The Grad Gazette spotlights the College of Sciences (COS) graduate studies community and shares updates, deadlines and other relevant information.
Dear Graduate Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Happy Fall! I hope that your studies, research, and teaching efforts are energizing and rewarding. It’s an exciting time, particularly as we recently announced that UCF has achieved the targets required to become Florida’s next Preeminent Research University.
We are building a bolder and brighter future together and the College of Sciences offers numerous opportunities to showcase the outstanding work of our faculty and students. The Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) is celebrating its 20th anniversary in October and is welcoming alumni of its top-ranked graduate gaming program with a series of special events. Our Chemistry Department will host an Open House on October 27, welcoming alumni and the community to tour its labs and see some of the exciting changes. And soon, we will celebrate Space Week (Nov. 3-7), as we boldly push the frontiers of discovery as SpaceU, and we are excited for the contributions of our newly approved PhD program in Planetary and Space Sciences.
We encourage all our graduate students to participate in your program and College of Sciences community and continue to stay engaged—make the most of your experience—get to know your faculty and develop those mentor relationships.
I look forward to seeing your accomplishments in the months ahead. Thank you for your commitment to your studies and contributions alongside our faculty and staff to create world-class excellence in teaching, research, and creative work.
Sincerely,
For Students Graduating in Fall 2025
The College of Sciences is excited to celebrate our Fall 2025 graduating master’s and doctoral students at our upcoming pre-commencement ceremonies. These are special events that give graduating students receiving their master’s or PhDs to celebrate with family and advisors in a more intimate ceremony and connect with college leadership Graduates will receive an official email invitation – please be sure to RSVP!
Masters Pre-Commencement Celebration
Date: Friday, December 12, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Garden Key Meeting Room (Room 221), Student Union
Doctoral Pre-Commencement Celebration
Date: Friday, December 12, 2025
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Garden Key Meeting Room (Room 221), Student Union
Graduate Faculty & Staff Spotlight
New COS Graduate Faculty Fellow for Graduate Studies
Welcome Sarah “Stacy” Barber
Stacy Barber, Professor of Anthropology and faculty member of the National Center of Integrated Costal Research, is the 2025-26 COS Faculty Fellow for Graduate Studies. In this role, she supports our graduate students, faculty, and programs by leading COS graduate curriculum processes and several graduate student awards.
Barber’s research focuses on the origins and organization of early civilizations and human coastal interactions over long periods of time. She has had the opportunity to conduct fieldwork along Florida’s coasts and in Oaxaca, Mexico. Since she first started teaching at UCF in 2007, she has won numerous awards including the College of Sciences Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award.
Graduate Staff Spotlight
Please join us in welcoming Davalda Bellot, who recently joined the Department of Chemistry as Graduate Admissions Coordinator II, and Dakota Fisher, who joined the Department of Psychology as a Graduate Admissions Specialist. They will assist their graduate programs, students, and faculty in all aspects of graduate studies and contribute to the success of their students.
College Of Science Staff Awards
These awards honor staff members who consistently go above and beyond to support graduate studies in the College of Sciences. They are known for taking initiative, collaborating effectively with others, and driving positive changes in their areas.
Congratulations to the COS graduate staff members who have recently been recognized. We are grateful for all you do to support graduate programs, students, and faculty!
COS ACE Award
Bridgett Burk, Academic Advising Manager for COS Graduate Services
COS Everyday Excellence Award
Giovanna Scheraldi, Graduate Admissions Coordinator I for the Department of Anthropology
Celebrating our COS Faculty
We love our faculty! The College of Sciences (COS) honored the research, teaching, and service achievements of more than 80 faculty members at the special celebration this fall.
Interim Dean Josh Colwell and three 2025-26 COS student ambassadors shared remarks recognizing the impact of our faculty across the college. Congratulations to all awardees and promoted faculty on their well-deserved accomplishments.
Program Highlights
Opportunities & Resources
There are a number of resources available to support you. We encourage you leverage the following, as applicable.
- UCF CASTLE Lab: Graduate students may receive assistance with data analysis and statistical software through CCIE.
- UCF Thesis and Dissertation Services: Please utilize workshops, Webcourses, and other resources for thesis and dissertation assistance.
- Graduate Student Center: Graduate students have access to meeting rooms, computer labs, and study spaces.
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) Support: Graduate students can schedule a meeting with an IRB Ambassador to assist with IRB preparation and submission.
- COS Graduate Programs Report: COS Gradate Student Success & Engagement
- COS Dean’s Graduate Conference Travel Award: COS Doctoral students working on dissertation research and MFA students engaged in feature film production are encouraged to apply for funds to resent their work at conferences.
- UCF CGS Funding Opportunities: Graduate students can seek out available funding opportunities listed by the College of Graduate Studies.
New COS Graduate Degree Programs
The College of Sciences is excited to announce the addition of three new degree programs available to our PhD students starting in Fall 2025.
- Planetary and Space Sciences PhD
- Clinical Psychology MS, Masters Along the Way Track
- Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology MA, Master Along the Way Track
Fall 2025 Dates and Reminders
Please make sure to mark your calendars for the following important dates. Refer to the Academic Calendar for more important dates and deadlines.
- Friday, October 10: Graduation Application Deadline for Graduate Students. (Please follow this link to access the commencement website).
- Friday, October 10: Graduate Thesis and Dissertation Release Option Submission
- Friday, October 24: Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Format Review Deadline
- Friday, November 7: Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Defense Deadline
- Friday, November 21: Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Final Submission Deadline
Student & Alumni Spotlight
Order of Pegasus Recipient and Physics Alumna Turned Childhood Curiosity into STEM Advocacy
When Stephanie Lough decided to return to school at 28 after already building a career, she was unsure of what to expect as a non-traditional student. She graduated recently as an Order of Pegasus recipient, receiving one of UCF’s highest student honors, but she came from humble beginnings.
Lough grew up in Northwest Arkansas and as a first-generation student without a scientific or scholarly background, she shares that the higher education environment felt like learning a new language.
“I didn’t grow up in an academic family, so it was a struggle learning how to navigate the academic world,” she says. “But I managed to do it, and I always encourage other students to surround themselves with people who support them.”
Led by determination and curiosity and through the help of faculty and peer support, Lough found her way to physics at UCF through the American Physical Society (APS) Bridge Program, where she earned her Ph.D.
Mission Complete as FIEA Students Launch their Games for the Cohort 21 Capstone Presentations
The Nicholson School of Communication and Media’s nationally and globally ranked Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) recently hosted its Cohort 21 Capstone Presentations. This event is the culmination of a year-long “Capstone” for graduate students in the program to showcase original video games, bringing their creations to life in front of a live audience.
FIEA’s Capstone is a unique milestone in the program, providing an opportunity for groups of around 20 students to work together to design, build, and release their own original game over the course of two to three semesters.
Hannah Papa, a student pursuing an interactive entertainment degree in the project management track, says they came to FIEA with bachelors in character animation from UCF. Even with a background in art, Papa wanted to pursue the project management track after working in a simulated studio environment, which inspired them to refine their leadership skills.
“This program was the perfect way to go more in depth with game development,” Papa says. “From my undergraduate experience, I already knew I loved working on a team, but here I was able to really step into that leadership role and learn how to guide a project from start to finish.”
Biology Researchers Lead Technology-Driven Seagrass Restoration Projects in Florida
Two UCF biology graduate students are leading projects developing innovative solutions for conserving seagrass species in Florida, with support from Pegasus Professor of Biology Linda Walters and Assistant Professor of Biology and Genomics and Bioinformatics faculty cluster member Robert Fitak. Their projects are among eight selected for funding through the Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative.
The initiative was created in 2023 by the Florida Legislature and governor through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, with Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium leading the effort. It aims to support restoration technologies and approaches that address seagrass loss and its widespread ecological and economic impacts on communities across Florida.
“Seagrasses around the globe, including in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, have been decimated in recent decades,” says Walters, who is also director of UCF’s Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Lab (CEELAB). “The effects rippled through the ecosystem and are tragically evidenced by the large number of manatees that died of starvation when no seagrass was present.”
‘Shore Wars:’ New Research Aims to Resolve Coastal Conflict Between Oysters and Mangroves, Aiding Restoration Efforts
As mangrove populations are increasing due to successful restoration efforts and favorable weather, their strong comeback may pose unintended consequences for oysters, according to new research from UCF graduate student Katherine Harris and Pegasus Professor Linda Walters published in the Marine Ecology Progress Series.
To protect Florida’s coastlines, the researchers hope their new findings can initiate efforts to strike a balance within coastal ecosystems so both oysters and mangroves can flourish without harming each other. Otherwise, the mangroves could eventually dominate oyster reefs.
“Mangroves are great at changing their surrounding habitat to benefit more mangroves coming in,” says Harris, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in integrative and conservation biology. “Mangroves will naturally acidify surrounding sediment, which may not be great for oysters. Oysters, since they are a shell-forming organism, are prone to dissolution in acidic conditions. So, as the acidity increases, the oyster shells might degrade, which would impact the overall reef viability and the ability of those reefs to provide beneficial services such as filtration, storm surge reduction and wave attenuation.”
Faculty Spotlight
College of Sciences Researcher Partners with Planetary Science Institute to Publish First Comprehensive Book on Centaurs
Maria Womack, a planetary scientist with the Department of Physics and the Planetary Science Institute (PSI) is part of a team that’s publishing the first-ever book entirely focused on one of the solar system’s most understudied inhabitants: Centaurs.
The book, Centaurs, was co-edited with PSI researchers Kathryn Volk and Jordan Steckloff as part of the IOP Astronomy series in partnership with the American Astronomical Society, bringing together decades of research.
Womack says the recent publication can be a good starting point for Knights who plan to pursue a career in planetary science to learn about the basics of Centaurs.
“This book is the only reference book for studying Centaurs in-depth,” Womack says. “The writing is geared toward graduate students and well-prepared undergraduates who could use this to learn the basics of solar system formation, evolution and how Centaurs contribute to that knowledge.”
How UCF’s National Center for Forensic Science Helps Solve Crimes
Tucked away in a quiet corner of Central Florida Research Park, a nondescript building might escape the notice of passersby. But for Jack Ballantyne, a chemistry professor and the interim director of UCF’s National Center for Forensic Science (NCFS), and his team, it’s anything but ordinary.
Recognizing the need for digital forensic experts, UCF’s nationally ranked Master of Science in Digital Forensics program is essential, preparing future professionals to follow the trail from evidence to justice.
“UCF decided to start a center for forensic science and initially concentrated on fire investigations, explosives and explosive analysis,” Ballantyne says. “We then expanded beyond fire and explosives and moved into digital evidence and DNA analysis.”
Interdisciplinary Research Leads to Promising Results for Future Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
Interdisciplinary research between the College of Sciences (COS) and the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences is looking into a more effective way to fight against the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) by homing in on protein amyloid beta, which worsens the condition over time for the affected.
The research team includes Professor of Physics Suren Tatulian from COS; Maria Zabala-Rodriguez, a graduate research assistant in the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences; and Kenneth Teter, professor of medicine from the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences. Their published research is supported by the Florida Department of Health, Ed and Ethel Moore Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program Grant 21A06.
“Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative pathology characterized by neuronal death and brain atrophy,” Tatulian says. “Two proteins have been identified that contribute to the disease: amyloid beta and tau proteins, which are naturally occurring in the brain. However, uncontrolled, aberrant aggregation of these proteins causes neuronal dysfunction leading to Alzheimer’s.”
UCF Psychology Professor Named as New Editor for American Psychological Association’s International Journal of Stress Management
The International Journal of Stress Management, an academic journal published by the American Psychological Association, publishes research on the various sources of stress, including work. This is a particular focus area for its new editor, Dr. Nathan Bowling, professor of psychology and associate director of the Industrial-Organizational Psychology Ph.D. program in UCF’s Department of Psychology. Through his research, Bowling is working to identify and reduce stress in the workplace. His goal is to help organizations function more effectively while improving employee well-being.
Bowling’s research focuses on understanding the causes of stress at work and developing strategies to mitigate those effects. His findings have broad relevance, with the potential to improve workplace conditions across various industries.
As an editor, he helps determine whether submitted papers meet the journal’s standards for publication. One of his priorities as incoming editor is to expand opportunities for graduate student involvement in the peer-review process—a practice not commonly done.
“I want to involve graduate students as apprentice reviewers, working closely with a faculty member to assess submissions,” Bowling says.
A Note from the Senior Associate Dean
Thanks so much for engaging with COS Graduate Studies via this newsletter! We are proud to support a world-class graduate education, and you are each a part of that. You can visit our website for additional information and you are always welcome to reach out to me (Kerstin.Hamann@ucf.edu) or Bridgett Burk (cosgrad@ucf.edu) with any questions, concerns, or suggestions.
I hope you found something in this edition that inspired you. Please reach out and share your stories about research, creative work, awards, or other interesting updates with us by sending an email to cosmarketing@ucf.edu.
Have a great fall semester!
Best wishes,
