UCF Biology Professor Joshua King has won the 2023 Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize and $100,000 for an innovation he created to control a ubiquitous pest — fire ants. His invention is a non-toxic method to manage fire ants and eliminates the need for harmful pesticides, which helps keep the environment and other ground-nesting animals safe. […]
When the nation’s leading gaming companies seek out the best talent in the world, they come to the University of Central Florida. Exceptional faculty with strong academic and industry backgrounds prepare students for success with rigorous courses and real-world experiences that mirror what they experience in industry.The Princeton Review and PC Gamer recognize that UCF’s programs are […]
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 […]
University of Central Florida researcher Debashis Chanda, a professor in UCF’s NanoScience Technology Center, has drawn inspiration from butterflies to create the first environmentally friendly, large-scale and multicolor alternative to pigment-based colorants, which can contribute to energy-saving efforts and help reduce global warming. The development was published today in Science Advances as a featured article. […]
Fifteen faculty members were celebrated for their leadership and the impact they are making in communities, the nation and in the world during UCF’s annual Luminary Awards held Tuesday at Leu Gardens in Orlando. The Luminary Awards — established in 2017 — are designed to recognize some of UCF’s brightest stars who shine a positive […]
UCF is one of 16 universities in the U.S. that have formed a consortium on nuclear forensics. The association is supported by a $25 million cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The goal of the consortium is to engage in research that supports the NNSA’s nuclear security and nonproliferation […]
University of Central Florida Florida Space Institute researchers are part of a team of scientists who have found evidence of geothermal activity within icy dwarf planets in our solar system. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, the team — led by the Southwest Research Institute and Lowell Observatory — observed geologically young methane deposits on […]
Prolific University of Central Florida inventor Swadeshmukul Santra is developing new technologies that hold promise not only for sustainable agriculture, but also for improved medicine. Santra, a professor associated with UCF’s NanoTechnology Science Center, Department of Chemistry and Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, has 34 UCF inventions under his belt and leads the university’s Materials […]
The University of Central Florida recognized some of its top faculty for their contributions to scholarly excellence and creativity during the fourth biennial Faculty Authors’ Celebration held Thursday at the Live Oak Ballroom on campus. The event, which is sponsored by the Office of Research and Faculty Excellence, drew more than 40 guests, including Vice […]
Department of Physics Ph.D. student Eric Switzer earned the esteemed Order of the Pegasus award last year for his outstanding academic achievements. Keep reading to learn more about his Knight journey and the advice he has for Physics undergraduate students. Why did you choose to study Physics at UCF? What first caught my eye on […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
A deserving Chemistry student earned the 2024 American Chemical Society (ACS) Leadership Institute Award, allowing her to attend this year’s conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The recipient, Yael Faroud, is a junior majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Health Science. She serves as the Secretary for the UCF ACS student chapter. Professor Stephen Kuebler has […]
College of Sciences graduate students contribute important scholarship and research that is crucial to the future of their various disciplines, from the natural sciences to communication studies. This year, four outstanding COS doctoral students, representing three disciplines, were selected for the prestigious Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship. “The Dissertation Completion Fellowship provides a unique opportunity […]
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 […]
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 […]
Nicholson School of Communication and Media alumna Kendra Hathaway ‘13 is busy making her mark on the entertainment industry in Southern California. Her career so far has exemplified the importance of persistence and dedication even when challenges arise. After graduating with a degree in Radio-Television Production, Hathaway moved to Los Angeles and worked as a […]
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 […]
Have you ever wondered what you can do with a Ph.D. in Big Data Analytics? We spoke with Big Data Analytics Ph.D. student Hayden Hampton and Professor and Chair of the Department of Statistics and Data Science Shunpu Zhang to find out. What careers can students pursue with a Ph.D. in Big Data Analytics? […]
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 […]
The American Physical Society (APS) chapter at UCF champions the development of Physics graduate students and early career scientists. The group’s recent work raised awareness for the wage disparity in graduate school. Vice-Chair Stephanie Lough shared more about their inspiring work. Please share more about your work in raising awareness for the wage disparity in […]
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 […]
UCF’s Model United Nations group is a part of the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs and prepares students to be active and informed citizens. The group recently participated in the inaugural Model UN Conference at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. The team’s delegations represented Albania, Angola and Argentina. At the conference […]
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. […]
An important part of choosing any major is knowing the career possibilities after graduation. We spoke with Department of Anthropology Undergraduate Coordinator, Dr. Sandra Wheeler, and Graduate Program Director, Dr. Scott Branting, to discover what students can do with an Anthropology degree. What are some career options for students with Anthropology degrees? Anthropologists can […]
Chemistry Ph.D. student Zach Murphy studied nuclear waste storage during an internship with Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL). His faculty advisor Assistant Professor Vasileios Anagnostopoulos, Ph.D. sees the immense value in internships for UCF Chemistry students. “Internships are a great opportunity for students to get hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology that is not available in […]
Psychology Assistant Professor Chelsea LeNoble, Ph.D. is spearheading a research project on the well-being of prescribed fire practitioners. LeNoble shared, “Prescribed fire is a tool that can prevent more catastrophic wildfires. It helps by reducing fuels (e.g., sticks, leaves, fallen trees) in a controlled way and maintaining the health of the natural ecosystems that rely […]
This fall, 26 College of Sciences Ph.D. graduates will walk across the stage into futures making an impact in academia and industry. They have dedicated themselves to countless hours of research that have made an impact on both them and those around them. These graduates are now ready for the next step in their careers. […]
Integrative and Conservation Biology Ph.D. candidates Davide Dal Pos and Alessandra Pandolfi were honored with awards at the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting in Maryland. Dal Pos earned the first place award in the Systematics, Evolution and Biodiversity (SysEB): Morphology 2 section for his presentation titled, “A revised terminology for male genitalia in Hymenoptera […]