-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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. […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
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, […]
-
College of Sciences Honors Alumni Driving Impact Across Industries at the Distinguished Alumni Awards
The 2026 Distinguished AlumKnight Awards celebrate graduates whose careers are advancing research, strengthening communities and shaping the future. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published April 22, 2026 At the 2026 Distinguished AlumKnight Awards, the College of Sciences (COS) celebrated alumni whose careers demonstrate how knowledge, leadership and service can create lasting change and impact in the Central Florida Community and beyond. The event honored graduates who are not only leaders […]
-
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 […]
-
UCF Big Data Analytics Symposium Connects Students to Real-World Impact
Industry leaders, researchers and students gathered for a day of panels, keynotes and networking exploring how data is shaping decisions across transportation, aviation, and workforce sectors. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: April 13, 2026 The 2026 Big Data Analytics Symposium, hosted by the College of Sciences’ School of Data, Mathematical, and Statistical Sciences (SDMSS), brought together students, faculty, alumni, community members and industry professionals for a […]
-
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 […]
-
Vatican Astronomer Visits America’s Space University
Brother Guy J. Consolmango, S.J., astronomer and president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, shared insight on astronomy, exploration and scientific discovery during his recent visit to UCF. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published March 31, 2026 Whether on the campus of America’s Space University or at one of the oldest active astronomical observatories in the world, scientific discovery is shaped both by new ideas and the people who pursue them. UCF students, faculty and researchers […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
UCF’s Video Game Design Programs Rank Among World’s Best for 2026
Tomorrow’s leading video game developers are being built today at UCF. The university’s graduate video gaming program, Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), and games and interactive media (GaIM) undergraduate program continue to develop a pipeline of talent to fuel Florida’s economy at a standard of excellence few can match, affirmed by The Princeton Review and PC Gamer’s Top […]
-
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 […]
-
The India Center Hosts Second Distinguished Lecture on Space Collaboration and Research
Project Scientist Paul Rosen shared how the NISAR satellite mission is transforming Earth science while demonstrating the impact of international collaboration in space research. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: March 24, 2026 The India Center welcomed students, faculty and community members for its second annual Distinguished Lecture, an event highlighting global collaboration, scientific discovery and the growing partnership between the United States and India. […]
-
Orlando Family Stage Sets the Mark with UCF Collaboration
Not long ago, Ben Lowe ’22 was working as a lighting designer for Universal Creative, helping craft what would become the next big thing for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: the Ministry of Magic at Universal Epic Universe. The realization hit him one day on the job. This project’s legacy and impact were going […]
-
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 […]
-
UCF Launches 1st Planetary and Space Sciences Ph.D. Program in Florida
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 […]
-
UCF First-Generation Student Is Finding Her Place in Space
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 […]
-
Introducing the College of Sciences Alumni Council
The newly formed council brings together passionate alumni from UCF’s largest college to strengthen alumni engagement. Written by: Emily Dougherty | Published: October 29, 2025 The College of Sciences (COS) has recently selected a new Alumni Council to represent and engage alumni from UCF’s largest college. Coming from an array of professional backgrounds, these Knights bring […]
-
UCF Biology Professor’s Research Links Warming Migratory Temperatures to Decline in Monarch Butterfly Population
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have one of the most impressive migrations in the animal kingdom, but rising temperatures are disrupting their physiology, migration success and long-term population stability, raising new questions about conservation strategies. In a recent study published in Royal Society Open Science, researchers found that warmer migratory temperatures may be disrupting their reproductive […]
-
5 Things to Know About Space Settlement
Space settlement has been the focus of researchers and organizations for years, offering the possibility of ensuring humanity’s long-term survival, advancing scientific knowledge and driving technological innovation. Agencies like NASA have set their sights on sending astronauts to Mars by the 2030s. To advance to the possibilities of living on other planets, researchers are examining […]
-
UCF Researchers Developing Easy-to-Use Viral Biosensor Test — Giving Patients More Accurate, Immediate Results
For most diseases, early detection leads to better patient outcomes. That’s why infectious disease experts and chemists at the UCF College of Medicine and College of Sciences were recently awarded a $537,619 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a low cost, accurate test that detects Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV […]
