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Psychology Alumna Shines in Higher Education
From student, to alumna, to employee, Heather Peña, ’02, has quite a history with UCF. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree in psychology, Peña kept busy with UCF’s Student Government Association, Greek life, and the Golden Key International Honour Society. Following graduation, Peña worked in retail management, soon followed by what has led to a 12+ […]
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Mathematics Professor Wins National Award
UCF mathematics professor Basak Gurel, Ph.D., demonstrates the quality of her research by receiving the National Science Foundation CAREER Award on May 15. The Faculty Early Career Development Program, or CAREER, is an NSF-wide activity that offers the most prestigious awards in support of faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through the integration of […]
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Orlando Magazine’s 2015 Most-Powerful List Includes COS Alumni
Several University of Central Florida leaders and successful alumni were named this week in the Orlando Magazine 2015 list of the 50 most powerful people in the region. Three of which are UCF College of Sciences alumni. The 12th annual list is made up of leaders in politics, business, education, sports, health, philanthropy and other fields. […]
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Excellence in Mathematics
The Simons Foundation Division for Mathematics and the Physical Sciences recently awarded Zhisheng Shuai, Ph.D., with a grant for mathematics. Shuai, an associate professor at UCF, applied for the award with his work entitled, “Mathematical Investigation of Infectious Disease Models.” He is the third UCF recipient of the award in the Department of Mathematics. The […]
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Mummy Expert Draws Crowd to UCF
UCF recently hosted Mummies: Culture, Science and People From Around the World presented by Heather Gill-Frerking, Ph.D, in the Psychology building. Over 200 people attended the presentation, including UCF faculty members, UCF students and members of the community. Gill-Frerking presented different types of mummies, the Mummies of the World exhibition and personal stories. She also […]
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Chemistry Alumna Found Her Inspiration at UCF
Tamra Legron-Rodriguez, ’08, ’13, says her time in the UCF Chemistry Department inspired her to strive to be the best teacher she could be. Dr. Legron-Rodriguez graduated with her bachelor’s in forensic science and then her doctorate in materials chemistry from UCF. As a two-time UCF chemistry graduate, she spent a lot of her time […]
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Workshop to Teach About Dangers of Invasive Lionfish
Responding to a venomous lionfish invasion in Florida’s coastal waters, UCF will co-host a community workshop Thursday, June 18, about the species that’s threatening native fish and how to get rid of them. The Invasive Lionfish Collecting and Handling Workshop will be held 6-8 p.m. in the UCF Biology Field Research Center, Bldg. 92 on […]
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Breast Milk Sharing Communities Trend
A new study from three UCF professors in the College of Sciences on sharing breast milk was published in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine. The study consisted of work by sociocultural anthropology professor Dr. Beatriz Reyes-Foster, and assistant professors of sociology Dr. Shannon K. Carter and Dr. Melanie Sberna Hinojasa. “I was surprised by the high prevalence of overlap, where […]
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A New Way to Find Out What Lies Beneath
Arlen Chase, Ph.D., Interim Director for the Nicholson School of Communication, and Diane Chase, Ph.D., executive vice provost, were recently featured in a Washington Post article about Lidar. Lidar is an archaeological technology that helps archaeologists survey the ground. UCF’s archeology pair utilized Lidar when they surveyed Caracol, which was a major Mayan city, in […]
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NSC Scholarship Winners Announced
The Nicholson School of Communication recently announced its scholarship recipients for the 2015-16 academic year. 14 winners were chosen based on their classroom and community achievements. Danielle Hendrix, a journalism major, received the Anthony Reid Nicholson Endowed Scholarship. James Rowland, a graduate student in the Nicholson School of Communication, received the Buhr Graduate Fellowship in […]
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UCF Alumnus Finds Success in Pharmaceutical Statistics
Dr. Carl DiCasoli, ’04, says while at UCF, he discovered his interest in a statistics career. Originally a computer science major, he switched to statistics after discovering the opportunities in the field. Dr. DiCasoli graduated from UCF summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in statistics and a minor in mathematics in 2004. He then […]
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International Conference Honors Mathematician
The Department of Mathematics at UCF hosted an International Conference on Orthogonal Polynomials and q-Series in honor of Mourad Ismail’s, Ph.D, 70th birthday. Organized by a committee headed by Zuhair Nashed, Ph.D, a mathematics professor at UCF, the conference was organized to honor Ismail’s work in the fields of orthogonal polynomials and q-series. Mourad Ismail, […]
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UCF Leads State in Department of Defense Equipment Awards
The Defense University Research Instrumentation Program awarded Zenghu Chang, Ph.D. up to $252,000 for laser research. Chang, a distinguished professor of physics and optics at UCF, is one of three award recipients at UCF to receive an award from the program, which is the most among Florida universities. The award money will go toward purchasing […]
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Preparing the Researchers of Tomorrow
This summer, the UCF College of Graduate Studies initiated the “Preparing Future Researchers” program to offer seven international undergraduate students an opportunity to gain networking and researching experience. The students are each paired with a UCF faculty member in their discipline to conduct research on a topic of mutual interest. For about 40 hours a […]
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Physics Undergraduates Win Bronze at Physics Competition
After 48 hours of analyzing and writing, three UCF physics majors showed the importance of research by winning the bronze medal in their participation of the fifth annual University Physics Competition. The team of Brandon Blue, Chris Tiller, and Dylan Bruce performed calculations on the orbital stability of planets and determined their conclusion based on […]
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UCF Research and Innovation Recognized at International Conference
Qun “Treen” Huo, Ph.D. will be recognized for her groundbreaking technology and will present her innovation at the 2015 TechConnect World Innovation Conference from June 14 – 17 in Washington, D.C. Her discovery, along with two others from UCF, are among the top 20 percent of submittals selected to receive TechConnect Innovation Awards. The annual event is […]
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College of Sciences Continues Graduation Tradition
Spring 2015 graduates were treated to a post-ceremony reception jointly hosted by the UCF College of Sciences and its academic departments. The reception, which has been embraced as an end of semester tradition, was held in the UCF Psychology Building immediately following the commencement ceremony on May 8. Along with enjoying light refreshments and returning their rented regalia, […]
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UCF Leads Alumna to a Career in Global Law
Callie Carr, ’04, made the most of her time at UCF. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree in political science, she served as president of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, competed on UCF’s mock trial team, and graduated with summa cum laude. Currently, she works as associate general counsel for Micron Technology, […]
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Schell Award Recognizes Exceptional Writing Instruction
UCF chemistry department chair and professor Dr. Cherie Yestrebsky was recognized for her efforts in improving student learning by receiving the Schell Award for Implementing Innovative Writing Instruction in the Disciplines on April 21. The award was part of the Writing Across the Curriculum program, an interdisciplinary program coordinated by the UCF Department of Writing and […]
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Outstanding Biology AlumKnight
Alice Bard, ’86, ’89, graduated from UCF with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology. Bard was nominated by the Department of Biology to be honored as the 2015 Outstanding Biology AlumKnight recipient at the inaugural UCF College of Sciences Outstanding AlumKnight award reception held in February. She currently serves as an environmental specialist II […]
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Unraveling the Mystery of Mummies Around the World
In June UCF will host an intriguing talk on the fascinating subject of mummies of the world. Mummies: Culture, Science and People From Around the World will be presented by Dr. Heather Gill-Frerking on campus Wednesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. Gill-Frerking will share parts of her research from South America, Europe and Egypt in […]
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Memorial Fund to Commemorate Fallen Student
The family of Steven Sotloff has set out to preserve his memory forever and continue his legacy for generations at UCF through a generous act. The Steven Sotloff Memorial Endowed Fund at UCF has been created by Sotloff’s family to commemorate his life. Sotloff studied at UCF from 2002 to 2004, taking journalism classes and […]
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UCF Professor Raises Disaster Awareness with New Book
UCF sociology associate professor Fernando Rivera is looking to spread the importance of disaster preparedness among residents across the sunshine state with his new book, “Disaster Vulnerability, Hazards, and Resilience – Perspectives from Florida.” Co-authored with public policy and administration professor Naim Kapucu, the book provides lessons in building disaster resilience for rural communities and […]
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AD-PR Major Receives Women’s Studies Scholarship
Dedication and passion for women’s issues have led Amy Maitner to receive a scholarship for her work. Maitner is a junior advertising – public relations major with a minor in women’s studies and recently received the Eleanor Roosevelt Women’s Studies Scholarship Award. She lives her life through her passion for women’s rights and social justice activism. Maitner […]
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New Citrus Treatment Being Tested
By: Susan Jacobson, Orlando Sentinel Swadeshmukul Santra, Ph.D., an associate professor of chemistry who works in UCF’s NanoScience Technology Center, invented a zinc-based liquid that is being considered as a treatment for deadly citrus greening. Santra invented Zinkicide in 2013. The bactericide, composed of zinc and undisclosed other ingredients, is being sprayed on citrus trees in […]
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UCF Undergraduate Researchers Go International
More than 30 UCF student researchers will participate in research programs around the world this summer. The students will receive stipends, lodging and often travel funding as compensation for their work in the research programs. “Being an undergraduate researcher has opened doors for me that I did not even know existed,” said Samantha Mensah, a […]
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NASA Mission Principal Investigator Visits UCF Science Café
Florida Space Institute’s Dr. Alan Stern will be the featured guest as part UCF’s Science Café’s Special Summer Edition as he shares his experience as the principal investigator for NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto on Monday, June 1. His presentation, titled “Encountering Pluto: New Horizons Mission,” will highlight images from the spacecraft, New Horizons, […]
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UCF Political Science Alumna Crowned Miss Florida World America 2015
Last month, UCF political science alumna, Kailyn Perez, ’13, was crowned the first-ever Miss Florida World America 2015 in the newly-formed pageant. The Tampa native started at UCF in 2010, majoring in political science, while also working as a freelance model. During her time at UCF, Perez was involved in the Student Government Association, taking […]
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Going Primal
The UCF Global Achievement Academy students got an up-close look at primate diversity during their field trip to the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, FL on Apr. 25. As a part of the ANT 2511: Human Species course taught by Dr. Lana Williams, the Global Achievement Academy received a chance to explore the biological […]
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Captivated by Disgust
Recent research found that people exposed to core disgusts, such as blood, guts and body products, were more attentive to disgusting content even though it provoked negative reactions. Bridget Rubenking, Ph.D., associate professor of radio-television at the University of Central Florida, and Annie Lang, Ph.D., distinguished professor in the department of telecommunications at Indiana University, […]