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Finding Focus Through Vision: A Knight’s Journey To Becoming Dean
How a major change shaped a College of Sciences alumna’s future into a career of academic leadership and patient care. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: February 24, 2026 When Dr. Stephanie Schmiedecke Barbieri first arrived at the University of Central Florida, her future seemed mapped out. Encouraged by her father, an engineer for Procter and Gamble, she planned […]
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The India Center Marks Republic Day with Celebration of Community, Scholarship and Global Partnership
The India Center highlights student experiences and achievements, new awards and deepening ties between UCF, India and Central Florida. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: February 20, 2026 The University of Central Florida’s India Center brought students, staff, faculty, community leaders and international partners together to celebrate India’s Republic Day — an occasion defined by democratic ideals, cultural pride and […]
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UCF Researcher Co-Authors Studies Reshaping Understanding of Human Origins
For over a century, scientists have searched fossil records for clues to how early human ancestors evolved, migrated and separated across Africa and beyond. Today, researchers such as Sarah Freidline, an assistant professor in the UCF Department of Anthropology, are revisiting those clues with new insights and advanced imaging techniques. In two recent studies, Freidline […]
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UCF Alum’s Influence on Rise of Florida’s Space Coast
As the executive director at the Space Coast Office of Tourism, Peter Cranis ’84 ’88MA wants visitors and residents to experience the sense of wonder he feels every day at his job. From the rush of a rocket launch to the thrill of catching a wave to the joy of exploring natural and wild spaces […]
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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 | Published: February 6, 2025 Countless larvae move through the ocean currents every day, and UCF researchers are taking a closer look at how these larvae travel and keep distant reefs connected. Led by […]
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How UCF Research Is Changing the Way Scientists Track Animals
An assistant professor in the Department of Biology is reshaping how scientists understand animal movement, habitat use, and conservation needs through mathematically rigorous models. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: February 2, 2026 Wildlife researchers today collect unprecedented amounts of animal movement data. From passerine birds outfitted with lightweight GPS backpacks to elephants collared with GPS devices as heavy as car batteries, location data have become central to conservation […]
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Math Launch Program Accelerates Student Success at UCF
UCF is breaking down barriers to STEM success with Math Launch, an accelerated program designed to prepare incoming students for Calculus I —the critical starting point for engineering, computer science and other science majors. By strengthening skills in algebra, trigonometry and pre-calculus, Math Launch enables students to become calculus-ready in just one semester through a […]
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UCF Team Secures Second Place in National Algorithms for Threat Detection Challenge
UCF researchers excel in anomaly detection to support national security research and advance real-world data science. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: January 8, 2025 A team of UCF researchers and students recently earned a second-place finish in the National Algorithms for Threat Detection (ATD) 2025 Challenge, a national data science competition sponsored by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and hosted by Penn State’s […]
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UCF Researchers Create the “Fantastic Four” Chemical Standards for Forensic Science
Forensic science is a field that’s drawn more attention in recent years, thanks to the onset of true crime podcasts and the increase of television shows and films focused on the topic. A survey by Edison Research last year reported that 84% of the U.S. population ages 13 and up are “true crime consumers,” listening or […]
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UCF Study Confirms Flamingos Are Native to Florida and Genetically Fit for Restoration
For all its presence on postcards and popular tourist attractions, the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) has been largely absent from Florida itself. Nearly wiped out from the state in the early 1900s, the species has shown only faint signs of a true comeback. Now, a new study published in the American Ornithological Society’s Ornithological Applications […]
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A Knight to Remember: College of Sciences Hosts Annual Scholarship Dinner
A scholarship recipient’s point of view at the annual College of Sciences Scholarship Dinner. By: Majdulina Hamed | Published December 10, 2025 Under twinkling lights and spirited applause, the College of Sciences Scholarship Dinner gathered students, faculty and donors to celebrate academic achievement and the transformative power of philanthropy. The evening was more than a formal event — it was a testament […]
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Rowing Across the Atlantic Ocean: One UCF Student’s Bold Journey
Andres Käosaar is motivated in life by one simple truth: We are capable of doing more than we think we can. That philosophy has landed the UCF industrial and organizational psychology doctoral candidate on a mountain in the middle of a blizzard during an Arctic ski trip. It’s what has encouraged him to complete 50-mile […]
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UCF’s National Center for Forensic Science and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Co-Host Educational Colloquium and Open House
Students and forensic professionals gather to explore new methods, tools, and innovative approaches to process evidence for criminal justice cases. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published December 9, 2025 UCF and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) recently joined together for the Educational Colloquium on Recent Advances in Forensic Sexual Assault Investigations, paired with […]
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UCF Study Explores Formation of Spider-Like Features on Jupiter’s Moon Europa and Potential for Life
From Europa to other icy moons, scientists are studying how surface features form and what they might reveal about the potential for life. In a new study published in The Planetary Science Journal, researchers from UCF, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) and other institutions explored a unique, spider-like feature in Manannán Crater on Europa, one […]
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Deborah Beidel Named Big 12 Conference’s 2025 Faculty of the Year from UCF
Pioneering UCF RESTORES Director Deborah Beidel of the College of Sciences is UCF’s 2025 Big 12 Faculty of the Year Award recipient. The annual honor highlights exceptional researchers, innovators and difference makers at each of the athletic conference’s 16 universities. Beidel founded UCF RESTORES as a clinical research center dedicated to changing how post-traumatic stress […]
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UCF Researchers Lead Critical Work in National Nuclear Forensics Consortium
As one of the selected universities for the NNSA-funded Consortium for Nuclear Forensics, UCF is advancing cutting-edge research while building pathways for future security and nonproliferation experts. By: Emily Dougherty | November 21, 2025 Researchers in the College of Sciences are playing a pivotal role in strengthening the nation’s nuclear security through their leadership in the Consortium for Nuclear Forensics (CNF). CNF brings […]
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UCF Launches 1st Planetary and Space Sciences Ph.D. Program in Florida
Born from the challenge of the Space Race, UCF was created to transform imagination into innovation and prepare people to launch humanity beyond its limits. Today, we are still are a place where our people’s curiosity drives discovery, bold questions shape the future and exploration advances life on Earth. Founded to reach the moon, we’re […]
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UCF First-Generation Student Is Finding Her Place in Space
Born from the challenge of the Space Race, UCF was created to transform imagination into innovation and prepare people to launch humanity beyond its limits. Today, we are still are a place where our people’s curiosity drives discovery, bold questions shape the future and exploration advances life on Earth. Founded to reach the moon, we’re […]
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The Science Behind Star Formation: UCF Professor Studying D2H+ Ions in Extreme Conditions
Born from the challenge of the Space Race, UCF was created to transform imagination into innovation and prepare people to launch humanity beyond its limits. Today, we are still are a place where our people’s curiosity drives discovery, bold questions shape the future and exploration advances life on Earth. Founded to reach the moon, we’re […]
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UCF Physics Professor Works to Uncover the Universe’s History, One Rock at a Time
Born from the challenge of the Space Race, UCF was created to transform imagination into innovation and prepare people to launch humanity beyond its limits. Today, we are still are a place where our people’s curiosity drives discovery, bold questions shape the future and exploration advances life on Earth. Founded to reach the moon, we’re […]
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Research in 60 Seconds: Exploring Lunar Landscapes
Born from the challenge of the space race, UCF was created to transform imagination into innovation and prepare people to launch humanity beyond its limits. Today, we are still where our place where our people’s curiosity drives discovery, bold questions shape the future and exploration advances life on Earth. Founded to reach the moon, we’re […]
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Introducing the College of Sciences Alumni Council
The newly formed council brings together passionate alumni from UCF’s largest college to strengthen alumni engagement. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: October 29, 2025 The College of Sciences (COS) has recently selected a new Alumni Council to represent and engage alumni from UCF’s largest college. Coming from an array of professional backgrounds, these Knights bring […]
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UCF Biology Professor’s Research Links Warming Migratory Temperatures to Decline in Monarch Butterfly Population
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have one of the most impressive migrations in the animal kingdom, but rising temperatures are disrupting their physiology, migration success and long-term population stability, raising new questions about conservation strategies. In a recent study published in Royal Society Open Science, researchers found that warmer migratory temperatures may be disrupting their reproductive […]
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Interdisciplinary Collaboration through College of Sciences and CREOL Faculty Grows Opportunities for STEM Students
A new program, funded by a National Science Foundation grant, will holistically support academically high achieving students with financial barriers on their journey to commencement. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: October 24, 2025 The educational path to a STEM degree can be challenging both in and out of the classroom. To encourage aspiring scientists, […]
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5 Things to Know About Space Settlement
Space settlement has been the focus of researchers and organizations for years, offering the possibility of ensuring humanity’s long-term survival, advancing scientific knowledge and driving technological innovation. Agencies like NASA have set their sights on sending astronauts to Mars by the 2030s. To advance to the possibilities of living on other planets, researchers are examining […]
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UCF Researchers Developing Easy-to-Use Viral Biosensor Test — Giving Patients More Accurate, Immediate Results
For most diseases, early detection leads to better patient outcomes. That’s why infectious disease experts and chemists at the UCF College of Medicine and College of Sciences were recently awarded a $537,619 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a low cost, accurate test that detects Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV […]
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Tackling a Bigger Purpose
Playing catch-up with UCF Hall of Famer Shaquem Griffin ’16 will require mental reflexes. At least a dozen subjects wrestle for his — and our — attention during a conversation: family, business, technology, football, business again, training, faith, being a good father. The list goes on. Everything on it, in some squiggly way, connects to […]
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The Lou Frey Institute Convenes Educators for “Teaching America250: An Historic Opportunity”
Florida educators gather to learn about civics from UCF faculty and researchers in partnership with SPHERE Education Initiatives and the Jack Miller Center. By Sultana Ali | October 3, 2025 Democracy is at the heart of the mission behind Lou Frey Institute and its multi-prong approach to civics education. The institute’s work with educators was […]
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UCF Students Team Up With ESPN+ for Game Day Coverage
Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) students gain real-world broadcast experience on the field. Written by: Emily Dougherty | September 26, 2025 When Knight Nation tunes into ESPN+ before a football game, they’re watching more than the countdown to kickoff. They’re watching students’ career ambitions unfold. Hitting the Field, UCF’s student-run sports broadcast network, […]
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Empower STEM Event Features UCF Speech & Debate Team for Live Debate on Civic Participation
Four UCF undergraduate students from the Speech and Debate team took center stage at the College of Sciences’ Empower STEM event for a lively and thought-provoking debate on civic participation. By Ana Hidalgo | September 25, 2025 On Constitution Day, Sep. 17, marking the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, the […]