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UCF Projects Win 5 Emmys, Breaking Last Year’s Record
UCF’s Center for Distributed Learning has garnered national acclaim for its groundbreaking docuseries, A Break for Impact, and its latest short documentary, Beneath the Same Sky. Both projects have transformed classrooms at UCF and achieved remarkable recognition, including a record-breaking 10 Suncoast Emmy nominations and a world premiere at DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival. At the […]
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UCF Researcher Discovers New Technique for Infrared “Color” Detection and Imaging
UCF researcher Debashis Chanda, a professor at UCF’s NanoScience Technology Center, has developed a new technique to detect long wave infrared (LWIR) photons of different wavelengths or “colors.” The research was recently published in Nano Letters, an esteemed scholarly journal published by the American Chemical Society. The findings are the result of a $1.5 million […]
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UCF Psychology Professor Recognized with Beckman Award for His Impact on Student’s Research for Breast Cancer Survivors
Psychology and art blend into lifelong impact for women with Stacie Becker’s research By Emily Dougherty | November 25, 2024 Dr. Jeffrey Cassisi, Professor of Psychology in the College of Sciences, is a recipient of the 2024 Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award for his mentorship and support of Stacie Becker’s research. Becker is a master’s student […]
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UCF Recognizes Nine Top Faculty at 2024 Luminary Awards
Nine faculty members were honored for their trailblazing work and the impact they are making in our local communities, our nation and the world during UCF’s annual Luminary Awards held Friday at the Orlando Museum of Art. The Luminary Awards — established in 2017 — are designed to recognize some of UCF’s brightest stars who […]
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Chemistry Researchers Advance Universal Design for Learning in STEM Courses
Focus on Bilingual approaches through National Science Foundation grant expand accessibility for learning across diverse student groups By: Emily Dougherty I October 4, 2024 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 […]
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Remembering Frank Kujawa, UCF’s Longest-Serving Faculty Member
July 1969 was a monumental time for Frank and Ann Kujawa. On the fifth of the month, they were married and about to travel from their home in Baltimore to Orlando for Frank’s final interview with UCF. Eleven days later, they sat atop the school’s engineering building to watch the Apollo 11 launch. That summer […]
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UCF Reach for the Stars 2024 Honorees Leading the Charge into the Future
The 2024 University of Central Florida Reach for the Stars honorees share a dedication to advancing knowledge and addressing real-world challenges within their respective fields. Each researcher demonstrates a commitment to innovation, whether it’s in clean energy, healthcare, performing arts or manufacturing. The Reach for the Stars awards highlight their contributions to academia and underscore […]
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UCF Director of Clinical Psychology Chosen for Prestigious Position
Jeffrey Bedwell, Ph.D. has a lifelong passion for helping people overcome mental illness. As a professor at UCF’s Department of Psychology, and as director of the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program, his work allows him to train future clinical psychologists to make a difference in the lives of others. Now, he’s taking on a new role […]
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GeoBus UCF Builds Momentum for New Adventures in 2024
Looking back on 2023, GeoBus UCF accomplished a lot—both in Florida and internationally. We spoke with Associate Professor of Geographic Information Systems in the Department of Sociology and 2024 National Geographic Explorer Timothy Hawthorne, Ph.D. about these exciting accomplishments. Top Three GeoBus Highlights in 2023 2024 Goals for GeoBus When asked about goals for this […]
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Psychology’s Role in AI Presented by Professor Mindy Shoss at American Psychological Association Webinar
Department of Psychology Professor Mindy Shoss, Ph.D. presented at a recent American Psychological Association webinar on AI titled: “Artificial Intelligence: The Role of Psychology and How to Navigate Change.” She was also cited in an APA press release on AI and ethics. Over 1,500 people registered for the webinar on this timely topic. We spoke […]
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Faculty from Department of Mathematics Included in Top Two Percent of Researchers in the World Group
In a recent article published by a Stanford research group, six faculty from the Department of Mathematics were included in their list of the top two percent of researchers in the world. Variables including the number of papers authored, total citations and the impact of published research were considered. Department of Mathematics Chair Professor Xin […]
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UCF Physics Researchers to Participate in Action-Packed MegaCon2024 in Orlando
MegaCon2024 will be hosted at the Orange County Convention Center on Feb. 1-4. This jam-packed event will feature celebrities and festivities in celebration of all-things comics, science fiction, horror, anime, gaming and cosplay. Some celebrity appearances include Tom Hiddelston, Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen and Michael J. Fox. Joining the convention’s celebrity lineup will be a […]
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Doing Your Own Online Fact-checking May Not Be as Effective in Detecting Fake News, NYU and UCF Study Reveals
New findings from a study published in Nature and led by UCF’s School of Politics, Security and International Affairs Assistant Professor Kevin Aslett shed light on the ways that conducting your own online research can be misleading. Aslett worked with a team of fellow researchers from New York University and Stanford University over a span […]
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Data Fuels Conservation Work for Biology Assistant Professor
Most folks recognize the image of scientists tagging birds and animals to study wildlife patterns and habits. What’s less familiar is what happens with that data after they’re released back into the wild, and how researchers use that information to steer conservation work. That’s the expertise of Assistant Professor Christen Fleming, Ph.D., a new faculty […]
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Sociology Professor Researches Healthcare and Society
Sociology Professor Shannon Carter researches various topics in the healthcare industry that have a true impact on peoples’ lives. Read what she has to say about her research and learn what you can do with a Sociology degree. Can you please describe your research areas? My research focuses on health practices among different groups […]
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Mathematics Assistant Professor Brings Knowledge from Intercultural Experiences to the Classroom
Assistant Professor Aritra Dutta, Ph.D. shares his passion for both teaching and learning with his math students. Read what Dutta had to say about his love for teaching, teaching advice and advice for students. What do you enjoy about teaching? My overall view is that teaching and research are connected because teaching conveys knowledge, while […]
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Fulbright Specialist Spot Secured by NSCM Senior Lecturer
Christine Hanlon, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer in the UCF Nicholson School of Communication and Media, has been accepted for a three-year placement on the Fulbright Specialist roster. The Fulbright Specialist Program is a year-round program that matches Fulbright Specialists with international host institutions for short-term on-demand projects. The Fulbright Specialist Program was established by the U.S. […]
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The Power of AI Unleashed Through UCF’s AI Initiative
Talk of AI is all around. Whether discussed in the context of education, the workforce or everyday life, it is certainly making a large impact. According to the program’s website, UCF’s Artificial Intelligence Initiative (Aii) aims to hire close to 30 new AI faculty members from across five different colleges: College of Sciences, College of […]
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Sociology Professor Dedicates Research to Serving Homeless Population
Department of Sociology Associate Professor Amy Donley works closely with social inequality and the homeless community. Her work truly makes an impact in the lives of others and society. Take a look at what she has to say about her work below. Please describe your research and the impact of this research. I am an […]
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Psychology Professor Makes Waves in the Future of Online Teaching
Associate Lecturer Martha Hubertz in the Department of Psychology was recognized for her work in online teaching with the Excellence in Instructional Teaching Practice from the Online Learning Consortium. Her work in online instruction has made important strides in flexible learning options that provide more options for learners of different lifestyles. We spoke with Hubertz […]
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NASA Presentation Spotlights UCF Virtual Reality Projects Visualizing Nature
Nicholson School of Communication and Media Associate Professor Maria C. R. Harrington, Ph.D. discovered that the combination of high immersion and high photorealistic environments, along with free choice and navigation, double learning gains and trigger a complex matrix of emotions, including an evaluation of beauty. “There’s something inherently human about learning in a geospatial experience […]
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Cybersecurity Brought to Life in New Book
A new cybersecurity book from the Department of Mathematics is more of a spy thriller than a rigid textbook. The book is authored by Associate Lecturer Rachid Ait Maalem Lahcen, Ph.D, who was inspired to use fiction as a vehicle to introduce cyber threat analysis to newcomers. “Unveiling the Shadows: A Cyber Threat Intelligence Journey,” […]
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Researchers Named Rising Stars of Science
Two researchers in the College of Sciences were named Rising Stars of Science by the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL). Assistant Professor Kerri Donaldson Hanna, Ph.D., and Associate Professor Xiaohou Xia, Ph.D., will present their research and receive the honor at the annual ASEMFL conference in early November. Donaldson Hanna is […]
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Statistics and Data Science Team Wins Third Consecutive First Place in Competition
Outbreaks of violence and instability in global hotspots like the Middle East can seem unpredictable, but data science proves otherwise. That was the premise behind a statistics and deep learning hybrid model that earned Associate Professor Hsin-Hsiung “Bill” Huang, Ph.D., and a team of students from the Department of Statistics and Data Science their third […]
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Sociology Expertise Strengthens Campus Safety Initiatives
Parking at night is a simple but powerful illustration Associate Professor Alison Cares, Ph.D., uses to teach gendered experiences with violence and victimization. Routes through campus after hours are typically dictated by lighting, exits and number of people in an area — and often preplanned by women and non-gender confirming people. If men consider these factors […]
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Book Explores Southern Identity Through the Lens of Waffle House
Say “Waffle House” and you’ll probably picture late-night brawls shared on social media or stand-up comedy material. But the same qualities that make us laugh also make the restaurant the perfect subject of study by cultural anthropologists like Professor Ty Matejowsky, Ph.D. Matejowsky specializes in how food shapes and informs a culture, with past […]
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UCF Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Lab Receives Disney Grant, Continues Restoration Research
UCF’s Coastal & Estuarine Ecology Laboratory (CEELAB) continues to grow and expand its influence with an investment from Disney and a research project attracting top science talent from across the U.S. The achievement came in the form of $100,000 to Pegasus Professor of Biology Linda Walters and integrative coastal biology doctoral student Katherine Harris ’18 […]
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Psychology Degree Goes Deeper Than Counseling
Training students to make a difference in the psychology field and beyond is all in a day’s work for licensed clinical psychologist and Senior Lecturer Karen Mottarella, Ph.D. “Psychology is fun, so my idea is that students should never be bored in the classroom,” she said. This mentality guides her work as she […]
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Stats Instructor Sets World Record for Highest Wingsuit Jump
Adjunct Instructor Aaron Smith, Ph.D., can calculate risk better than most people. Not only is he a statistician, but he currently holds the world record for highest wingsuit jump. Smith, a faculty member in the Department of Statistics and Data Science, set the record on July 1 by jumping from a plane at an altitude […]
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Limbitless Solutions Receives Epic MegaGrant to Create Multiplayer Prosthetics-Training Game
UCF professors and nonprofit organization Limbitless Solutions have received an Epic MegaGrant from Epic Games, known for operating Fortnite and developing Unreal Engine. Limbitless Solutions is known for developing expressive, 3D-printed arms and accessibility-focused video game training. Their training games directly support producing and delivering cost-free prosthetic limbs for the limb-difference […]