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 鲍颁贵 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 鲍颁贵 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湵涔� 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�

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�

鲍颁贵 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 鲍颁贵 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.

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 leading space medicine experts, valued strategic partners and an astronaut who holds NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 record for spacewalks will gather April 10 in Lake Nona 麻豆精品 S檚 Medical City to discuss how they can work together to keep space travelers healthy and use that research to create groundbreaking clinical innovations on Earth.

The 麻豆精品 S淪tar Nona 2026 麻豆精品 S� event is led by the Lake Nona Research Council, which is focused on encouraging interdisciplinary scientific partnerships between industry, academia and healthcare.

The council includes physicians and researchers from UCF, Orlando Health, AdventHealth, the , the Orlando VA Medical Center, Nemours Children 麻豆精品 S檚 Health, business and industry.

Star Nona 2026 Event Details

麻豆精品 S淥ur goal is to bring together space medicine leaders and experts from academia, medicine and the space industry to find more ways we can work together to research the health impacts of space flight and how our discoveries can also improve healthcare on Earth, 麻豆精品 S� says Michal Masternak, UCF professor of medicine.

An anti-aging and cancer researcher, Masternak leads the Lake Nona Research Council 麻豆精品 S檚 space medicine research group. He also leads the College of Medicine 麻豆精品 S檚 program that processes astronaut samples so physicians and scientists can analyze the immediate impact of space travel on astronauts 麻豆精品 S� bodies.

Sessions will include presentations on:

• Microgravity and radiation exposure and their impact on human physical and mental health
• How space travel affects muscles, bones, cells, vision and the brain
• Protecting muscles in space (led by AdventHealth researchers)
• Next generation of the space station
• New technologies for diagnosing how space travel impacts human cells.

These presentations will feature UCF researchers from medicine, , and . UCF graduate students and post-doctoral scientists will also present research posters on space medicine.

The plenary speaker is NASA astronaut Robert Curbeam, a U.S. Navy captain who completed four spacewalks during space shuttle Discovery 麻豆精品 S檚 2006 mission to the International Space Station.

The Space Coast 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Medicine

Located 45 miles west of the Space Coast and Kennedy Space Center, 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Medicine is the perfect partner to chart a new frontier in healthcare as humans prepare for longer missions to the moon and Mars, and commercial space flights take more civilians into space.

The goal: explore 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 on Earth.

To further those efforts, UCF has created a new Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine (CASEEM), which includes UCF faculty experts in medicine, engineering, computer science, psychology, arts and educational leadership. This interdisciplinary group will work together to research and develop new technologies for keeping space travelers healthy, as well as soldiers on military missions, deep sea explorers and mountain climbers.

About the Lake Nona Research Council

Edward Ross, the College of Medicine 麻豆精品 S檚 chair of medicine and assistant dean for research, leads the Lake Nona Research Council.

Ross says Star Nona and the partnerships it creates will help solidify UCF and Medical City 麻豆精品 S檚 reputation as a premier center for space medicine.

麻豆精品 S淲hen people think of keeping space visitors healthy, we want them to immediately think UCF. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Edward Ross, College of Medicine 麻豆精品 S檚 chair of medicine

麻豆精品 S淎s a university, UCF was born to create the workforce to send humans to the moon, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e continuing that legacy with space medicine. When people think of keeping space visitors healthy, we want them to immediately think UCF. 麻豆精品 S�

Event Registration

Star Nona 2026 will be held at the UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center, with registration beginning at 8:15 a.m. Star Nona is made possible by support and sponsorships from Dr. Jogi Pattisapu and the Hydrocephalus and Neuroscience Institute, Tavistock Development Company and the Florida Space Institute. To sign up to attend the event, please visit .

Nov. 13, 2025, 3:55 p.m.听Jillian Gloria 麻豆精品 S�22聽stands on a balcony at Blue Origin headquarters in Cape Canaveral, Florida, her eyes fixed on the horizon at Launch Complex 36 麻豆精品 S� the very launchpad her grandfather helped construct as a NASA engineer in the 1960s.

Engines ignite. Gloria 麻豆精品 S檚 breath catches as she wills the rocket to climb. Then she hears those crucial words: 麻豆精品 S淟iftoff detected. New Glenn has cleared the tower. 麻豆精品 S�

The Blue Origin rocket scientist has just witnessed the launch of her first NASA mission. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a goal the Orlando native has dreamed about since childhood; one marked by visions of the space shuttle soaring upward as she commuted to school and the roar of sonic booms when it returned to Earth 麻豆精品 S檚 atmosphere.

What makes this milestone even more rewarding is the determination, the hard work and the relentless tenacity it took her to get here.

麻豆精品 S淵our dreams are possible, 麻豆精品 S� Gloria says. 麻豆精品 S淎ll you need is passion and persistence. As long as you keep going, you can do anything in this world. You 麻豆精品 S檙e always going to end up where you 麻豆精品 S檙e meant to be. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淵ou 麻豆精品 S檒l Never Graduate 麻豆精品 S�

Gloria 麻豆精品 S檚 college journey began outside of Florida despite the numerous space-related research and partnerships available in her backyard at UCF. Like many of her peers, she thought she had to branch out from her hometown to gain the most out of her college experience.

She realized quickly she had made a mistake.

Not long after arriving at the University in Texas at Arlington, an academic advisor told her she would never graduate with an engineering degree if she started her academic career in algebra. She would need an additional 1.5 years of math and science classes alone before she could set foot in an engineering class.

Rather than catch up on the mathematics education and credits she needed to pursue engineering, he advised she 麻豆精品 S檇 be better off going after 麻豆精品 S渟omething more realistic for her current path like a business degree. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淎s an impressionable 18-19 year old, you listen to your adviser, right? 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 just remember dropping the business class a few weeks in because I thought, 麻豆精品 S楾his is not what I want to do, and I don 麻豆精品 S檛 care how long it takes me, I 麻豆精品 S檓 going to do get an engineering degree. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�

Opportunity Comes Calling

She course-corrected and enrolled in the program at Valencia College. Valencia provided her the academic resources and tutoring she needed to overcome her initial struggles in math and science.

In 2018 ahead of transferring to UCF, she applied to the Central Florida Physics Research Exchange Program, a former initiative for undergraduate students to participate in a 10-week funded research project over the summer with 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 physics department.

She remembers doubting her chances of acceptance. After all, she was an aspiring aerospace engineer, not a true physics major. But the program came with the promise of $5,000, and for someone who was working her way through school, what did she have to lose?

As part of her application, she wrote a compelling letter to Professor of Physics William Kaden about his space weathering effects research for NASA and how much she 麻豆精品 S檇 love the chance to work in his lab.

The letter worked. Kaden would go on to become Gloria 麻豆精品 S檚 mentor throughout her 2.5 years at UCF and kickstarted her hand in research that yielded projects on finding water on the moon, collaborations with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), work with 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 and a co-authorship on a NASA-funded paper published in 2021 in the聽Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology.

麻豆精品 S淭he world of research at UCF really provided me the actual work experience and opportunities to turn me into an engineer and a candidate that these companies sought after. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Jillian Gloria 麻豆精品 S�22, Blue Origin engineer

麻豆精品 S淭he world of research at UCF really provided me the actual work experience and opportunities to turn me into an engineer and a candidate that these companies sought after, 麻豆精品 S� says Gloria, who keeps her senior-year textbook Mechanics and Thermodynamics of Propulsion, Second Edition on her office desk. 麻豆精品 S淚 worked with industry hardware, a vacuum chamber that 麻豆精品 S檚 worth hundreds of thousands of dollars at NASA, flew a payload on a Masten Space Systems Xodiac rocket to track rocket plumes during launch and landing on the moon. I was a published author before I graduated. It all was such an amazing opportunity. That was the first time when I felt like I was actually doing the work I had dreamed about. The things I was exposed to at UCF really 聽just opened my eyes onto what 麻豆精品 S檚 available out there in terms of my career. 麻豆精品 S�

Building a Road to Space

Since graduating in 2022, Gloria launched over a dozen successful missions across three launch-vehicle programs (Atlas V, Delta Heavy, Vulcan Centaur) at United Launch Alliance as a propulsion systems test engineer.

In January 2025, she joined the Blue Origin team as an integrated vehicle test engineer, specializing in the integration, testing, refurbishment, and optimization of complex fluid and pneumatic systems for her fourth launch vehicle, New Glenn.

In other words, she validates the build of the rocket, ensuring its integrity and functionality through every build stage before launch.

She is energized every day by the opportunities available to her to grow and learn within the company, who in addition to their rocket program is also developing a lunar lander and space station.

麻豆精品 S淭his work matters. It 麻豆精品 S檚 the future. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Jillian Gloria

麻豆精品 S�We 麻豆精品 S檙e all working together for the benefit of Earth, and you feel it every day you go to work at Blue Origin, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭his work matters. It 麻豆精品 S檚 the future, it 麻豆精品 S檚 the next generation launch vehicle, and it just plays a hand in Blue 麻豆精品 S檚 mission statement that we want to build a road to space. 麻豆精品 S�

Every milestone they hit 麻豆精品 S� like the recent successful launch and first-time landing of the New Glenn rocket that ferried NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 twin ESCAPADE spacecraft to begin their journey to Mars 麻豆精品 S� helps get them closer to that goal.

While current generations may not see it, she knows the work she is doing at Blue Origin is developing the infrastructure for future generations who will one day consistently travel to and live on other celestial bodies.

麻豆精品 S淭he stars are the final frontier. It calls to us, 麻豆精品 S� Gloria says. 麻豆精品 S淵ou can 麻豆精品 S檛 really explain it, but when you look up at the sky, it kind of touches your soul. It just makes me feel more connected to something that 麻豆精品 S檚 so far away and so beautiful. It 麻豆精品 S檚 everything. 麻豆精品 S�

They had been tasked in a semester-long class assignment to build a carbon fiber rocket that would successfully carry the professor 麻豆精品 S檚 payload. While their design may have failed epically 麻豆精品 S� while being broadcast live on the internet 麻豆精品 S� they noticed one very important element that turned out to be the spark for their future company.

麻豆精品 S淲hen we walked up to the rocket, we saw that the motor had gone through a 2-inch-thick steel plate, but the carbon fiber that we had made was intact and still super strong and actually protected the professor 麻豆精品 S檚 payload after exploding and crashing, 麻豆精品 S� Saltzman says. 麻豆精品 S淲e said, 麻豆精品 S楬ey, we 麻豆精品 S檙e pretty good at manufacturing this [carbon fiber] stuff. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�

They took it as a sign to change their majors from aerospace engineering to materials science and engineering, and the earliest roots of Soarce were planted.

Sustainably Strengthening Industries

Soarce is at the forefront of bio-based nanomaterials and seeks to solve society 麻豆精品 S檚 greatest climate challenges by leveraging natural materials to create products that can outperform those made synthetically.

Drawn from seaweed, hemp and elephant grass, their nanocellulose coating can be applied to and fortify carbon fiber structures 麻豆精品 S� everything from hockey sticks to electric vehicles to rocket ships.

麻豆精品 S淭hat allows engineers to design parts that are lighter, stronger and more efficient, 麻豆精品 S� Saltzman says. 麻豆精品 S淔or electric vehicles, they can now go farther. In the world of aerospace, we 麻豆精品 S檙e making those materials stronger so now you have more payload mass that you can put into space. 麻豆精品 S�

Their innovation has so much promise it has already secured $3.2 million in funding.

麻豆精品 S淯CF is about dreaming big, going as big as you can. And that 麻豆精品 S檚 how we feel. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Derek Saltzman

麻豆精品 S淯CF is about dreaming big, going as big as you can. And that 麻豆精品 S檚 how we feel, 麻豆精品 S� Saltzman says. 麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e on pace to what we feel is going to be the largest global nanocellulose producer in the world. And we are not afraid to say that and stand behind it. That 麻豆精品 S檚 a big dream, but that 麻豆精品 S檚 kind of what we 麻豆精品 S檙e here to do 麻豆精品 S� make big changes. 麻豆精品 S�

UCF-Backed Entrepreneurship

Their entrepreneurial journey has gone through several iterations since Saltzman and Mincey were randomly assigned as roommates in during their freshman year. The pair dabbled in enterprises involved with agriculture and drone racing, cutting their teeth on the business side of running a company through resources UCF offers including the 麻豆精品 S檚 .

To this day, they 麻豆精品 S檙e still partnering with the UCF ecosystem, utilizing the UCF Business Incubation Program 麻豆精品 S檚 Life Sciences Incubator in Lake Nona, which gives Soarce access to a fully equipped, Biosafety Level II wet lab to foster their work in advanced materials.

麻豆精品 S淯CF has really strong partnerships and connections to industry that allow you to funnel your idea from a lab-benchtop scale all the way to integrating into a Fortune 500 company to get that product off the ground, 麻豆精品 S� Saltzman says.

Now, along with fellow UCF alums and Soarce co-founders Matthew Jaeger 麻豆精品 S�22, an actuarial science alum, and Patrick Michel, a former management student, they 麻豆精品 S檙e looking forward to expanding their operations into an 8,000-square-foot facility in partnership with Tavistock and heading into pilot trials with Fortune 500 companies.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 really cool to see how far we 麻豆精品 S檝e come, from an idea in a notebook that we started eight years ago to now within the next three to five years, we 麻豆精品 S檒l have that material not only created, but actually being flown into space and amongst the stars, 麻豆精品 S� Saltzman says.

The Soarce co-founders were recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Manufacturing & Industry list in 2026.

“… knowing that I contributed to a program that became part of lunar history was deeply satisfying and fulfilling.”

Rehder is one of 700 people whose name appears on a plaque commemorating Firefly 麻豆精品 S檚 Blue Ghost Mission I, the first fully successful commercial moon landing. The plaque, mounted on the lunar lander, was unveiled through a social media post in January.

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Rehder contributed to the mission as a composite manufacturing engineering intern, assisting with manufacturing work orders, work instructions and post-curing walkdowns to support flight hardware readiness. Although his internship ended before Blue Ghost launched, Rehder says that the mission 麻豆精品 S檚 success makes his experience with Firefly much more meaningful.

麻豆精品 S淓ven in a small way, knowing that I contributed to a program that became part of lunar history was deeply satisfying and fulfilling, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淎s a college student and early-career engineer, it reinforced how impactful collaborative engineering efforts can be. 麻豆精品 S�

Launching a Career Through Aerospace Internships

At Firefly, Rehder also supported work on the Eclipse launch vehicle before moving on to an internship at SpaceX. There, he served as a structures engineering intern for the Dragon program. Rehder says he was treated like a member of the team, given ownership over his work, and trusted with design and project management responsibilities. The best part of the internship, though, was meeting some of the astronauts who would eventually fly in the Dragon spacecraft.

麻豆精品 S淗aving the chance to interact with them and hear their perspectives made the work feel very real, 麻豆精品 S� Rehder says. 麻豆精品 S淚t was a constant reminder that the structures we were designing and testing would ultimately be protecting human lives, which reinforced the importance of careful design, attention to detail and engineering accountability. 麻豆精品 S�

Rehder completed a third internship with United Launch Alliance (ULA) before graduating from UCF with his bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in aerospace engineering in Fall 2025. He now works for ULA as a mechanical engineer, supporting payload fairings for the Vulcan and Atlas launch vehicles.

Prepared by UCF, Powered by Persistence

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 resume workshops are what Rehder credits with helping him stand out among candidates during the application process, but he says persistence ultimately was key to earning so many internships with major aerospace companies.

Want to connect with top aerospace companies in Central Florida? Don’t miss UCF’s Spring 2026 Internship and Career Expo on Tuesday, March 10.听.

Rehder 麻豆精品 S檚 advice to current students seeking internships is not to be discouraged by rejection, having applied to more than 100 internships before being accepted to Firefly. He also encourages getting involved in UCF student organizations to gain the hands-on experience employers value. He says that the mix of academics and applied learning is exactly what drew him to pursue his undergraduate degree at UCF 麻豆精品 S� the No. 1 supplier of graduates to the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 aerospace and defense industries (Aviation Week Network).

麻豆精品 S淏eing surrounded by space-related programs, student projects and industry connections made it easier to turn classroom knowledge into practical engineering skills, 麻豆精品 S� Rehder says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat environment played a big role in preparing me for internships and to contribute confidently to real-world aerospace programs. 麻豆精品 S�

UCF Trustee Chair Subith Vasu and postdoctoral scholar Justin Urso 麻豆精品 S�15 麻豆精品 S�22PhD have been awarded a $750,000 grant from NASA to study the effects that AAM may have on communities. The UCF researchers have partnered with Ocala International Airport on this project, which will specifically explore the effects of pollution and noise on the surrounding neighborhoods.

麻豆精品 S淲e partnered with Ocala International Airport because of the air traffic around that community, 麻豆精品 S� Vasu says. 麻豆精品 S淎nything that flies makes noise, and it can be annoying for residents. We 麻豆精品 S檙e looking at how to minimize the risk so the community isn 麻豆精品 S檛 bothered. 麻豆精品 S�

Ocala International Airport was a prime partner due to its potential for implementation. Vertiports are the specialized launch pads for electrical air vehicles such as drones and air taxis. Companies like Amazon are interested in using AAM technology for fast and convenient home deliveries while organizations like NASA aim to develop this new transportation system that will deliver both goods and people around the world, safely and efficiently.

麻豆精品 S淚f you live in Ocala and want to take a flight to Europe, California or New York, where do you go? 麻豆精品 S� Vasu says. 麻豆精品 S淭he Tampa and Orlando airports are two hours away by car. Depending on where you live, AAM can be very helpful. 麻豆精品 S�

Urso says we could see the development of a vertiport at the Ocala International Airport by 2035. The City of Orlando also has a vested interest in AAM and is working with NASA to develop an air transportation system plan. Vasu says, in the future, they may expand their project to include Orlando International Airport.

An additional partner on the project is Yingru Li, a professor of sociology at UCF, who will conduct community assessments to provide important data on the City of Ocala. Vasu says the goal is to put UCF at the forefront of this developing industry.

麻豆精品 S淭here 麻豆精品 S檚 a lot of opportunity within AAM for UCF and the state of Florida, 麻豆精品 S� Vasu says. 麻豆精品 S淲e just want to push UCF as a leader in that field. 麻豆精品 S�

Founded in 1963 with the mission to provide talent for Central Florida and the growing U.S. space program, the university 麻豆精品 S檚 extensive involvement in space research and education not only drives innovations in space technology but also prepares the next generation of leaders in the field.

With more than 40 active NASA projects totaling more than $67 million in funding, UCF continues to push the frontiers of space research, and its contributions promise to help shape the future of humanity’s presence in the cosmos.

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 cutting-edge areas of space expertise include:

Space Medicine

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Medicine is pioneering new frontiers in aerospace medicine, positioning itself as a leader in space health research and education. Spearheaded by initiatives to create an interdisciplinary curriculum, UCF is integrating expertise from engineering, medicine and nursing to address the unique health challenges of space exploration.

The college is building on existing research in space health, including innovative studies on the effects of microgravity on bone health, which could lead to improved protection for astronauts. Collaborations across disciplines, such as testing therapeutics for radiation protection and developing antimicrobial solutions for space station environments, highlight 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 commitment to advancing astronaut health and shaping the future of space medicine.

Space Propulsion and Power

UCF is advancing space propulsion with groundbreaking research that could make space travel more efficient and viable for future missions. Researchers are developing innovative hypersonic propulsion systems, such as rotating detonation rocket engines, which harness high-speed detonations to increase propulsion efficiency and reduce fuel consumption 麻豆精品 S� an advancement that could significantly lower costs and emissions associated with space travel, creating new commercial opportunities in the industry. UCF is taking its hypersonics research even further with its recently launched Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion 麻豆精品 S� the HyperSpace Center.

Additionally, UCF teams are exploring novel power systems for spacecraft venturing far from the sun, where solar energy becomes impractical. With funding from NASA, researchers are creating storable chemical heat sources capable of providing essential heat and power in extreme environments, from the icy surfaces of distant moons to the intense heat of Venus.

Space Technology and Engineering

UCF is forging the future of space technology with innovations that push the boundaries of lunar and deep space exploration. Through advancements in lunar resource utilization, UCF has developed methods to efficiently extract ice from lunar soil so that it can be transformed into vital resources like water and rocket fuel, while new techniques for processing lunar soil drastically reduce construction costs for infrastructure such as landing pads.

UCF researchers are also pioneering 3D-printed bricks made from lunar regolith that withstand extreme space conditions, setting the foundation for resilient off-world habitats. Lunar regolith is the loose dust, rocks and materials that cover the moon 麻豆精品 S檚 surface.

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 Exolith Lab, part of the , continues to lead in space hardware testing, advancing resource extraction and lunar construction technologies. Meanwhile, FSI’s CubeSat program is opening new doors in space exploration with compact, affordable satellites that give students and researchers access to microgravity and beyond.

Space Commercialization

UCF’s new space commercialization program 麻豆精品 S� led by , College of Business professor of practice and associate provost for space commercialization and strategy 麻豆精品 S� positions the university as a leader in space-related business education.

Autry will guide the college 麻豆精品 S檚 efforts to deliver Executive and MBA programs in space commercialization, driving curriculum development and establishing space-focused programs that equip students to lead in the growing commercial space industry.

In addition to the space commercialization聽program, Autry will be working with external stakeholders, including NASA, the U.S. Space Force and commercial firms like Blue Origin, SpaceX and Virgin Galactic, to develop opportunities to advance mutual interests in space.

This includes working with Kennedy Space Center to lead a State University System partnership with the state of Florida to develop the necessary talent to maintain and expand Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 leadership in space exploration and commercialization.

Autry will also be leading 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 effort to develop and execute a roadmap for the university 麻豆精品 S檚 SpaceU brand through targeted investments in talent and facilities.

Space Domain Awareness

UCF is advancing space domain awareness research to protect critical assets in orbit by developing sophisticated algorithms for tracking and predicting the movement of objects such as satellites and asteroids, so they don 麻豆精品 S檛 collide with spacecraft. Under the guidance of aerospace engineering expert Tarek Elgohary, UCF researchers are creating a computational framework to rapidly and accurately track space objects in real time. This initiative is backed by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research Dynamic Data and Information Process Program.

UCF is also addressing the growing issue of orbital debris through a NASA-funded study that includes researchers from 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 FSI and . This project seeks to increase public awareness and support for managing space debris, a hazard to satellites and potential space tourism ventures.

Workforce Development

UCF is propelling students toward dynamic careers in the space industry with hands-on programs and sought-after internship opportunities. Through the new engineering graduate certificate in electronic parts engineering, developed in collaboration with NASA, students are gaining essential skills in testing and evaluating space-ready electronic components 麻豆精品 S� a key advantage for aspiring space professionals.

Additionally, UCF students can benefit from hands-on internships at Kennedy Space Center, where they gain real-world experience in various fields, from engineering to project management.

At the , students gain direct experience in microgravity research and robotics. The center embodies 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 commitment to democratizing space access, offering pathways for students from all backgrounds to participate in and contribute to the growing space industry.

FSI 麻豆精品 S檚 CubeSat program further immerses students in satellite design and operation, offering direct involvement in active space missions.

Planetary Science

UCF’s planetary science program is driving breakthroughs in space exploration with projects spanning the moon, Mars and beyond. The NASA-funded Lunar-VISE mission, led by UCF, will explore the Gruithuisen domes on the far side of the moon to understand their volcanic origins, potentially unlocking insights crucial for future space exploration.

Complementing this, UCF researchers are contributing to NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 Lunar Trailblazer mission, which will map water ice deposits on the moon 麻豆精品 S� an essential resource for sustained stays in space. On another front, UCF scientists are studying dust behavior in microgravity through experiments that flew on Blue Origin 麻豆精品 S檚 New Shepard rocket, potentially leading to strategies for mitigating lunar dust, a challenge for electronics and equipment on future missions.

Expanding its reach beyond the moon, 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 planetary science research involves asteroid studies, including the high-profile OSIRIS-REx mission to asteroid Bennu and examining seismic wave propagation in simulated asteroid materials to understand asteroid evolution and early planetary formation. UCF is also home to the , a node of NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, which facilitates NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 exploration of deep space by focusing its goals at the intersection of surface science and surface exploration of rocky, atmosphereless bodies.

Additionally, UCF researchers are studying trans-Neptunian objects and using the James Webb Space Telescope to explore the solar system’s outer reaches, analyzing ancient ices to uncover clues about the solar system’s history, while also investigating exoplanets to advance our understanding of other planets and to search for life beyond Earth.

In parallel, UCF researchers are also advancing bold ideas for terraforming Mars through nanoparticle dispersion to create warming effect, making the Red Planet potentially more habitable.

UCF researchers have also contributed their expertise to multiple high-profile NASA missions, including Cassini, Mars Pathfinder, Mars Curiosity, and New Horizons.

Advancing Astrophotonics, History and Policy

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 space research spans pioneering astrophotonics technology, studies in space history and critical analyses in space policy, each offering unique insights into the universe. The within CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics, is pushing the boundaries of photonics and astronomy, using tools like photonic lanterns, fiber optics, and hyperspectral imaging to detect cosmic phenomena and address profound questions about dark energy.

Meanwhile, delves into space history, exploring the cultural and scientific impacts of milestones like the Apollo missions and the Space Shuttle program, helping illuminate humanity 麻豆精品 S檚 journey into space.

The contributes to this comprehensive approach with its broad studies of space policy, both domestically and internationally, including examining military space policy and rising space powers. The work involves studying space law, international agreements, and policy frameworks that guide space activities, which is essential for addressing the governance and strategic planning needed for space exploration and utilization.

Pioneering Tomorrow 麻豆精品 S檚 Space Exploration

UCF is pushing the frontiers of space research and education, tackling today 麻豆精品 S檚 challenges while preparing for the demands of future space missions. As the new space race continues, 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 forward-thinking approach will continue to drive progress, inspire new possibilities and expand humanity 麻豆精品 S檚 reach into the universe.

In a first-of-its-kind mission for the United States that spanned over seven years, the unmanned spacecraft mapped and studied the surface of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, then retrieved a sample for researchers to study the asteroid 麻豆精品 S檚 composition.

Topping the list was a story on the world 麻豆精品 S檚 first energy-saving paint inspired by butterflies. The plasmonic paint utilizes a nanoscale structural arrangement of colorless materials 麻豆精品 S� aluminum and aluminum oxide 麻豆精品 S� instead of pigments to create colors. The paint can contribute to energy-saving efforts and help reduce environmental impacts.

Other stories included a $12.6 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency grant looking to create self-repairing, biological and human-engineered reef-mimicking structures. UCF is helping design reef structures that will be used to mitigate coastal flooding, erosion and storm damage that threaten civilian and Department of Defense infrastructure and personnel. Another story featured new research on the earliest presence of Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia, pushing back the presence of humans in that part of the world by at least 20,000 years and a human presence in the region for at least 56,000 years.

Here are the Top 10 UCF Research News Stories of 2023:

1. UCF Researcher Creates World 麻豆精品 S檚 First Energy-saving Paint 麻豆精品 S� Inspired by Butterflies

2. The Long Journey of NASA 麻豆精品 S橲 OSIRIS-REx

3. Human Migration Timeline Redrawn by Fresh Fossil Analysis

4. New UCF-developed Battery Could Prevent Post-hurricane Electric Vehicle Fires

5. UCF Researchers Are Advancing AI-assisted Drug Discovery

6. UCF is Designing Self-repairing Oyster Reefs to Protect Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Coastlines

7. New DOD-funded Project Will Develop Morphing Hypersonic Engine

8. UCF Researchers Create Bioabsorbable Implants for Better Bone Healing

9. UCF Team Awarded $2.3M Grant for Innovative Intervention to Prevent Falls

10. Deadly Frog Disease More Prevalent in Central Florida Than Expected, UCF Study Finds

The annual top 10 list is based on聽UCF Today聽page views and coverage UCF research received by global, national, state, and local media. The stories were generated by news releases and pitches from UCF Communications and Marketing, 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 Office of Research and 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 colleges.

Raytheon Technologies, a research partner of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, was so impressed with the work of recent intern Sydney Giannuzzi that they honored her with an Innovation Achievement Award for her outstanding contributions to their research and to the team.

麻豆精品 S淪ydney’s work ethic and enthusiasm for the project are remarkable, and it has been a pleasure to have her be our intern this summer, 麻豆精品 S� the awarded certificate reads. 麻豆精品 S淲e are looking forward to continued collaboration with her throughout her Ph.D. work. 麻豆精品 S�

Giannuzzi, an aerospace engineering doctoral student, completed the internship this past summer at the defense company 麻豆精品 S檚 Hartford, Connecticut, location. She worked on the design and analysis of a novel flow valve that can more easily test operating conditions for aircraft engines. The goal is to better understand the damping process so that aircraft engine designers can prevent the dangerous conditions that could lead to engine failure.

The project is funded through a $899,000 grant from the Office of Naval Research, which facilitated the collaboration between Raytheon and UCF. Jeffrey Kauffman, director of 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 aerospace engineering program, is the principal investigator of the project, which includes two 10-week internships at Raytheon.

Although other UCF students have assisted with the research, Giannuzzi is the first to work on the project as a Raytheon intern. She says she 麻豆精品 S檚 thrilled with the progress her team made and with the recognition it garnered.

麻豆精品 S淚 am honored that my team and supervisor appreciated my contribution and thought to submit me for this award, 麻豆精品 S� Giannuzzi says. 麻豆精品 S淚t means a lot to be recognized by such a talented group of individuals. 麻豆精品 S�

The project taught her the value of collaboration and how to work with various teams to produce a viable result 麻豆精品 S� a lesson that will stay with her as she embarks on her career.

麻豆精品 S淚 learned how valuable it is to get to know the people you work with and to identify everyone 麻豆精品 S檚 strengths, 麻豆精品 S� Giannuzzi says. 麻豆精品 S淲e can accomplish so much more together if we utilize each other 麻豆精品 S檚 knowledge and experience. 麻豆精品 S�

After graduation, Giannuzzi plans to work in the aerospace industry with a focus on structural dynamics for aircraft and spacecraft. She says that UCF was always the top choice for her doctoral education due to the location and its reputation for being a partnership university with relationships with aerospace engineering companies.

麻豆精品 S淐onnecting with Dr. Kauffman helped to solidify my plans when I learned about his research focused on structural dynamics and adaptive structures, 麻豆精品 S� Giannuzzi says. 麻豆精品 S淚 don 麻豆精品 S檛 think I could have found a better fit for me in regard to my research interests and the connections that I have made through my research at UCF. 麻豆精品 S�