU consistently provides.”

As a junior, McCoy shadowed Dr. Dana Sands, a colorectal surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Florida, whom she first met through a program at her high school. During her shadowing experience, she was exposed to various roles, including anesthesiologist, surgical technician, registered nurse, and specialized surgeon. She also learned about a variety of medical equipment and surgical techniques.

Shortly after, she was inspired to improve a common practice that results in skin damage - excessive exfoliation and exfoliation with contaminated vectors. McCoy filed a utility provisional patent application for a dermatological device called the ExoSpecfoliator (U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 63/579, 941 ), on her own. The facial skin exfoliator has a diffraction grating texture for users to remove dead skin cells, promote circulation, and enhance product penetration. It’s also made of silicone, which has antibacterial properties since it is a non-porous material.

Since filing for her first patent, McCoy already has a second project in the works. Independently, she plans to file a provisional patent application for a tissue sample collection device in December 2023.

Outside of the lab, McCoy is equally as busy. She joined Florida Atlantic’s Equestrian Team in 2020 and has served as the team’s Risk Management Officer since 2022. In addition, she is a Broward County Volunteer Intern where she works to promote and foster STEAM engagement in underserved communities. Specifically, McCoy teaches fourth and fifth grade after-school science reviews at Delevoe Memorial Park in Fort Lauderdale.

“My proudest achievement thus far has been utilizing my educational background to serve my community,” stated McCoy. “As an intern, I aim to deliver engaging, hands-on lessons to students, spark their curiosity, and provide them with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.”

The STEAM engagement program is overseen by McCoy’s volunteer mentor, John Pioply, Ph.D., Affiliate Scientist and Adjunct Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Schmidt College of Science, and Environmental/STEAM Educator and Project Coordinator, Broward County Parks and Recreation.

Following her anticipated graduation in December 2023, McCoy will enter a master’s degree program at Florida Atlantic in the field of Biomedical Engineering.