When NASA launches its latest voyage to the International Space Station on May 12, it will carry a blood clotting experiment from the UCF College of Medicine 麻豆精品 S檚 newest faculty member. The research will include illuminated bone marrow cells floating in space to find better ways to keep astronauts and Earthlings healthier.

Hansjorg Schwertz specializes in occupational health and focuses his research on how microgravity and radiation in space impact the body 麻豆精品 S檚 blood-clotting functions. After an extensive career overseas and at the University of Utah, he comes to UCF to serve as the associate director for Translational Aerospace Medicine Research at the UCF Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine (CASEEM).

As humans prepare for longer missions to the moon, Mars and beyond, the center is exploring how factors such as microgravity, radiation and isolation impact the human body in space and how that knowledge can drive innovation into diagnostics, treatment and disease prevention for patients on Earth.

麻豆精品 S淲hen it comes to putting footprints on the moon, there is no better place to be than UCF, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

NASA Concerned About Blood Clots in Space

Pre- and post-mission medical testing of astronauts on the International Space Station has shown that spaceflight changes their immune system and blood clotting ability. A few astronauts have even developed blood clots during a flight or after returning. For that reason, Schwertz is leading the NASA-funded Megakaryocytes Orbiting in Outer Space and Near Earth (MOON) study, which he began working on at the University of Utah and continues to collaborate with the university’s researchers on.

麻豆精品 S淲hen it comes to putting footprints on the moon, there is no better place to be than UCF. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Hansjorg Schwertz

Megakaryocytes are bone marrow cells that create platelets, which circulate in the blood stream and can stop bleeding or form blood clots. Both cells also play a key role in immune responses.

The MOON study is examining how space flight affects the development and function of megakaryocytes as they create platelets. The results could provide important knowledge about the risks of inflammation, immune responses and blood clot formation that will help space travelers and patients on Earth, Schwertz says.

His team is sending human cells to the ISS on board the SpaceX 34 resupply mission. Once they are aboard the space station, astronauts will culture the cells and help to develop megakaryocytes in space.

One part of the experiment is to watch the cells in real time, and how they develop their 麻豆精品 S渄aughter cell, 麻豆精品 S� the platelets. Because the research will be in microgravity, the cells will float. They 麻豆精品 S檒l be stained with fluorescent dye so UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 researcher can examine them remotely at better accuracy.

Schwertz says mentors taught him, 麻豆精品 S渟eeing is believing, 麻豆精品 S� so he is 麻豆精品 S済enuinely excited 麻豆精品 S� to see megakaryocytes float in space.

Advancing Personalized Medicine

One of the challenges of space medicine research is that so few people have gone to space, so the sample pool is small. As space travel and colonization progress, more people will be traveling to and working on the moon and beyond.

Healthwise, many will be different than astronauts who are selected after going through vigorous testing and selection criteria. Thus, space is a new frontier of healthcare.

Schwertz hopes his study will unlock technologies and therapies to keep astronauts 麻豆精品 S� blood clotting mechanisms controlled, prevent abnormal clotting and bring those discoveries back to Earth.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e examining the impact of space flight on each person 麻豆精品 S檚 cells, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淭his is personalized medicine, and isn 麻豆精品 S檛 that what healthcare is all about? 麻豆精品 S�

Emmanuel Urquieta, vice chair for Aerospace Medicine at the UCF College of Medicine and founding director of CASEEM, Schwertz’s work reflects the program’s broader mission to connect spaceflight research with practical clinical and operational solutions.

麻豆精品 S淥ur aerospace medicine program is intentionally designed to be operational and translational in nature, 麻豆精品 S� Urquieta says. 麻豆精品 S淲e are building a program that can support the real medical needs of exploration missions while rapidly translating discoveries from spaceflight and extreme environments into innovations that improve health here on Earth. 麻豆精品 S�

Schwertz received his M.D. and Ph.D. from the School of Medicine at the University of Mainz, Germany. After a residency in Internal Medicine/Cardiology at the University of Halle, Germany, he did a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Utah, where he also served as faculty.

In 2012, he 听was awarded a prestigious Lichtenberg-Professorship for Experimental Hemostasis and returned to Germany where he directed a research laboratory. He returned to Utah in 2015, where he completed his residency training in Occupational Medicine and was a faculty member, researcher and community physician.

The material is based upon work supported by NASA under award No. 80NSSC22K0255. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

They 麻豆精品 S檙e already renowned researchers and experts in emergency management. Now, professors and are expanding their impact to the federal level after being hand-selected for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Vanguard Executive Crisis Leaders Fellowship.

The fellowship, housed within FEMA 麻豆精品 S檚 National Disaster and Emergency Management University (NDEMU), brings together top crisis leaders from across the nation to strengthen the future of emergency and crisis management. Emrich was selected for the 11th cohort in New Orleans (May 11-15) and Washington D.C. (June 22-26), and Knox will join the 12th in Washington D.C. (July 20-24) and Houston (Aug. 17-21).

Researchers Sought Out by FEMA

Prior to joining the s Emergency Management and Homeland Security program, Emrich and Knox each worked with FEMA in separate capacities.

Emrich spent years working in the organization, from mapping hurricane impacts in Florida in 2004 to helping rebuild trust in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Knox has worked with FEMA through its Higher Education Program, which she has participated in since 2011, lead focus group initiatives, established an annual award, and aided in training curriculum development.

When assembling these new cohorts, FEMA sought out and hand-selected each of them. Typically, it is rare to include multiple academics in these groups, let alone two from one university in consecutive cohorts.

麻豆精品 S淭he fact that there’s two of us from UCF is a really big deal, 麻豆精品 S� Knox says.

麻豆精品 S淏y bringing together these multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral leaders, it will help us better prepare for uncertainty in future disasters. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Chris Emrich

FEMA formed the program 麻豆精品 S檚 cohort model knowing that the future of disaster response depends not on any single agency or sector but on the strength of connections between them. Each cohort brings together crisis leaders from government, academia, nonprofits and the private sector to build the kind of cross-sectoral networks that are nearly impossible to forge during an actual disaster.

麻豆精品 S淭his program is part of a more recent attempt to try to engage across sectors more efficiently, 麻豆精品 S� Emrich says. 麻豆精品 S淏y bringing together these multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral leaders, it will help us better prepare for uncertainty in future disasters. 麻豆精品 S�

Strengthening the Field, Benefiting Students

Emrich and Knox will participate in roundtable seminars, site visits and discussions with fellow experts to examine emerging risks and shifts in the emergency management landscape, explore leadership frameworks for navigating crises, and brainstorm strategies to strengthen the field, all while building this trusted, cross-sector network.

Knox sees the fellowship as a chance to build new partnerships and bring national insights back to UCF, ultimately benefiting students.

麻豆精品 S淓mergency management changes constantly, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淲e don 麻豆精品 S檛 have the luxury of rinse and repeat. This gives us another avenue to bring the latest thinking directly into our courses. I’m looking forward to exploring these issues through both the lens of researcher and the lens of program director. 麻豆精品 S�

Emrich also sees opportunities for expanding research and collaboration by learning where those in the field are currently struggling.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檇 love to be a fly on the wall to hear what people’s troubles are, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚n academia, we’re fortunate to have the time to think about these things and reflect on how to better support them. Those insights turn into grant proposals, student support and expanding the knowledge base. 麻豆精品 S�

Enhancing UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Cutting-Edge Research

The fellowship also aligns with emerging research areas that UCF is already exploring when it comes to cutting-edge innovations in crisis management.

For example, Emrich is currently using AI to build educational games that teach students about social vulnerability. What would once have taken years of programming work can now be produced from existing course materials and exercise content 麻豆精品 S� opening the door to educational tools that weren’t previously feasible.

麻豆精品 S淲hat AI has been able to produce from my knowledge is something I could not have produced on my own, 麻豆精品 S� Emrich says. 麻豆精品 S淥ne of the things emergency managers are grappling with now is how to use AI productively. I look forward to being part of the conversation. 麻豆精品 S�

Knox is interested in real-time digital replicas of communities, called 麻豆精品 S渄igital twins, 麻豆精品 S� that can be used to model disaster scenarios, as well as to test recovery and mitigation plans before they’re needed.

麻豆精品 S淎 lot of emergency management boots-on-the-ground work is to help make decisions with the incomplete information in a very timely manner, 麻豆精品 S� Knox says. 麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e looking at how AI can complement critical thinking skills with new capabilities. I 麻豆精品 S檝e seen it take off in engineering and computer sciences disciplines using real-time social media data to understand evacuation patterns. 麻豆精品 S�

Beyond their individual research, both professors see the fellowship as a catalyst for something bigger within UCF and beyond. They hope it will help them identify new ways to connect expanded emergency management expertise across disciplines.

麻豆精品 S淢补苍测 faculty members in different departments are doing research that can actively support emergency management, 麻豆精品 S� Emrich says. 麻豆精品 S淚 think it might be incumbent upon us to come back to the university and say, 麻豆精品 S楾his is where we need to be. This is how we connect all of our different experts, stakeholders and partners to make our program even stronger. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淭he Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation unites creativity, technology and the practical application of business, marketing, and guest service to develop tomorrow 麻豆精品 S檚 leaders in themed entertainment and immersive experiences. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences

The first-of-its-kind Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation is housed within the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, ranked No. 1 nationally. With the addition of Universal 麻豆精品 S檚 new school and the college 麻豆精品 S檚 School of Hospitality Leadership, students now have access to a dual-school model that brings together experience-focused education with business strategy, operations, and service leadership.

麻豆精品 S淭he Universal School of Experience Leadership & Innovation unites creativity, technology and the practical application of business, marketing, and guest service to develop tomorrow 麻豆精品 S檚 leaders in themed entertainment and immersive experiences, 麻豆精品 S� says Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences Mark Woodbury.

麻豆精品 S淯CF was built to power what 麻豆精品 S檚 next for our students, for industry, and for the State of Florida, 麻豆精品 S� UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright says. 麻豆精品 S淭his collaboration with Universal Destinations & Experiences represents our mission at its best, creating an environment where students are learning in direct connection with the people and ideas shaping the future of immersive experiences. 麻豆精品 S�

A First-of-its-Kind Model for Experience Education

The Universal and UCF partnership will also support research through a new Hospitality Technology Lab, designed to be a creative sandbox for students to collaborate, test ideas, and gain practical hands-on experience working alongside UCF faculty, Universal professionals, and industry stakeholders. Students will gain timely insight that reflects industry needs as part of their education. Built around innovation and interdisciplinary teaming, the lab embeds coursework, student projects, and faculty research in a shared space, equipping graduates with both current skills and the adaptability to lead in a constantly evolving technology ecosystem.

The new school 麻豆精品 S檚 research will build on UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 existing strengths, applying university expertise to one of the world 麻豆精品 S檚 most dynamic industries. Focus areas for teaching, learning, and research will include:

• Service robotics and human-centered approaches to shape guest and employee interactions
• AR and VR simulation technologies for training, operations, and immersive environments
• AI and digital twins for optimizing and personalizing the guest experience

This work extends a decades-long partnership between UCF and Universal rooted in collaboration and shared success. For more than 20 years, Rosen College has served as a key talent pipeline for Universal, with thousands of graduates contributing across its parks, experiences, and operations, alongside hands-on learning opportunities like the UCF/Universal Creative Lab.

麻豆精品 S淭ogether with UCF we have opened doors for students and helped strengthen our industry with valued talent 麻豆精品 S� and the next chapter will be even better, 麻豆精品 S� Chief Administrative Officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences John Sprouls says. 麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e creating a distinctive academic home that will expand pathways into fulfilling and dynamic careers. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淩osen College has long been a global leader in hospitality education, and this next step reflects how our industry is evolving, 麻豆精品 S� says UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management Dean Cynthia Mejia. 麻豆精品 S淏y strengthening our relationship with our longtime partners at Universal Destinations & Experiences, we are creating a first-of-its-kind two-school model that blends creativity, technology and leadership, preparing students to lead the future of guest experiences. 麻豆精品 S�

Pegasus Partners: Scaling Impact Through Collaboration

As UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 first entertainment-sector Pegasus Partner, Universal Destinations & Experiences joins a group of industry leaders working with the university to solve real-world challenges, accelerate discovery, and strengthen the workforce talent pipeline. Universal is also the first Pegasus Partner to enter into a master research agreement with UCF, enabling collaboration at scale and unlocking new opportunities for applied research.

The Pegasus Partners program offers opportunities for select partners to engage across the university in ways that create meaningful value for both organizations. That engagement includes talent development and recruitment, shared research projects, joint ventures and collaborations, strategic philanthropy, and co-location at UCF.

As the first Pegasus Partner since the start of , UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 $3.5 billion campaign to accelerate its next era of impact, Universal 麻豆精品 S檚 commitment is a powerful model that combines philanthropy and strategic industry investment to drive innovation, expand opportunity, and fuel shared success.

The Knights were tabbed as the No. 6 seed in the Tallahassee Regional and will be kicking off postseason play on Friday at 2:30 p.m. against Jacksonville State.

The softball team is the ninth UCF program to compete at an NCAA postseason regional or championship event in 2025-26, joining cross country, 尘别苍 麻豆精品 S檚听补苍诲听wo尘别苍 麻豆精品 S檚 soccer, indoor track & field,听尘别苍 麻豆精品 S檚 basketball,听尘别苍 麻豆精品 S檚 and wo尘别苍 麻豆精品 S檚 tennis and women’s golf.

Postseason Outlook

This year marks UCF’s 13th all-time appearance in the premiere postseason tournament.

The Tallahassee regional also includes Florida State as the top seed, Stetson and Jacksonville State.

UCF will face Jacksonville State at 2:30 p.m. on Friday following Florida State’s opening-round matchup against Stetson at noon. ESPN will provide coverage from all 16 regional sites on its platforms.

The double-elimination format for the regional round will begin on Friday, May 15 and conclude on Sunday, May 17. The 16 remaining teams will advance to the Super Regionals.

The NCAA Wo尘别苍 麻豆精品 S檚 College World Series will be held from May 28-June 4/5 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City.

UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Road to the NCAA Tournament

UCF is one of seven Big 12 Conference teams selected to the tournament after producing a dominant regular season with 38 wins. Along the way, the Knights notched three victories over opponents ranked among the top 15 in the nation and a program-record 14 wins in Big 12 Conference play.

UCF, currently ranked at No. 22, has climbed as high as No. 15 in the national rankings this year, just two spots shy of their program-best record achieved in 2015 and 2022.

When Latrell Sam-German graduated high school in 2021, he didn 麻豆精品 S檛 have a detailed career plan 麻豆精品 S� just a desire to do something that was bigger than him.

Fortunately for him, the possibilities in the realm of serving others are plentiful. He first thought of enlisting in the military, which would also provide the structure he was seeking. He even considered pursuing medicine, trade work or air traffic control.

It was ultimately that innate sense of purpose, coupled with mentorship, that introduced Sam-German to the world of law enforcement by way of UCF. Now on the brink of becoming the inaugural graduate of the bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in criminal justice program 麻豆精品 S檚 professional track, he 麻豆精品 S檚 preparing to cross the commencement stage at Addition Financial Arena on Saturday.

But first, he 麻豆精品 S檒l spend today celebrating his graduation from the inaugural class of the Orlando Police Department 麻豆精品 S檚 in-house academy.

Boldly Pursuing His Purpose

Sam-German 麻豆精品 S檚 foray into criminal justice began with candid discussions with both his uncle and best friend 麻豆精品 S檚 brother, both of whom work for a police department in South Florida. The latter became his mentor.

麻豆精品 S淗e took me under his wing and showed me the ins and outs of the career, getting me into the right mindset for the academy and what to expect, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

After completing his associate degree at Broward College, Sam-German transferred to UCF in 2024. Although he knew he wanted to pursue a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in criminal justice, it was an email about the program 麻豆精品 S檚 new professional track from Associate Professor that caught his attention.

Housed in the College of Community Innovation and Education, the professional track allows students to graduate with a degree in criminal justice and a听certificate in criminal justice management and leadership 麻豆精品 S� plus state certification in law enforcement or corrections, acquired through internship experiences like officer academies.

麻豆精品 S淏eing able to graduate UCF and academy at the same time was definitely the biggest draw for me, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 like knocking out two birds with one stone. The opportunity to complete the academy in my last semester as my internship, get my degree and walk out with a job is huge. 麻豆精品 S�

“The opportunity to complete the academy in my last semester as my internship, get my degree and walk out with a job is huge. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Latrell Sam-German, student

In the professional track, he had the opportunity to go on ride-alongs with three agencies 麻豆精品 S� Orange and Osceola County Sheriff 麻豆精品 S檚 offices, and Orlando Police Department (OPD). He spent the next year and a half juggling his coursework with the various career fairs and networking opportunities that Watkins passed along. All the while, his eyes remained locked on the goal of landing an academy sponsorship for his final semester.

In early Fall 2025, he interviewed with OPD and passed the physical abilities test. He knew his commitment to networking had paid off when his recruiting lieutenant and sergeant remembered him from a spring career summit.

Fast forward a few weeks, and Sam-German got the call he 麻豆精品 S檇 been hoping for: OPD had offered him an academy sponsorship.

Training for Impact

Since early December, Sam-German has attended OPD 麻豆精品 S檚 in-house academy full-time as his required internship. The rigorous experience consists of intensive training in law enforcement policies and procedures, physical training and defense tactics. That includes five consecutive weeks of high-liability training with firearms, first aid and driving patrol cars.

麻豆精品 S淚t’s very paramilitary, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淓very day we have to shine our boots, iron our clothes, make sure everything is up to par and come ready. It 麻豆精品 S檚 essentially changing our point of view from the civilian mindset to an officer mindset. We 麻豆精品 S檝e learned to watch our surroundings, never be complacent, know policy and rules, and know when to apply them. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淥ur job is public service, and we’re there to help. I really wanted to do something that was bigger than me, and I think this is one of the best occupations to fulfill that. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Latrell Sam-German, student

When all is said and done, he will have completed 772 hours of training that concludes at the culmination of his first week as a sworn officer. In mid-May, he 麻豆精品 S檒l begin field service alongside a field training officer.

Right now, he 麻豆精品 S檚 most looking forward to learning about community patrol.

麻豆精品 S淚 have always been interested in getting out there in community, speaking with people, learning a city 麻豆精品 S檚 cultural fabric and how I can help, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淢y biggest focus right now is to be great in patrol because sometimes people just need somebody to talk to. After all, our job is public service, and we’re there to help. I really wanted to do something that was bigger than me, and I think this is one of the best occupations to fulfill that. 麻豆精品 S�

Persistence That Delivers

The fact that he 麻豆精品 S檚 about to cross the finish line won 麻豆精品 S檛 hit him until he puts on the cap and gown 麻豆精品 S� and the official OPD officer uniform. But Sam-German is already reflecting on how quickly his time at UCF has gone by, and how the decision to pursue the professional track helped launch his career trajectory.

That 麻豆精品 S檚 thanks in large part, he says, to the faculty who have helped foster connections and provided opportunities to explore different career paths.

麻豆精品 S淢y professors have been great, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淢补苍测 of them are retired law enforcement who came over to UCF and can speak about the career and what to expect. Being able to come straight from college into the academy has given me the upper hand because a lot of what we talked about in class now pertains to my police academy experience. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淏eing able to come straight from college into the academy has given me the upper hand because a lot of what we talked about in class now pertains to my police academy experience. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Latrell Sam-German, student

Sam-German’s story is exactly what Watkins hopes to see for years to come 麻豆精品 S� more graduates like him who will go on to impact change in the criminal justice system.

麻豆精品 S淲orking with and assisting Latrell along his professional journey is exciting, fulfilling and a testament to the work of many, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淒eveloping and promoting the professional track has taken many years and considerable work with our police and correctional professionals in and around Central Florida.”

Professor and Chair adds that the program was intentionally designed to be mutually beneficial to students and law enforcement agencies in reinforcing the workforce pipeline.

麻豆精品 S淭he professional track is our department 麻豆精品 S檚 way to give back to the surrounding law enforcement and correctional community in the form of producing high-quality, motivated and practitioner-ready students like Latrell, 麻豆精品 S� Paoline says.

As he prepares to reap both the academic and professional rewards of his work, Sam-German also finds personal reward in having become someone his classmates turn to for advice as they consider pursuing the professional track. He tells them that if they 麻豆精品 S檙e willing to put the work in, good things will happen.

麻豆精品 S淚 don’t think it was luck; it was the result of hard work, 麻豆精品 S� he says of his success. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 really about not being afraid to put yourself out there and talk to these agencies, even when it can feel intimidating. That door is going to open. You just have to step through it. 麻豆精品 S�

Some of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 most promising scientists can be found in Will Furiosi 麻豆精品 S�13 麻豆精品 S�14MAT 麻豆精品 S檚 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 UCF associate professors Ellen Kang (physics and NanoScience Technology Center) and Candice Bridge 麻豆精品 S�07笔丑顿听(chemistry) and researcher Max Kuehn 麻豆精品 S�22 (Exolith Lab), the Oviedo High trio recently earned recognition as the top three projects at Seminole County 麻豆精品 S檚 regional science fair.

With Oviedo 麻豆精品 S檚 proximity to main campus, the collaboration highlights UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 steadfast commitment to supporting STEM education across Central Florida.

They will now represent the county May 9-15 at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, where they will compete against more than 1,700 high schoolers for a share of nearly $7 million in awards, prizes and scholarships.

麻豆精品 S淲orking in Dr. Kang 麻豆精品 S檚 lab played pretty big role in choosing materials science and engineering as my major for college because I was exposed to just how many different things someone can do in the area I work with, nanotechnology, 麻豆精品 S� says Santra, a senior bound for Stanford who has worked with Kang since she was a freshman. 麻豆精品 S淭he lab provided a lot of resources 麻豆精品 S� not just the instruments, but also mentorship, advice and support. 麻豆精品 S�

A Will to Succeed

The hallway leading to Furiosi 麻豆精品 S檚 classroom is decorated with rows of blue, red, white, green, yellow and pink paper accomplishment ribbons. More ribbons, pennants and certificates adorn his walls, along with eight Science and Engineering Fair of Florida best-in-fair grand award senior division trophies 麻豆精品 S� more than any other high school in the state.

During his own primary education, Furiosi attended eight schools over 12 years. As a seventh-grader at Stone Magnet Middle School in Brevard County, he was initially prohibited from participating in science fair because officials couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 verify Furiosi was capable of the coursework from his transfer transcripts. He would later go on to earn Order of Pegasus as a Burnett Honors Scholar majoring in biomedical sciences before earning his master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in teacher education.

Every day, he saw a wall of ribbons, much like the ones in his classroom now. And every day he would tell himself, 麻豆精品 S淚 want to be one of those kids. 麻豆精品 S�

That experience fundamentally shaped how the UCF grad runs his program today.

麻豆精品 S淲hat keeps me motivated is knowing that I have the opportunity to get people to be really prepared, informed citizens who are good thinkers, and who, when faced with a problem, smile and tackle it instead of running away, 麻豆精品 S� Furosi says.

Infusing Life into Science

Furiosi began teaching at Oviedo High School in 2013 as he pursued his accelerated master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree, made possible by the College of Community Innovation and Education 麻豆精品 S檚 Resident Teacher Professional Preparation Program. The program, funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant, was created in response to the growing need for skilled workers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Four years later, he took over the school 麻豆精品 S檚 science fair program and was determined to breathe new life into it, which at the time involved just four kids.

He cold called students in his AP Biology and Honors Chemistry听courses, begging anyone who had shown a glimmer of interest during class to sign up so they wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 have to fold the program.

Today, he 麻豆精品 S檚 at 46 students, with some, like Calvo-Chumbimuni, interested in joining the program as soon as they arrive at Oviedo High.

麻豆精品 S淢y seventh grade science fair teacher knew Mr. Furiosi and spoke highly of him, 麻豆精品 S� Calvo-Chumbimuni says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen I came to Oviedo High and met him, I immediately understood why. The research program stood out to me as a valuable opportunity. 麻豆精品 S�

Furiosi fosters a safe space to fail, learn and grow from the research. There are no barriers to entry; no project deemed too insignificant. And he stresses the merits of high-quality mentorship, like the ones Das, Santra, and Calvo-Chumbimuni formed with UCF faculty and STEM labs.

Some of his students have earned thousands of dollars in prizes 麻豆精品 S� one alone pulled in $70,000 and is now studying at the University of Glasgow 麻豆精品 S� at prestigious competitions sponsored by some of the tech industry 麻豆精品 S檚 biggest names, including Regeneron and Lockheed Martin, a UCF Pegasus Partner.

His alums have gone on to top research institutions including Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Stanford, and of course, UCF. One of those Knights is aerospace engineering grad Daniel Dyson 麻豆精品 S�21 麻豆精品 S�22MS 麻豆精品 S�25PhD, who studied in Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Subith Vasu 麻豆精品 S檚 lab and now works for Relativity Space at NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 Stennis Space Center, America 麻豆精品 S檚 largest rocket propulsion test site.

麻豆精品 S淢r. Furiosi really pushes you toward excellence, 麻豆精品 S� says Das, a sophomore building a tensegrity robot with shape memory alloys that he tested at UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Exolith Lab.

Supporting Excellence

An award-winning researcher who has been supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, Kang is not easily impressed. Still, Santra made an immediate impression as an eighth grader when she first popped up Kang 麻豆精品 S檚 inbox, asking if she could present her idea on a nanoparticle treatment for citrus greening disease in Florida.

麻豆精品 S淚 could clearly see that she had a firm understanding of the material and just thought, 麻豆精品 S榃ow, she is really a force. 麻豆精品 S� I actually wanted to have my undergrad students see her presentation because of how professional she was, even at that young age, 麻豆精品 S� Kang says. 麻豆精品 S淪he has this creativity, passion, persistence and resilience 麻豆精品 S� all the key elements that you need as a successful STEM field researcher. 麻豆精品 S�

Similarly, Bridge immediately noticed Calvo-Chumbimuni 麻豆精品 S檚 persistence and go-getter attitude when she initially connected with her two years ago. Driven by her interest in the intersection of neuroscience, psychology and analytical chemistry, Calvo-Chumbimuni pitched her idea to develop an electrochemical sensor and biosensor to improve diagnostic methods for mental health disorders.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e always appreciated her sense of humanity, 麻豆精品 S� Bridge says. 麻豆精品 S淚 thought, 麻豆精品 S業f you can foster someone who has this sort of compassion already, there are infinite possibilities for what they can do to benefit the community. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�

The two have been dedicated, active participants in their labs, regularly conducting research multiple days per week during the school year and, at times, daily over the summer. The faculty and their doctoral students have mentored the high schoolers through instrumentation methods, analyzing data, the literature review process and their presentations.

While both are presenting continuations of their projects at ISEF 麻豆精品 S� Calvo-Chumbimuni for her second-straight year, Santra for her third 麻豆精品 S擠as will be joining them for the first time at the major competition.

Kuehn, who is an engineer at , is accustomed to working with a variety of researchers and scientists who test their experiments and equipment at the Highland Regolith Test Bin. He says he was quickly intrigued by Das 麻豆精品 S� project, a lightweight and nimble robot that can expand, contract and move through electric current.

Das wanted to test the robot in lunar regolith 麻豆精品 S� simulated moon dirt 麻豆精品 S� because he envisions the tech behind his robot one day being utilized in lunar missions or search and rescue efforts in unstable environments.

麻豆精品 S淢ax noticed that sometimes the motion was a little slow, so he gave some suggestions, 麻豆精品 S� Das says. 麻豆精品 S淲orking in the lunar regolith chamber was a very insightful and eye-opening experience. I know I 麻豆精品 S檓 still in high school, but I 麻豆精品 S檝e learned I want to do research for as long as I can because I really find this interesting. 麻豆精品 S�

Which, at the end of the day, has been Furiosi 麻豆精品 S檚 mission all along.

麻豆精品 S淩esearch is not just in science. It is in all disciplines. There 麻豆精品 S檚 a lot of cool things that need to be discovered in all fields, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淯CF 麻豆精品 S檚 expertise has been so invaluable in preparing my students for the future. A lot of these kids have wonderful ideas, and I really hope we can continue growing more professional support for them in any capacity. 麻豆精品 S�

At UCF, researchers are developing a new approach inspired by squids, octopuses and other cephalopods, one that doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 wait for targets to arrive, but actively reaches out to capture them. Led by , a professor in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 , the work introduces a DNA-based system designed to capture target molecules more efficiently by extending into the surrounding solution.

麻豆精品 S淥ne of the biggest challenges in biosensing is something surprisingly simple: molecules take time to move, 麻豆精品 S� Kolpashchikov says. 麻豆精品 S淚magine trying to catch fish in a huge lake with a tiny net, most fish will never come close enough to be caught. Traditional sensors work the same way: they passively wait for target molecules (analytes) to randomly bump into them. 麻豆精品 S�

The project, supported by a $272,000 award from the U.S. National Science Foundation, reframes how biosensors operate, shifting from passive detection toward active engagement.

Targeting Molecules Through DNA

Conventional biosensors rely on diffusion, meaning target molecules must randomly move through a solution before encountering a sensing surface. This process, known as mass transport limitation, can slow detection and limit performance in time-sensitive applications.

Kolpashchikov 麻豆精品 S檚 approach addresses this constraint by incorporating nanostructures composed of DNA strands that extend outward from the sensor. These flexible extensions function like molecular tentacles, weakly interacting with passing targets and increasing the likelihood that they will be captured.

Rather than waiting for signals to arrive, the system draws them closer.

Speeding Detection

The speed at which a sensor can detect its target is often as important as detection sensitivity and specificity. In contexts such as medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and food safety, delays can reduce reliability or limit usefulness altogether.

By increasing the rate at which target molecules are gathered and concentrated near the sensing surface, the DNA cephalopod approach may enable faster, more responsive detection systems, particularly in applications that depend on real-time or near-real-time analysis.

麻豆精品 S淪low sensors can miss short-lived biological signals, allow samples to degrade, and delay responses to threats, 麻豆精品 S� Kolpashchikov says, 麻豆精品 S淔aster detection reduces costs (less time, fewer reagents), improves accuracy, and enables real-time monitoring 麻豆精品 S� something essential for healthcare, environmental safety, and biosecurity. 麻豆精品 S�

DNA as Structure and Sensor

The system uses DNA not only as a recognition element but also as a structural material. Engineered strands extend from the sensor into the surrounding environment, forming a dynamic interface that interacts with nearby molecules.

These extensions do not bind targets permanently at first. Instead, they weakly capture and release them, effectively increasing the local concentration of target molecules near the sensor 麻豆精品 S檚 core detection region. This process improves detection efficiency without requiring additional mechanical or chemical input.

By designing DNA nanostructures that actively interact with nearby molecules, the system creates a sensing environment that is more responsive and efficient.

麻豆精品 S淒NA is uniquely suited for building nanoscale machines, 麻豆精品 S� Kolpashchikov says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 programmable, predictable and relatively inexpensive. 麻豆精品 S�

In this system, DNA strands self-assemble into a structure resembling a microscopic octopus, what the team calls听 a 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S楧NA cephalopod. 麻豆精品 S�. 麻豆精品 S� A central sensor is surrounded by long, flexible 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S榯entacles 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� that extend into the solution. Each tentacle carries weak binding sites that briefly capture target molecules and pass them along from one site to the next, guiding them toward the center, where the sensor binds them more strongly and triggers detection.

Applications Across Fields

The improved speed and sensitivity of this approach expand the potential use of biosensors across multiple domains.

Possible applications include rapid detection of harmful bacteria in water and food systems, early-stage diagnosis through identification of DNA or RNA biomarkers, and forensic analysis requiring precise detection of biological material

By enabling sensors to detect smaller quantities of target molecules more quickly, the technology may support more timely and accurate decision-making in both clinical and field settings.

麻豆精品 S淭he potential applications are broad: rapid disease diagnostics, including early cancer detection, and real-time monitoring of pathogens in water and food. Perhaps most exciting is that this is a general strategy. The same 麻豆精品 S榯entacle 麻豆精品 S� concept could be applied for detection of proteins and small biological molecules. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Dmitry Kolpashchikov, professor of chemistry, UCF College of Sciences

麻豆精品 S淭his approach could dramatically improve how we detect biological molecules, 麻豆精品 S� Kolpashchikov says. 麻豆精品 S淭he potential applications are broad: rapid disease diagnostics, including early cancer detection, real-time monitoring of pathogens in water and food. Perhaps most exciting is that this is a general strategy. The same 麻豆精品 S榯entacle 麻豆精品 S� concept could be applied for detection of proteins and small biological molecules. 麻豆精品 S�

A New Method of Rapid Analyte Detection

As with many emerging technologies, translating laboratory advances into real-world systems presents challenges. Performance in complex environments, where multiple substances interact simultaneously, remains an area for further study.

Scaling the technology and integrating it into existing diagnostic platforms will also be critical steps in determining its broader applicability.

Rather than treating biosensing as a passive process governed by chance encounters, Kolpashchikov 麻豆精品 S檚 work suggests a different model, one in which sensors actively engage with their environment, reaching into the surrounding space to capture what drifts.

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Award No. 2555933. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation.

UCF School of Visual Arts and Design students earned all four scholarships awarded at Creative South, a testament to the university 麻豆精品 S檚 growing reputation as a hub for emerging creative talent.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檝e built such a strong community that when one person succeeds, we all do, 麻豆精品 S� says Vanessa Mor谩n, a senior graphic design student and treasurer of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Graphic Design Student Association. 麻豆精品 S淭hat’s something Associate Professor Victor Davila 麻豆精品 S�97 麻豆精品 S�07MFA has always instilled in us. 麻豆精品 S�

For Brianna Rodriguez, a junior graphic design student who received a $1,000 grant, the scholarship is validation for where she 麻豆精品 S檚 heading.

麻豆精品 S淚t felt like a message that my work has potential, and that I need to start seeing it that way, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

Building Industry Connections

The students 麻豆精品 S� takeaways from Creative South went well beyond scholarship awards. Known for its welcoming environment, the conference gave students direct access to industry professionals, hands-on feedback, and real-world insight.

The access stood out to AJ Sibul, a senior graphic design student, who says Creative South made the industry feel more human.

麻豆精品 S淭here 麻豆精品 S檚 no separation between attendees and speakers, 麻豆精品 S� Sibul says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey emphasize people first, titles second. 麻豆精品 S�

From portfolio reviews to keynote presentations to late-night networking events, students built meaningful connections with working creatives, leading to mentorship, internships, and future job opportunities.

UCF emerging media alumnus Josh Alonso 麻豆精品 S�25 understands that firsthand. Alonso first attended Creative South as a student, where he earned a scholarship from Heyo, a design and development agency, which included a yearlong mentorship with a professional from the company.

That experience led to his current full-time role, demonstrating how connections made at Creative South can translate directly into opportunities.

麻豆精品 S淭hat mentorship really grew into a friendship, which led to a job offer later down the road, 麻豆精品 S� Alonso says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey helped me understand the importance of being someone people wanted to work with, rather than just having the best-looking portfolio. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淢y career essentially got its 麻豆精品 S榡umpstart 麻豆精品 S� from the people I met at Creative South. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Josh Alonso 麻豆精品 S�25

Alonso 麻豆精品 S檚 journey reflects what many UCF students are beginning to experience: real pathways into creative careers.

麻豆精品 S淢y career essentially got its 麻豆精品 S榡umpstart 麻豆精品 S� from the people I met at Creative South, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

As UCF continues to invest in the next generation of creatives, experiences like Creative South equip students with the connections and confidence needed to succeed in the industry after graduation.

Timothy Letzring, senior vice provost for academic affairs, made the appointment in close consultation with Provost John Buckwalter. The decision was shaped by thoughtful feedback from faculty, staff and other stakeholders throughout the search.

麻豆精品 S淒r. Weishampel 麻豆精品 S檚 steady leadership as interim dean has created an environment that supports the success of our students, faculty, and staff and strengthens collaboration across the college. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Timothy Letzring, senior vice provost for academic affairs

麻豆精品 S淒r. Weishampel 麻豆精品 S檚 steady leadership as interim dean has created an environment that supports the success of our students, faculty, and staff and strengthens collaboration across the college, 麻豆精品 S� Letzring says. 麻豆精品 S淚 am confident that as dean, he will continue to elevate the College of Graduate Studies through innovation, scholarly distinction and a strong commitment to graduate students. 麻豆精品 S�

Weishampel has spent nearly 31 years at UCF, beginning his career as an assistant professor in biology. He has served in a variety of leadership roles, including biology graduate program director, director of interdisciplinary studies and senior associate dean. He has also served as a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) program officer in the Division of Graduate Education. In those roles, his oversight helped elevate UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 national profile in graduate education and expand opportunities for interdisciplinary training and research engagement.

麻豆精品 S�This college sits at the intersection of everything UCF aspires to be from research excellence, student opportunity and meaningful community impact, 麻豆精品 S� Weishampel says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e spent the better part of my career here building those connections, and I 麻豆精品 S檓 excited to deepen that work as dean. 麻豆精品 S�

As permanent dean, Weishampel 麻豆精品 S檚 agenda centers on three interlocking priorities: supporting graduate students and postdoctoral scholars success, strengthening day 麻豆精品 S憈o 麻豆精品 S慸ay operations, and building collaborations across UCF and with external stakeholders.

麻豆精品 S淥ur graduate students and postdocs are doing extraordinary work. My job is to make sure the infrastructure, the mentorship and the resources are in place so they can excel 麻豆精品 S� and so the world knows about it. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� John Weishampel, College of Graduate Studies dean

In practice, he says he sees these as inseparable. For Dean Weishampel, prioritizing competitive stipends and accessible health care, goes hand in hand with modernizing degree audit systems and data tools that help students and advisors track progress. He also believes both efforts depend on strengthening relationships with faculty, principal investigators, industry partners, and the graduate education community to enhance opportunities and UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 national profile.

麻豆精品 S淥ur graduate students and postdocs are doing extraordinary work, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淢y job is to make sure the infrastructure, the mentorship and the resources are in place so they can excel 麻豆精品 S� and so the world knows about it. 麻豆精品 S�

Weishampel 麻豆精品 S檚 first steps as dean include establishing an advisory board, launching a strategic enrollment plan to strengthen domestic and international recruitment, and creating additional pathways for graduate students to showcase their research and compete for national and international recognition.

麻豆精品 S淲e have made significant progress, 麻豆精品 S� he says. “The goal now is to build on it deliberately to make UCF a destination for the best graduate students and scholars, and to ensure every one of them leaves prepared to take on the challenges associated with our dynamic world. 麻豆精品 S�

“The goal now is to build on it deliberately to make UCF a destination for the best graduate students and scholars, and to ensure every one of them leaves prepared to take on the challenges associated with our dynamic world. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� John Weishampel, College of Graduate Studies dean

A nationally recognized scholar, Weishampel 麻豆精品 S檚 research spans remote sensing of forest ecosystems, sea turtle ecology and pioneering applications of LiDAR to detect archaeological features beneath forest canopies. His work has been supported by major federal agencies, including NSF, NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Education, garnering honors such as the NSF CAREER Award and NASA New Investigator Award.

Earlier in Weishampel 麻豆精品 S檚 career, he held numerous fellowships and visiting appointments, including service as a Fulbright distinguished research chair and senior scholar; Fulbright awards in Canada, Germany and Spain; a Charles Bullard Fellowship at Harvard University; and a visiting professorship in Paris. From 2019 to 2021, he served as a program officer at NSF, administering the Research Traineeship and Innovations in Graduate Education programs across more than 100 institutions, an experience he now draws upon in his leadership.

Weishampel holds a bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in biology from Duke University and master 麻豆精品 S檚 and doctoral degrees in environmental sciences from the University of Virginia. Before joining UCF, he served as a National Research Council Research Associate at NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 Goddard Space Flight Center.

For UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 graduate community, Weishampel 麻豆精品 S檚 selection reflects confidence, in a leader who knows the institution well and brings a clear vision for what comes next.

Fueled by engineering ingenuity and months of testing, a team of UCF mechanical engineering students raced its human-powered vehicle past competitors from across the country to claim a national championship.

What began as a Spring 2026 Senior Design project ended with the e-HPVC Senior Design team earning three first-place trophies at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) e-Human Powered Vehicle (e-HPVC) Challenge.

Hosted on UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 main campus, the annual competition challenges university teams to design, fabricate and race human-powered vehicles, testing everything from vehicle design and safety to endurance and speed.

UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 team took first place in both the endurance and drag race events, second place in design and first place overall, earning four trophies and $2,500 in prize money.

麻豆精品 S淏ecoming national champions while representing UCF feels surreal, says Estefano Cicci, a mechanical engineering major and member of the e-HPVC team. 麻豆精品 S淚 hope these trophies remind future students that the goals that feel out of reach are exactly the ones worth chasing, and that a small, dedicated team from UCF can prove itself on a national stage. 麻豆精品 S�

Building a Better Ride

In previous years, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 e-HPVC teams have placed well in the competition with recumbent tricycles, but each new group strives to improve upon the last. Eric Cruz-Hernandez, a mechanical engineering student and member of this year 麻豆精品 S檚 team, says the group closely studied past designs to determine what worked and what needed improvement.

This year 麻豆精品 S檚 vehicle featured a mid-drive motor with electronic shifting to improve speed and battery endurance. The team also redesigned the frame to make it lighter and more accessible for riders of varying heights.

Engineering Excellence Across the Board

The e-HPVC team wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 the only group of Knights to win their competition.

A second UCF team placed second in the ASME Innovative Additive Manufacturing 3D Challenge, which asks students to re-engineer an existing product or create a new design. Teams were judged on ingenuity, engineering design principles and their use of additive manufacturing.

A third UCF team also showcased a fully functioning robot in the Student Design Competition, but didn 麻豆精品 S檛 place.

The Teamwork Behind the Trophies

For Bryce Ballard, a mechanical engineering student and external outreach chair for ASME at UCF, hosting the 2026 EFx event on campus was just as meaningful as competing in it. It not only gave students the chance to represent the university, but also to create a welcoming and supportive environment for teams traveling from across the country.

麻豆精品 S淥ne of the most impactful parts of hosting was being able to support other teams when they encountered issues with their trikes, 麻豆精品 S� Ballard says. 麻豆精品 S淲hether it was lending tools, helping troubleshoot problems or offering guidance, those interactions stood out the most. It reinforced that the competition is not only about performance, but also about collaboration, sportsmanship and building connections within the engineering community. 麻豆精品 S�