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UCF Honors 8 Trailblazing Faculty with 2026 Luminary Awards
Eight UCF faculty earned 2026 Luminary Awards for achievements that extend the reach of UCF research and scholarship around the world. Their work is helping prevent highway crashes, strengthen disaster resilience, elevate tourism and open new possibilities in quantum technology and artificial intelligence. UCF will celebrate the honorees on Oct. 20 during the 10th annual […]
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UCF to Name School of Data, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences in Honor of Technology Pioneer, Alumna Yvette Kanouff
Yvette Kanouff wants UCF students to recognize the possibilities within themselves. Now, her name will become part of the place where generations of Knights turn those possibilities into discoveries. On Thursday, Sept. 24, the University of Central Florida Board of Trustees approved renaming the UCF School of Data, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences to the Dr. […]
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The Heartfelt Story Behind UCF Alum’s Annual Mom Hugs Day
Content warning: This article touches on sensitive topics of mental health and suicide. Resources available for UCF students, faculty and staff are included. The fifth annual Mom Hugs Day, organized by Kelly Haskins ’91, will be held Thursday, Sept. 24, from noon until 2 p.m. at Ferrell Commons in partnership with UCF Wellness and Health […]
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UCF Researcher Discovers Experimental Evidence of New Type of Magnetism
UCF researchers and collaborators experimentally identified signatures of altermagnetism in a layered material. The emerging form of magnetism can avoid disruptive magnetic fields while offering properties that could enable thenext-generation computing. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could help scientists develop faster, smaller and more energy-efficient electronic and spintronic devices for next-generation computing and data […]
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UCF Researcher Uses Conservation Genomics to Advance Florida Scrub Jay Recovery
For nearly two decades biologist Lauren Deaner has worked with Florida Scrub jays, contributing to population recovery efforts and translocations. Now, as a doctoral researcher in UCF’s integrative biology program, she is using that field experience to investigate how genetics, behavior and population dynamics influence the long-term recovery of imperiled species. Deaner’s dissertation centers on […]
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UCF Anthropologist Examines Culture and Identity Through the Food We Eat
Through research spanning the Philippines and the United States, UCF anthropologist and department chair Ty Matejowsky examines how food and restaurants can reveal deeper meanings about culture, identity and human interaction. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published September 18, 2026 For most people, a trip to a fast-food restaurant is simply a meal. For Ty Matejowsky, chair of the Department of Anthropology, it can be […]
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UCF Civics Expert Selected to Help Shape National Assessment
Stephen Masyada has been invited to serve on a 20-member framework committee for the civics portion of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for the 2032 assessment. Masyada is the longtime director of the Lou Frey Institute, which serves every school district in Florida as a leading provider of civic education instructional and professional […]
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UCF Faculty Help Shape the Future of Human-Machine Communication as Emerging Field Earns International Recognition
Human-machine communication (HMC) reached a major milestone this summer, earning official Division status from the International Communication Association and recognition as an established field of communication research. UCF Professors Jihyun Kim and Patric Spence have helped shape HMC through research, international leadership and the creation of a dedicated scholarly journal. With emerging technologies increasingly integrated […]
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FIEA Students Debut Original Video Games During Cohort 22 Capstone Presentations
After a year of collaboration, creativity and problem-solving, Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy students unveiled original games that showcase both technical innovation and the teamwork behind modern game development. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: August 10, 2026 The Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) at the Nicholson School of Communication and Media recently welcomed industry professionals, […]
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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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From Knightly News to Hollywood: UCF Alumnus Built Artist Management Company Representing Top Comedians and Musicians
A College of Sciences alumnus turned the connections he made in UCF’s TV production program into a Los Angeles-based artist management company helping entertainers grow careers on stage and beyond. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: July 27, 2026 For Stephen Gordon Walker ’12, success in the entertainment industry begins with embracing what makes you different. After graduating from the then-named Nicholson School of Communication’s TV production […]
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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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2 Engineering Professors, 1 Alum Inducted Into Florida Inventors Hall of Fame
The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame is a state-wide initiative dedicated to honoring and celebrating Florida inventors whose achievements have significantly advanced the quality of life for all Americans. Professor Reza Abdolvand was named an inductee for his contributions to the field of micro-electromechanical systems, which has significant applications in telecommunications, bioengineering and sensor technology. […]
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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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7 Knights Earn 2026 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
What does it take to study how some of the earliest galaxies in the universe evolved, develop cleaner energy technologies or better understand the ecosystems that sustain life on Earth? For a group of seven UCF graduate students and alums, it starts with curiosity and a willingness to explore the unknown. Researchers studying topics ranging […]
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Doctoral Chemistry Student Earns GEM Fellowship for Research in Nuclear Forensics and National Security
From undergraduate researcher to GEM Fellow, a graduate student is building a future in radiochemistry and national security research through UCF. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: July 13, 2026 Chemistry doctoral student and Graduate Research Assistant Wilfredo Rivera Rodriguez has been selected for the prestigious GEM Fellowship, a nationally recognized graduate fellowship that supports students pursuing advanced degrees in STEM fields and helps develop future […]
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UCF Students Win Inaugural International Security Strategy Competition
A team of School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs students earned first place for their Arctic security strategy, demonstrating the power of collaboration, critical thinking and real-world problem solving. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: July 6, 2026 Five College of Sciences students put their national security knowledge to the test and came out on top, earning first place […]
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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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FDLE Relocates Orlando Toxicology Lab to UCF, Strengthening Partnerships and Research
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is deepening its strategic public safety partnership with UCF by embedding experts at the university’s Academic Health Sciences Campus. Relocating FDLE’s toxicology laboratory to the UCF facility in Lake Nona better connects academic-industry research, workforce development and forensic testing in one of the nation’s fastest-growing medical and technology […]
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UCF, Air Force Partnership Expands Opportunities in National Security Research, Student Training
At a time when the United States faces a shortage of trained radiochemists and growing national security demands, UCF is helping prepare the next generation of scientists to meet the challenge. A new educational partnership between UCF and the U.S. Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) is creating opportunities for research, student training and workforce […]
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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 Reveals How Genetic Variation Shapes Sea Turtle Immune System Evolution
Immune responses are essential for survival, allowing animals to fight infections and adapt to disease threats. By studying the genes behind immunity, scientists can better understand how species evolve and persist in changing environments. While immune systems are well studied in mammals and birds, reptiles — particularly sea turtles — remain less explored, leaving critical […]
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Digital Media M.A. Students Earn Recognition for Research and Creative Work
Four students in the Digital Media master’s program at the Nicholson School of Communication and Media are making an impact through publications, international conferences, public outreach and campus awards. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: June 15, 2026 Graduate students in the Digital Media Master of Arts (DMMA) program at the Nicholson School of Communication and Media’s (NSCM) are earning recognition across a wide range of scholarly and creative fields, with recent accomplishments taking them […]
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What I Learned from Rowing Across the Ocean
UCF industrial and organizational psychology doctoral student Andres Käosaar and his team of three fellow Estonians spent three years preparing for the World’s Toughest Row and journeyed as one of 43 boats in the 2025 Atlantic challenge. Read his pre-race feature on UCF Today. They successfully completed their mission of rowing across the Atlantic on […]
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UCF Student Awarded Florida Sea Grant/Guy Harvey Fellowship, Advances Research on Florida’s Changing Fisheries
Meredith Pratt, an integrative and conservation biology doctoral student at UCF, earned the prestigious Florida Sea Grant/Guy Harvey Fellowship for research on Florida’s changing coastal ecosystems. Her work examines how warming temperatures and expanding mangrove habitats are reshaping fish diets, food webs and species interactions along Florida’s east coast. The findings could inform better management […]
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UCF Grads Score Jobs with FIFA World Cup 2026
Whether leading efforts in media relations, human resources, guest and client services, or venue, business and transportation logistics, UCF grads are powering the operations behind one of the world’s biggest events coming to the United States this summer: the men’s FIFA World Cup. This year’s tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be […]
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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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NSCM Journalists Earn Statewide Recognition at Florida News Awards
Students, faculty, and alumni earned top recognition at the Florida News Awards, showcasing impactful journalism. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: May 22, 2026 From statewide investigations to deeply personal human-interest stories, students and alumni from the Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) are proving that meaningful journalism begins with curiosity, persistence and a passion for […]
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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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UCF Grad’s Mission to Build Pipeline of Young Innovators
Some of the nation’s most promising scientists can be found in Will Furiosi ’13 ’14MAT’s Oviedo High School classroom. Spend five minutes talking to Ankan Das, Angela Calvo-Chumbimuni and Moitri Santra about their research innovations in robotics, mental health and agriculture, and one truth becomes quite clear: These teens are the real deal. Backed by […]
