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8 UCF Faculty Members to Be Inducted in Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida
The Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL), a nonprofit that brings together the top academics and practitioners in the state, announced its 2026 cohort of inductees. Eight of the new members are from UCF. The inductees are: Associate Professor Chen Chen – Associate Member Professor Ivan Garibay ’00MS ’04PhD – Associate Member […]
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Fulbright Experience in Uzbekistan Opens Doors for Future Global Collaboration
College of Sciences professor’s Fulbright Specialist experience lays the foundation for future collaboration in artificial intelligence, data science and international academic exchange. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: July 24, 2026 When Hsin-Hsiung “Bill” Huang, professor of statistics and data science, traveled to Uzbekistan this spring as part of the Fulbright Specialist Program, the visit represented far more […]
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Psychology Professor Helps Malawi Hospitals Build Sustainable Healthcare Leadership
Through a global healthcare partnership, a UCF researcher trained district hospital leaders in Malawi to improve mental health screening systems and strengthen long-term patient care practices. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: July 15, 2026 For Professor of Psychology Mark Ehrhart, improving healthcare systems starts with understanding people. As an industrial-organizational psychologist, Ehrhart studies how leadership, workplace […]
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Using Mechanical Vibrations to Stabilize Quantum Information
Assistant Professor Han Zhao is developing a new method that uses tiny mechanical vibrations and superconducting systems to make quantum operations more resistant to noise and errors, addressing one of the biggest challenges in quantum computing. Supported by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, Zhao’s research uses a topological “braiding” […]
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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 while avoiding detection. Field and laboratory data show knifefish go electrically silent when eels are nearby, while eels briefly pause low-voltage signals before striking, minimizing the chance of alerting prey. […]
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UCF Researcher Helps Define the Future of Nanozymes in Healthcare and Technology
A new study co-led by a UCF researcher highlights how nanozymes — engineered nanomaterials that mimic enzymes — could improve disease detection, targeted therapies and technologies designed for harsh for real-world environments. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: June 1, 2026 Associate Professor of Chemistry Xiaohu Xia is exploring the potential of nanozyme technology in outperforming natural enzymes, proteins that accelerate chemical reactions. The study was published in the journal Nature Reviews Materials. The first author is Shikuan Shao, a postdoctoral researcher at UCF, and […]
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New Study Explores How Governance Has Evolved Across History
A newly published study in Science Advances is taking a broader look at how societies have organized power across history, combining archaeological and historical evidence to better understand governance over time. Coauthor Sarah “Stacy” Barber, professor and associate chair for UCF’s Department of Anthropology, says the project was driven in part by the growing availability of archaeological data […]
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Natural Chemical Factories: UCF Study Reveals How Bacteria Build Explosive-Like Molecules
Scientists at UCF have discovered how certain bacteria can produce molecules chemically similar to those used in explosives, revealing a previously unknown pathway for building complex, nitrogen-rich compounds. The study, led by UCF associate professor of chemistry Jonathan Caranto, identifies hydrazinoacetic acid as a key building block in the production of N-nitroglycine, a rare compound […]
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Tentacles in Solution: UCF Research Speeds Up DNA Biosensing
Detecting disease in a blood sample. Monitoring contaminants in drinking water. Identifying biological threats before they can spread. DNA biosensors play a critical role in each of these, but many rely on a slow process that can miss fleeting signals or delay results. At UCF, researchers are developing a new approach inspired by squids, octopuses […]
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Cinematography Master Class Pushes UCF Film Students to Embrace Collaboration and Creative Limits
The head of the cinematography department at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Studies shares with students how filmmaking grows through limitation, teamwork and experience. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: April 27, 2026 Students in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) film program gained an inside look at the realities of filmmaking with Tatjana Krstevski, head of the Department of Cinematography at New York University’s (NYU) Tisch School […]
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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 organisms. However, documenting phenotypic, or observable, characteristics of organisms has lagged behind due to challenges with technology. To advance knowledge in this area, UCF Assistant Professor of Biology Jeffrey Sosa-Calvo, […]
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Inaugural Gilson Lecture Series Features Oxford Professor on How the Senses Shape Perception
The UCF Department of Psychology hosted its first Richard Gilson distinguished lecture series, featuring University of Oxford professor Charles Spence, who explored how the human brain integrates sensory information and how those connections are shaping research, design and real-world experience. Written by: Ana Hidalgo and Shaloni Prine | April 21, 2026 On April 3, 2026, the UCF Human Factors and Cognitive […]
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UCF Study Suggests Some Alzheimer’s Symptoms May Begin Outside the Brain
UCF researchers have uncovered evidence that some movement-related symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease may originate outside the brain, which could change how the disease is diagnosed and treated in the future. The study was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging and was led by UCF Nanoscience Technology Center Professor James Hickman and Research Professor Xiufang “Nadine” Guo. In collaboration with researchers at healthcare tech company Hesperos, the team used lab-grown, human-cell systems designed to […]
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UCF Research to Help Inform Statewide Efforts to Stop Domestic Violence and Improve Care for Survivors
Florida is turning to UCF experts to find better ways to prevent domestic violence and give survivors a stronger voice in the services they need. Through a $257,384 two-year grant from the Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence, faculty from UCF’s Violence Against Women research cluster are conducting a statewide domestic violence needs assessment. Their findings will help policymakers and local agencies develop better strategies to fund and support domestic […]
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Bold, Relentless, Rising: Meet UCF’s 2026 Reach for the Stars Honorees
Big ideas don’t wait — and neither do the researchers behind them. The 2026 Reach for the Stars honorees — six UCF assistant professors — are already making a substantial impact on their respective fields through meaningful research and creative work that extends far beyond campus, with national and international influence. Across disciplines, their work […]
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Joshua Colwell Leads UCF’s College of Sciences as Dean
The search for a new dean for the UCF College of Sciences has concluded with the appointment of Joshua Colwell, a Pegasus Professor of physics who has been at UCF for 20 years. Following a competitive national search and rigorous interview process, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs John Buckwalter selected Colwell on […]
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UCF Chemistry Instructor’s Creative Approach Earns Excellence in Online Teaching Award
Nicole Lapeyrouse ’16MS ’18PhD never knows when and where she might be recognized. Students and their significant others who have never met her in person will come up to her in stores and along sidewalks to say, “Excuse me, but aren’t you …?” Yes, it’s her. The chemistry and geology instructor recently walked into a […]
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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 College of Sciences (COS) engaged future scientists, alumni, and the Central Florida community at Spark STEM Fest. Presented by the UCF Office of Research, Spark STEM Fest is an annual celebration of technology and […]
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College of Sciences Hosts Interdisciplinary Seminar on Avatars, AI and the Future of Human Performance
Interdisciplinary seminar highlights how UCF faculty are leveraging AI technologies and immersive systems to transform communication, teaching and embodied experiences. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: February 27, 2026 As artificial intelligence and immersive technologies continue to evolve, researchers across the College of Sciences (COS) are investigating how digital agents influence the way people communicate, learn and even experience their own physical abilities. To advance […]
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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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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 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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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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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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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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Biology Professor, Computer Science Students Create Teaching Game About Parasitic Wasps
A new desktop game is turning parasitic wasps into unlikely heroes. Released Sept. 9, on the digital platform Steam, The Crawling Dead introduces players to biology topics and the crucial role of this insect species in controlling pests and benefiting the environment. Led by UCF Professor of Biology Barbara Sharanowski and developed by computer science […]
