News

Eight clear, triangular Luminary Award glass trophies from UCF 2026 lined up in a row.
Awards

UCF Honors 8 Trailblazing Faculty with 2026 Luminary Awards

Eight UCF faculty earned 2026 Luminary Awards for achievements that extend the reach of UCF research and scholarship around the world. Their work is helping…
Smiling person in a black jacket and cap holding a small bird outdoors, with vegetation and blue sky in the background.
Biology

UCF Researcher Uses Conservation Genomics to Advance Florida Scrub Jay Recovery

For nearly two decades biologist Lauren Deaner has worked with Florida Scrub jays, contributing to population recovery efforts and translocations. Now, as a doctoral researcher…
A person in a lab coat sits on a stool working at a laboratory workstation with a
Alumni News

7 Knights Earn 2026 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

What does it take to study how some of the earliest galaxies in the universe evolved, develop cleaner energy technologies or better understand the ecosystems…
Close-up of an electric eel's head and upper body against a black background, showing its smooth, mottled skin and small eyes.
Biology

What Electric Eels and Knifefish Reveal About the Science of Stealth

UCF researchers discovered that electric eels and their knifefish prey use electric stealth, strategically turning their electric signals on and off to sense their environment…
A woman in a lab coat and pink gloves holds up a test tube containing a dark liquid in a laboratory setting.
Alumni News

UCF Researcher Reveals How Genetic Variation Shapes Sea Turtle Immune System Evolution

Immune responses are essential for survival, allowing animals to fight infections and adapt to disease threats. By studying the genes behind immunity, scientists can better…
A person in a blue shirt stands outdoors by the water, smiling and holding a small fish in their hand on a sunny day.
Biology

UCF Student Awarded Florida Sea Grant/Guy Harvey Fellowship, Advances Research on Florida’s Changing Fisheries

Meredith Pratt, an integrative and conservation biology doctoral student at UCF, earned the prestigious Florida Sea Grant/Guy Harvey Fellowship for research on Florida’s changing coastal…
A person wearing outdoor gear smiles while holding something in the forest; nearby, another person is crouched inside a deep, narrow hole in the ground.
Biology

UCF Researcher Contributes to Antscan, a Global 3D Ant Biodiversity Database

Since the rise of genome sequencing, the field of biology has gained an exponential amount of data and understanding of the building blocks of living…
A group of twelve people stands outdoors on grass near trees and a lake, posing for a photo under a sunny, blue sky. Some hold papers or clipboards.
Arboretum

UCF Aiding Healthy Ecosystems Through Bat Conservation Advancements

A UCF Department of Biology doctoral student has helped position UCF as a contributor to the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat), a coordinated effort to track bat…
A dinosaur skeleton holds a
Arboretum

College of Sciences Inspires Curiosity at Spark STEM Fest 

Through hands-on activities and demos, the College of Sciences connected its research with the Central Florida Community.  Written by: Ryan Fox | Published: February 27, 2026  Innovation met curiosity as the…
A scuba diver equipped with underwater photography gear swims above a coral reef in clear blue water.
Biology

UCF Researchers Travel to South Pacific for Diving Research Expedition 

Led by a UCF faculty member, a global team of researchers is using innovative genetic analysis to uncover how countless drifting fish larvae connect distant reefs.  Written by: Emily Dougherty |…
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