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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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Career FAQ with Chemistry Alumna Alexis Weber ’17
Thinking about starting your career after graduation can be overwhelming. Chemistry alumna Alexis Weber ‘17 shared her advice for College of Sciences students. Weber earned her Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science with a minor in Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry in 2017. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University at Albany, […]
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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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A Spectacle of Lights and Cinema: Reliving Diwali Magic at UCF
On Nov. 4, the University of Central Florida’s Indian Student Association (ISA) transformed the Grand Pegasus Ballroom into a vibrant tapestry of culture and light with their Diwali showcase. Diwali, known as the Festival of Lights, is a celebration that transcends religious boundaries, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge […]
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Department of State Political Science Student Connects with Alum During Internship
UCF College of Sciences Knights are making an impact in Washington, D.C.! During a recent internship, Political Science student Lindsey González worked at the Department of State, where she met up with alum Nick Grandchamps ‘15. Grandchamps serves as a Foreign Service Officer for the Department of State and graduated with his B.A. in Political […]
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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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Stories from Ancient Pottery Uncovered by Anthropology MA Student
Anthropology MA student Emily Tyler has invested significant time in her thesis studying pottery from the Burns Site in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Professor Sarah Barber, Ph.D. shared, “Emily has had the opportunity to learn a wide range of analytical techniques as part of her research, which will be valuable to her as she moves forward […]
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Physics Ph.D. Student Pushes the Frontiers of Attosecond Physics
A physics Ph.D. student will travel to California next year to conduct research in attosecond physics through a U.S. Department of Energy program. The program allows Chris Lantigua to continue his research into ultrashort pulses of light, which he currently pursues in the laboratory of Associate Professor Michael Chini, Ph.D. Through the DOE’s Science Graduate […]
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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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Biology Student Awarded at Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science Conference
Biology student Stefannia Tasayco recently had the opportunity to attend the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans (SACNAS) 2023 National Diversity in STEM Conference in Portland, Oregon. She was selected for the Outstanding Research Presentation award for her research poster on seagrass and living shoreline restoration. Read what she had to say about […]
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3 UCF Students Participate in Prestigious Department of Defense Fellowship
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has selected three UCF students for the 2023 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) fellowship. The award is granted to STEM majors and graduate students who intend to pursue a doctoral degree and can complete a research project relevant to the DoD’s interests. This year, 165 students from […]
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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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NSCM Alumna Carried Her Dreams to L.A. for Shark Tank Internship
Natalie Gooch took her dreams to L.A. as an intern on the hit ABC show, Shark Tank. Gooch graduated from the Nicholson School of Communication and Media in Summer 2023 with a degree in Media Production and Management. She recently completed the highly competitive Clay Newbill Shark Tank Internship in Los Angeles, California. Newbill is […]
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Meet October 2023 College of Sciences Ace Award Winner: Morgan Lemmen
Congratulations to October’s COS Ace Award Winner! Morgan Lemmen is the Marketing Communications Specialist in the Dean’s Office. Get to know Morgan below! About Morgan Morgan became a Knight in November 2022. She is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Grand Valley State University. […]
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Department of Mathematics Recognized for Excellence
The UCF Department of Mathematics ranks highly among its peers in Florida (public or private) institutions, according to data from Academic Analytics. UCF takes top honors in areas like author citations and number of books published by faculty, while ranking in the top for grant funding alongside the University of Florida and Florida State University. […]
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Psychology Alumna Gives Back to UCF Transfer Students
Diana Rodriguez ‘18 currently serves as the Academic Support Coordinator at UCF Connect. As a former transfer student from Miami Dade College in 2016, Rodgriguez understands the needs of transfer students. She graduated from UCF with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2018. The College of Sciences Marketing team sat down with Rodriguez to […]
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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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Political Science Alumna Makes Her Mark on National Security at Lockheed Martin
Alanna Reynolds ‘16 ‘19MA shows just what it means to work hard, persevere through challenges and keep pressing on to pursue her goals. She earned her MA in Political Science and Government in 2019 and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Security Studies at the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs. Reynolds is the […]
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Meet September 2023 College of Sciences Ace Award Winner: Sheri Pearson
The College of Sciences recognizes our outstanding staff with the Staff Ace Award. Winners of the Ace Award exhibit initiative to support COS while working well with those around them. They are “movers and shakers” in their departments and inspire others with their leadership skills. Congratulations to our September 2023 recipient, Sheri Pearson! About Sheri Pearson […]
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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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Ask Questions, Remember Your ‘Why’ Anthropology Professor Tells Grad Students
Associate Professor Shana Harris, Ph.D., is a cultural and medical anthropologist with research interests in drug use, addiction, and health politics and practice in Latin America and the United States. She was the sole recipient of the 2023 University of Central Florida’s College of Sciences Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award, which recognizes outstanding graduate-level teaching. She […]
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Grad Student Sees Future Filled With Teaching, Conservation Work
Federico López Borghesi is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Biology with a strong interest in conservation. His research explores agriculture, ecology and plant physiology, with an emphasis on statistical and computational approaches. This Spring he was recognized for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching by UCF. Here Borghesi shares his journey to UCF and […]
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2 UCF Scholars to be Inducted into Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida
A UCF physics professor and a UCF optics and photonics alumnus are among 15 honorees selected for induction to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL), a group that brings together the nation’s most distinguished scholars who live and work in Florida. Talat S. Rahman, Pegasus Professor of Physics and distinguished professor […]
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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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Student Ambassador Program Offers Development Opportunities for Biology Student
Biology student Andrea Vasquez returns this year as a College of Sciences student ambassador. She brings her experience as an ambassador last year along with her passion for student engagement. Vasquez believes all students should be able to express themselves and their passions—and the ambassador program is a great way to do that. “I was […]
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Cranberries and Chemistry Came Together with Ocean Spray Internship
A chemistry doctoral student gained valuable research experience this summer with Ocean Spray Cranberries. Edwin Davidson Barahona was tapped by the farmer cooperative to work in research and development by supporting production improvements and quality measurements for cranberry products. “The idea of working for a vibrant company with a reputable background, and an […]
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GIS Mapping Research Benefits Coastal Village, Teachers, Students
A community in Belize and students and teachers from UCF and across the U.S. benefited from a seven-week research project hosted by Citizen Science GIS this summer. This was the sixth year Associate Professor of Geographic Information Systems Timothy Hawthorne, Ph.D. led 10 students and two teachers to Hopkins Village, Belize in Central America […]