Grad Gazette

Student Spotlight

PhD Student ‘s Research to Protect Pygmy Snakes and Florida’s Ecosystem

Jenna Palmisano, a doctoral Biology student, was awarded multiple research grants to expand her research on parasites affecting pygmy rattlesnakes. She says that her research will have a positive impact on Florida ecosystems as well.

“The lung parasite has been associated with mortality events and population declines in pygmy rattlesnakes. These declines can disrupt ecological balance, highlighting the necessity of maintaining biodiversity and understanding species interdependence,” Palmisano says.

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Doctoral Chemistry Student Selected for the Department of Energy, Office of Science Graduate Research Program

A total of 62 PhD students from 24 states were recently selected for the prestigious Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research program. Chemistry doctoral student Alec DeCecco says that the fellowship will open new doors for him.

“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and the chance to perform experiments that will complement the work I am doing here at UCF,” DeCecco says. “It will allow me to learn from and work with experts in the field to answer important scientific questions regarding the fate of CIs.”

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UCF Researchers Develop Nano-treatment to Help Save Florida Mangroves from Deadly Disease

UCF scientists, working with students—including recent doctoral graduate (and graduate research assistant) Jorge Pereira—are harnessing nanoscience to concoct a special nutritional formula to fight a potentially lethal disease that is increasingly threatening mangroves in Florida and across the world.

The researchers are treating the mangroves by soaking them in a nutrient solution called “Mag Sun” (MgSuN), which is comprised of magnesium and sulfur nanoparticles. The mixture is a refinement of a previous graduate student’s formula that destroyed bacteria on tomatoes, Pereira says.

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National Science Foundation Grant Work Expands Accessibility in Learning

Dr. Erin Saitta, Assistant Professor in the UCF Department of Chemistry, and doctoral student (Chemistry), Kathleen Lugo Charriez, have recognized the array of difficulties that undergraduate chemistry and other STEM students encounter as they work toward achieving their educational goals. They are working together on a research project, as part of a National Science Foundation Improving Undergraduate Stem Education grant, to remove barriers to the learning experience for students.

“I believe in the transformative power of education to create equitable opportunities for all students,” Charriez says. “This project highlights the importance of accessible learning environments while fostering a sense of belonging for all learners. It’s a fulfilling opportunity for me to contribute in this way and honor my Hispanic heritage.”

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