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.

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笔丑顿聽(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聽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聽 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.

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�

UCF has made a name for itself globally in programming and cybersecurity thanks to student-run clubs that deliver championships year after year. They now have company in another area of technology 麻豆精品 S� robotics.

The Robotics Club of Central Florida (RCCF) witnessed two teams, Knightmare and Daydream, dominate with an impressive number of wins over this past academic year. The teams won a total of 83 head-to-head matches against more than 40 universities, and ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for individual robotic skills at the VEX University Robotics Competition (VURC) 2025-26, besting teams from Georgia Tech, Purdue and Texas A&M.

Kushal Patel, an aerospace engineering major and a member of the Knightmare team, says the secret to the teams 麻豆精品 S� success this year has been their experience and passion for competitive robotics.

麻豆精品 S淐ombined, the team has over 50 years of VEX robotics experience, with our most senior member competing since third grade, 麻豆精品 S� Patel says. 麻豆精品 S淲e don 麻豆精品 S檛 just participate in this project for bullet points on our resumes 麻豆精品 S� our team competes for the love of competition. 麻豆精品 S�

The team structure intentionally empowers all students to gain valuable experience during these robotics competitions. Daydream is a beginner friendly team focused on students without prior experience while Knightmare is suitable for more advanced students.

麻豆精品 S淯nlike other design teams, where new members typically participate in internal competitions, those who join Daydream are able to hit the ground running and compete against other schools right away, 麻豆精品 S� says Kapri O 麻豆精品 S橞rien, a mechanical engineering major and the project lead for RCCF. 麻豆精品 S淭his structure allowed for both project teams to naturally grow and strengthen, and created the unique opportunity for us to compete against each other for awards at times this season, leading to the fantastic achievement of both Knightmare and Daydream qualifying for this year 麻豆精品 S檚 world championship. 麻豆精品 S�

Both teams also participate in outreach events, volunteering at VEX competitions around the country. They also recently hosted the VEX IQ challenge for middle school and high school students on the UCF campus to great success. Patel also works for the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation, which logistically and operationally runs the VEX robotics competitions.

With Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 reputation as a leader in dynamic, high-tech fields, they envision the next phase of success and growth for their program in industry partnerships. UCF is known as one of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 most innovative universities and is responsible for one out of every four of Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 engineering and computer science graduates.

麻豆精品 S淥ur team provides a space for engineers to grow the skills you need outside of the classroom to be a skillful engineer in industry, 麻豆精品 S� O 麻豆精品 S橞rien says. 麻豆精品 S淪upport, whether it 麻豆精品 S檚 through financial or material donations, allows that space to survive. We regularly prototype with computer vision and machine learning algorithms, gaining hands-on experience with the technology that will power our future. 麻豆精品 S�

Industry partners or students who are interested in learning more about RCCF and its competition teams can email outreach@rccf.club.

While Batarseh has plenty of reasons to focus on what he alone has achieved, he doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 see success as a singular effort.

麻豆精品 S淭he quality of the people who have passed through my labs at UCF is extraordinary, 麻豆精品 S� he says of a long list that includes 45 doctoral students. 麻豆精品 S淭heir work is making a lasting impact. 麻豆精品 S�

For Bararseh, that lasting impact among Knights began 35 years ago from a corner on campus where he began to pursue his bold (some call them 麻豆精品 S渃razy 麻豆精品 S�) ideas.

Is it true your first lab at UCF wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 really a lab at all?
There was no research space available when I arrived in 1991. So, I set up a bench in a corner of the senior design lab to stay out of the way of students coming and going. After a couple of years of progress, I moved into a 200-square-foot space. When the dean came to inspect it, he saw students busy with active hardware and said, 麻豆精品 S淵es, Issa deserves this lab. 麻豆精品 S� Over the years I moved into larger spaces and eventually built the Florida Power Electronics Center, but that first lab is a reminder of why it 麻豆精品 S檚 essential to focus on genuine work and real results, no matter where you 麻豆精品 S檙e working.

The dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Michael Georgiopolous, once said you 麻豆精品 S檝e done things that people thought were impossible.
I believe he 麻豆精品 S檚 referring to our development of the microinverter 20 years ago. My team and I proposed placing a small inverter on each solar panel rather than using large string inverters. Skeptics said our idea would be too expensive, too complex, and that the market would never support it. Today, hundreds of millions of microinverters have been sold worldwide.

If you were to show us the impact of your research, where would you take us?
I just took my kids to New York City for the new year. On the way to the airport in Newark, New Jersey, I saw some of the 200,000 panels that Petra Solar 麻豆精品 S� a company our team at UCF co-founded 麻豆精品 S� installed on utility poles. My kids have heard me mention the panels, which we call photovoltaic (PV) modules with microinverters, but for the first time they were able to directly connect my research and entrepreneurship activities to real-world impact.

I 麻豆精品 S檓 deeply passionate about renewable energy technology. My students and postdocs amplify that passion, which is why I truly owe my success to them. Our shared creativity and collective dedication turn what others call 麻豆精品 S渃razy ideas 麻豆精品 S� into something useful and real.

What about impact around Central Florida?
Start in our lab. You see generations of products and prototypes my students have helped design over the years. I see those prototypes as timestamps of their technical growth from academia to industry. Next, I 麻豆精品 S檇 show you the solar chargers at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center carports and the PV system on top of the L3Harris Engineering Center. Several of my doctoral and master 麻豆精品 S檚 students have founded companies in the Central Florida area, generating millions of dollars in revenue and many jobs 麻豆精品 S� a result of the work we 麻豆精品 S檝e done at UCF and because of the constant support from the Florida High Tech Corridor. From here, our impact extends to multi-megawatt solar projects across the U.S. and abroad.

Why are you able to see solutions where others see impossibilities?
I 麻豆精品 S檓 deeply passionate about renewable energy technology. My students and postdocs amplify that passion, which is why I truly owe my success to them. Our shared creativity and collective dedication turn what others call 麻豆精品 S渃razy ideas 麻豆精品 S� into something useful and real.

Were you a budding inventor as a kid growing up in Jordan?
Believe it or not, I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 do many hands-on projects. I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 fix things either. But I did enjoy the problem-solving of math and science. My parents encouraged me to pursue higher education, and their support played a major role in motivating me.

Most people hadn 麻豆精品 S檛 even heard of renewable energy when you came to UCF. Why did you come here to pursue breakthroughs?

I saw UCF as a university open to innovation, hungry for growth. Renewable energy wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 yet a mainstream research area, so I proposed to work on it through power electronics. Student interest grew rapidly as we pioneered a new field.

I 麻豆精品 S檝e had opportunities in the private sector, but I love teaching and working with students. Seeing their curiosity ignite and watching them succeed is something no financial reward can replace.

Among all of your patents and honors, what do you consider your hallmark?
My hallmark isn 麻豆精品 S檛 any single patent or award. It 麻豆精品 S檚 three areas of long-term impact. First are the people who have trained in my labs. Second are the technical solutions that have helped advance renewable energy, including resonant converters and the microinverter. And third is our entrepreneurial impact. Many of my students have launched private companies, which contributes to economic growth, globally. It 麻豆精品 S檚 all incredibly fulfilling.

You could have done well for yourself as an inventor based in industry. Why stay in academia?
UCF has given me the freedom to pursue ideas and build meaningful research programs around them. I 麻豆精品 S檝e had opportunities in the private sector, but I love teaching and working with students. Seeing their curiosity ignite and watching them succeed is something no financial reward can replace. The true measure of academic success lies in the lives you influence and the lasting contributions you leave behind. I wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 change a thing.

Find out more about Batarseh 麻豆精品 S檚 lab at fpec.ucf.edu.

As drones, air taxis and emergency aircraft begin to fill city skies, the biggest challenge may be invisible: how radio signals move through dense urban environments.

That future depends on reliable communication systems that can function reliably amid buildings, materials and interference, a problem UCF postdoctoral researcher Saumya Gupta is working to solve.

麻豆精品 S淐ollaborating with NASA through the MUREP MPLAN program provides an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research that supports the future of aviation and air mobility. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Saumya Gupta, postdoctoral researcher

Gupta received a NASA Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Partnership Learning Annual Notification (MPLAN) award to study and model how radio signals behavior in complex urban environments. She is working with co-principal investigator , an associate professor in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 , on a project titled 麻豆精品 S淎 Digital Twin for AAM Communication Channels. 麻豆精品 S�

Gupta 麻豆精品 S檚 research focuses on urban air mobility, where drones, emergency response aircraft and potential air taxis depend on reliable communication networks to operate safely in dense cities. The work builds on a growing body of AAM research at UCF, including prior simulation efforts led by Professor Vela, by focusing specifically on how communication signals move through crowded cities.

麻豆精品 S淐ollaborating with NASA through the MUREP MPLAN program provides an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research that supports the future of aviation and air mobility, 麻豆精品 S� Gupta says. 麻豆精品 S淚t allows our team at UCF to work on problems that are directly relevant to NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 AAM (advanced air mobility) mission while also benefitting from guidance and collaboration with NASA researchers. This partnership helps ensure that our research addresses real-world challenges in integrating new air vehicles into the national airspace. 麻豆精品 S�

Building the Digital Twin

Traditional radio frequency prediction models often rely on simplified formulas that estimate how signals weaken over distance. While useful, these models lack the spatial and material detail needed to represent dense urban environments where glass, steel and concrete significantly affect signal behavior.

More advanced simulation tools can model signal reflection, absorption and diffraction using digital maps. Most maps include building shapes but not detailed material data, a factor that strongly influences how signals are transmitted.

To address this limitation, Dr.Gupta and Professor Vela, along with their research team, are developing a simulation-based digital twin, a virtual model of an urban communication environment that incorporates artificial intelligence to improve prediction accuracy.

麻豆精品 S淩eliable communication is essential for future systems such as drones, emergency response UAVs and urban air taxis. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Saumya Gupta, postdoctoral researcher

Rather than relying solely on static maps, the system trains neural networks using signal data collected by uncrewed aerial vehicles. By analyzing how signal strength changes across locations, the system can infer building material properties and refine the model accordingly. Over time, this approach allows the digital twin to become more adaptive and better aligned with real-world conditions.

麻豆精品 S淩eliable communication is essential for future systems such as drones, emergency response UAVs and urban air taxis, 麻豆精品 S� Gupta says. 麻豆精品 S淏y using a digital twin to model how buildings and materials affect radio frequency signals, this research helps identify where signals may weaken, become blocked or experience interference. These insights can guide safer routing, real-time coordination and the scalable airspace management that future urban air mobility will depend on. 麻豆精品 S�

Strengthening Industry-Academic Partnerships

NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 MUREP program aims to broaden participation in aerospace research while strengthening partnerships between universities and NASA centers.

Through the MPLAN initiative, faculty researchers work directly with NASA scientists to develop technologies aligned with the agency 麻豆精品 S檚 long-term missions while also expanding opportunities for students to engage in aerospace research.

麻豆精品 S淲e plan to expand student involvement as the project progresses, 麻豆精品 S� Gupta says. 麻豆精品 S淲e also look forward to engaging with NASA researchers to provide mentorship and collaborative learning opportunities. 麻豆精品 S�

In addition to Gupta 麻豆精品 S檚 project, UCF researcher Justin Urso also received a MUREP MPLAN award supporting research on communication and sensing systems for advanced air mobility, further reflecting UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 role in NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 urban initiatives. Urso is a research assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering who conducts work in Professor Subith Vasu 麻豆精品 S檚 laboratory.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Partnership Learning Annual Notification (MPLAN) program. 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 NASA.聽

Four outstanding undergraduate students are redefining the boundaries of STEM through their high-impact research 麻豆精品 S� and in doing so, placing the university among the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 top producers of Goldwater Scholars.

The prestigious Goldwater Scholarship identifies and supports the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 best student researchers in the fields of engineering, mathematics and natural sciences.

This year 麻豆精品 S檚 honorees 麻豆精品 S� all expected to graduate next spring 麻豆精品 S� have propelled UCF into an elite tier of research institutions, surpassing several Ivy League institutions and tying for fourth in the nation in total Goldwater Scholars produced alongside Stanford University, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago. Their impactful work reflects UCF’s commitment to building a high-level research environment that empowers students to lead projects addressing significant global and scientific challenges.

Supporting Space Exploration

Goldwater Scholar: Keanu Brayman

Major: Mechanical engineering

Ultimate Goal: To develop robotic systems to support human exploration on Mars.

Keanu Brayman 麻豆精品 S檚 passion for space began early.

麻豆精品 S淥ne of my earliest memories is watching a Space Shuttle streak across the sky from a beach in South Florida, 麻豆精品 S� Brayman says. 麻豆精品 S淚 remember being amazed there were people on board and feeling drawn to one day help explore the stars and discover what lies beyond our planet. 麻豆精品 S�

At UCF, Brayman has refined that dream with the support of faculty and mentors 麻豆精品 S� including Department of Physics Chair and Professor Adrienne Dove, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Tarek Elgohary and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Engineer Christopher Proctor 麻豆精品 S� as well as through programs like the .

He plans to pursue a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering to support lunar exploration and NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 Artemis program, as well as develop robotic systems that can extract resources and build infrastructure to support human exploration on Mars.

Engineering the Brain

Goldwater Scholar: Kyle Coutray

Majors: Computer engineering and biomedical sciences

Ultimate Goal: To research ways to restore communication, movement and cognitive function to the brain through engineering methods.

Kyle Coutray is focused on the intersection of neuroscience and technology.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 interested in building systems that interact directly with the brain, 麻豆精品 S� Coutray says. 麻豆精品 S淚n the lab, 麻豆精品 S� [I 麻豆精品 S檓] blending [both majors] into one approach. 麻豆精品 S�

He aims to pursue a doctoral degree in neural engineering to further his research on brain-computer interfaces that translate complex brain activity into useful functions.

A 2026 Order of Pegasus inductee and a Burnett Honors Scholar, Coutray credits his success to disciplined focus and strong mentorship, particularly from Charles N. Millican Professor of Computer Science Joseph LaViola and Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Helen Huang.

Advancing Patient Care

Goldwater Scholar: Varun Nannuri

Major: Molecular and cellular biology

Ultimate Goal: To pursue a career as a physician-scientist.

Varun Nannuri is driven by a desire to understand why people experience different health outcomes and improve care.

“Through my clinical experiences, I have seen how much patients and families rely on physicians during some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” Nannuri says. “My research experiences have shown me that better care depends on asking better questions.”

Nannuri plans to pursue a dual M.D./Ph.D. degree and become a physician-scientist. His ambition earned him recognition as a 2026 Order of Pegasus inductee while also completing his Honors Undergraduate Thesis. Nannuri is also a member of the Burnett Honors College as a Burnett Medical Scholar, a program that offers guaranteed admission to the UCF College of Medicine upon completion.

麻豆精品 S淯CF has given me opportunities to grow as a student, researcher, leader and future physician, 麻豆精品 S� Nannuri says.

Restoring Human Senses

Goldwater Scholar: Trevor Overton

Majors: Electrical engineering and biomedical sciences

Ultimate Goal: To improve the lives of people with disabilities through advanced robotic prostheses.

Burnett Honors Scholar Trevor Overton 麻豆精品 S檚 work centers on neuroengineering and next-generation prosthetics.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e always had a passion for building things, and I also love reading and watching sci-fi, 麻豆精品 S� Overton says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen UCF offered me the opportunity to join the MEDD [ 麻豆精品 S� I knew I had to take it. 麻豆精品 S�

UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 MEDD program provides scientifically driven students like Overton with a unique opportunity to integrate engineering principles into medicine.

Much like the development of cochlear implants, Overton imagines similar breakthroughs with vision and touch.

麻豆精品 S淚 envision a future where robotic prostheses are so advanced that they could completely replace or enhance the abilities of humans, 麻豆精品 S� Overton says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 not entirely impossible. 麻豆精品 S�

After earning a doctoral degree in electrical engineering with a focus on neuroengineering, he hopes to inspire the next generation 麻豆精品 S� just as his professors inspired him 麻豆精品 S� emphasizing that UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 strength lies in professors who actively invest in their students.

A Growing Research Powerhouse

With four 2026 Goldwater Scholarship recipients, UCF continues to strengthen its position as a leader in undergraduate research. The achievement reflects both students 麻豆精品 S� immense dedication and a university-wide commitment to driving innovation, mentorship and hands-on discovery. As these Knights prepare for the next steps in their academic journeys, they carry forward a shared mission: to turn research into real-world impact.

Students interested in applying for the Goldwater Scholarship or other major national awards should contact the Office of Prestigious Awards at聽opa@ucf.edu.

To better understand Assistant Professor Hamzeh Ghasemzadeh and his work, he goes back to a childhood memory of broken toys. Within hours of receiving little robotic figures or remote-control cars, he 麻豆精品 S檇 dissembled what had once been a carefully crafted package of technology. To him, sitting among the remnants of a new gift meant he was sitting in a circle of fun.

麻豆精品 S淢y favorite game was to take the toys apart to see how they work and then try to put them back together, 麻豆精品 S� Ghasemzadeh says. 麻豆精品 S淢y parents saw my curiosity as a great thing. 麻豆精品 S�

“This is why I came to UCF. I 麻豆精品 S檝e been able to jump right in and address mysteries that haven 麻豆精品 S檛 received much attention.”

That same curiosity now drives his research at , where he seeks to take apart discomforted voices, figuratively, so he can develop strategies to make each one whole again. Ghasemzadeh, who joined UCF in late Summer 2025 and will teach in the school 麻豆精品 S檚 newly launched , has already secured one research project funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is developing another.

麻豆精品 S淭his is why I came to UCF, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e been able to jump right in and address mysteries that haven 麻豆精品 S檛 received much attention until now. 麻豆精品 S�

A Common Problem Without Clear Answers

The first such mystery sounds quite straightforward: vocal fatigue, a common vocal complaint. Beneath the surface, however, it 麻豆精品 S檚 deceptive. Solutions have mostly evaded scientists, leaving vocal fatigue as an ongoing problem for many people who rely on their voices, like coaches, public speakers, singers and teachers. Many of Ghasemzadeh 麻豆精品 S檚 colleagues experience the very throat discomfort that he 麻豆精品 S檚 deconstructing during the funded project just underway.

“We want to collect … multi-modal data and use machine learning models to analyze [vocal fatigue] and develop recommendations for each person.”

麻豆精品 S淪ome instructors get vocal fatigue quickly, some get it slowly and some don 麻豆精品 S檛 get it at all, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淭here 麻豆精品 S檚 a genetic component, but there are also behavioral components. How do they use their voice? How often do they use it? What about the environment where they 麻豆精品 S檙e using it? What about personality? We want to collect such comprehensive multi-modal data and use machine learning models to analyze it and develop recommendations for each person. 麻豆精品 S�

The recommendations might include pacing voice usage, projecting the voice efficiently and allowing the voice to recover. Ghasemzadeh envisions this model being predictive and 麻豆精品 S� this is the part he stresses most 麻豆精品 S� personalized.

麻豆精品 S淭he approach to general medicine started with an assumption that while we 麻豆精品 S檙e different on the outside, we are very similar inside. Patients with similar ailments took the same medications and [the] same dosages. But we now know that people don 麻豆精品 S檛 always respond to pills the same way. If we can quantify how we 麻豆精品 S檙e different inside, we can create a computational model to predict responses to medications and optimize treatment plans. 麻豆精品 S�

To integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into vocal fatigue solutions, subjects in Ghasemzadeh 麻豆精品 S檚 study will wear sensors that track how and where they use their voices. He 麻豆精品 S檒l prompt them to perform specific vocal tasks and monitor their phonatory function throughout the day. The AI model will analyze these patterns in real time to identify early signs of vocal strain and predict when fatigue is likely to occur.

“We are different. Every prescribed solution should be different, too.”

Participants will also visit his lab at the in Central Florida Research Park, where specialists will collect imaging, aerodynamic and acoustic data. The highly equipped facility brings together America 麻豆精品 S檚 leading hearing and voice scientists to develop new technologies and clinical tools for people with hearing loss or voice disorders.

With all of that in hand, including the technology, Ghasemzadeh and his team hope to unwind the mystery of vocal fatigue 麻豆精品 S� one person at a time.

麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 the idea I want to put forward with every project, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲e are different. Every prescribed solution should be different, too. 麻豆精品 S�

From Engineering to Human Connection

Many would think a toy-reassembling boy is destined to become an engineer. That 麻豆精品 S檚 what Ghasemzadeh thought, too. He earned bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 and master 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees in electrical engineering and began his career with a focus on telecommunications and signal processing.

麻豆精品 S淭here was something important missing, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淗uman connection. 麻豆精品 S�

“Speech became my research interest because … it sets us apart as a species and as individuals.”

He crossed paths with a close friend who mentioned his own research in a field Ghasemzadeh was vaguely familiar with: communication sciences and disorders. The conversation sparked Ghasemzadeh’s enthusiasm for applying his expertise in areas such as signal processing to personally help others.

麻豆精品 S淪peech became my research interest because it 麻豆精品 S檚 the signal we predominantly use to communicate, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚t sets us apart as a species and as individuals. 麻豆精品 S�

For example, it 麻豆精品 S檚 quite easy to identify Ghasemzadeh without even seeing him. He sounds young yet intelligent enough to have dual doctoral degrees. There 麻豆精品 S檚 an inflection of humility in his voice. The curiosity is always there, too. In fact, his peers have noticed, from his work, what his parents noticed among his broken toys: his curiosity leading to great things. Shortly after arriving at UCF, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association chose Ghasemzadeh for its Early Career Contributions in Research Award.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 also a reminder that I 麻豆精品 S檓 early in my career, 麻豆精品 S� he says, 麻豆精品 S渁nd the sky is the limit. 麻豆精品 S�

At the center of his work as a principal investigator is a belief that progress doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 happen alone, but through teamwork.

麻豆精品 S淵ou have to surround yourself with different skillsets, all of us willing to take things apart that have never been taken apart, with everyone focused on one goal, 麻豆精品 S� Ghasemzadeh says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen you win, I win and everyone wins. 麻豆精品 S�

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health under award number R00DC021235. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Burke was recognized for her exceptional contributions to advancing the science and practice of industrial-organizational psychology, as well as her sustained impact on the professional community. The distinction of SIOP Fellow is awarded to individuals who have made significant, enduring contributions to research, leadership and application within the field.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 honored to be named a SIOP Fellow, 麻豆精品 S� says Burke, director of IST 麻豆精品 S檚 Team Research and Adaptability in Complex Environments聽(TRACE) Lab. 麻豆精品 S淭his recognition reflects the collaborative efforts of the students, researchers and partners I 麻豆精品 S檝e had the privilege to work with, and the importance of advancing training and decision-making in complex environments. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淭his recognition reflects the collaborative efforts of the students, researchers and partners I 麻豆精品 S檝e had the privilege to work with, and the importance of advancing training and decision-making in complex environments. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Shawn Burke, research professor

At UCF IST, Burke leads the TRACE Lab, where her work focuses on team performance, adaptive training and human-centered approaches to complex systems. Her research has supported advancements in high-stakes environments across defense, healthcare and industry, reinforcing UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 leadership in modeling, simulation and training.

麻豆精品 S淭his honor recognizes not only Dr. Burke 麻豆精品 S檚 scientific contributions, but also her leadership and mentorship within the research community, 麻豆精品 S� says Carolina Cruz-Neira, executive director of UCF IST. 麻豆精品 S淪he has played a vital role in developing the next generation of scholars and practitioners in industrial-organizational psychology. 麻豆精品 S�

New fellows will be formally recognized during the SIOP Annual Conference, with a ceremony held on April 29 in New Orleans. The honor represents a significant milestone in Burke 麻豆精品 S檚 career and highlights the continued impact of UCF IST in shaping the future of workforce research, training and performance.

About UCF’s Institute for Simulation and Training

UCF’s Institute for Simulation and Training is an internationally recognized, interdisciplinary institute conducting basic and applied human-centric research that affects nearly all sectors of industry and government, from healthcare to national defense and education to manufacturing. UCF and IST have built the industry, together with more than 200 Central Florida modeling, simulation and training companies and the U.S. Department of Defense. IST is an early adopter whose vision and leadership have spurred new applications and opportunities. (ist.ucf.edu)