A new educational partnership between UCF and the U.S. Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) is creating opportunities for research, student training and workforce development in one of the country 麻豆精品 S檚 most specialized scientific fields. The collaboration strengthens critical scientific capabilities, facilitates the sharing of resources and expertise, helps build the radiochemistry talent pipeline and positions UCF at the forefront of nuclear chemistry research that supports national security missions.

麻豆精品 S淭hrough collaborative research projects and summer internships, UCF students gain hands-on experience working alongside federal scientists and access to AFTAC 麻豆精品 S檚 facilities and instrumentation for research supporting national security missions, 麻豆精品 S� says Vasileios Anagnostopoulos, associate professor of chemistry in the UCF College of Sciences and principal investigator of the partnership.

Only a small number of universities nationwide have established this type of relationship with AFTAC, the Department of the Air Force responsible for monitoring nuclear treaty compliance and detecting nuclear events worldwide.

A Nationally Recognized Program

麻豆精品 S淭he fact that we were invited by AFTAC to be one of their official academic partners says a lot about the recognition of our program and the important role chemistry and radiochemistry play in the national security landscape.”

According to Anagnostopoulos 麻豆精品 S� director of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fellowship and UCF principal investigator for the multi-institutional NNSA-funded Consortium for Nuclear Forensics 麻豆精品 S� UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 growing reputation in radiochemistry and analytical chemistry helped distinguish the university as a strong academic partner.

The collaboration also reflects UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 broader role in supporting Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 rapidly growing aerospace, defense and national security ecosystem through research, workforce development and federal partnerships.

麻豆精品 S淥ur radiochemistry program is gaining national recognition through multiple research grants and collaborative proposals, 麻豆精品 S� Anagnostopoulos says. 麻豆精品 S淭he fact that we were invited by AFTAC to be one of their official academic partners says a lot about the recognition of our program and the important role chemistry and radiochemistry play in the national security landscape. 麻豆精品 S�

The partnership builds on UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 advanced research infrastructure, including radiochemistry laboratories, mass spectrometry capabilities and materials characterization resources. Together, these facilities enable researchers to analyze complex nuclear materials and conduct detailed characterization studies for national and international security applications.

麻豆精品 S淲e have cutting-edge facilities and instrumentation for sensitive and precise analysis, 麻豆精品 S� Anagnostopoulos says. 麻豆精品 S淭he combination of radiochemistry, advanced analytical capabilities and access to radioactive materials allows us to address complicated real-world problems and provide technical information that can support our federal partners 麻豆精品 S� missions. 麻豆精品 S�

Unique Opportunities for Students

For students, the partnership opens the door to hands-on experiences rarely available in a traditional academic setting.

Through internships and collaborative research projects, students will work alongside multidisciplinary teams of chemists, engineers and scientists while gaining exposure to federal laboratory environments and national security protocols.

Few universities nationwide offer students direct pathways into operational nuclear security environments, making the partnership a unique training opportunity for UCF students interested in chemistry, national security and federal science careers.

麻豆精品 S淏eyond the technical training, they gain exposure to mission-focused work, interdisciplinary collaboration and communication skills that are essential in federal and defense environments, 麻豆精品 S� Anagnostopoulos says.

Building the Future Workforce

The agreement also addresses a national need for trained experts in radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry, highly specialized disciplines offered at only a limited number of institutions nationwide, Anagnostopoulos says.

As federal agencies and national laboratories work to strengthen expertise in nuclear security, treaty monitoring and advanced nuclear technologies, partnerships like this help ensure a pipeline of future highly skilled scientists is ready to contribute.

麻豆精品 S淭his partnership helps prepare the next generation of scientists while keeping the country at the forefront of nuclear security and global safety, 麻豆精品 S� Anagnostopoulos says.

As the collaboration grows, it 麻豆精品 S檚 expected to expand opportunities for faculty, researchers, and students in other fields, such as big data analytics and cybersecurity, while further establishing UCF as a hub for radiochemistry, defense-related chemistry, and national security research.

In aquatic ecosystems, some species use active sensing systems, emitting echolocation sounds or electric fields to navigate dark or murky waters.

This sensory ability can come with trade-offs. For electric eels and their weakly electric knifefish prey, generating electric fields helps them navigate and hunt, but those same signals can also reveal their location.

In a recent study published in , UCF researchers found that both electric eels and knifefish strategically suppress and resume their electric signals to avoid detection.

The findings provide new insight into how animals balance sensing their surroundings while remaining hidden from predators or prey, a challenge that also appears in technologies such as sonar and radar. This work also expands scientific understanding of how active sensory systems evolve in competitive environments where being detected can mean losing a meal or becoming one.

麻豆精品 S淥ur findings show that active sensing creates a paradox: the same electric signals these animals need to navigate and hunt can also reveal them to eavesdropping predators or prey, 麻豆精品 S� says Professor of Biology William Crampton, who co-led the study with biology doctoral graduate Lok Poon 麻豆精品 S�26PhD. 麻豆精品 S淏oth eels and knifefish appear to resolve this paradox through electric stealth, briefly suppressing their signals when concealment matters, then resuming them when sensing becomes more important. 麻豆精品 S�

Tracking Electric Signals in the Amazon

To test these predator-prey interactions, the researchers deployed six custom-designed electric signal loggers along a 150-meter section of an Amazonian stream. Each logger recorded 60-second segments of electric signals over 27 nights. In total, nearly 107,000 minutes of data were collected.

麻豆精品 S淓lectric fish are ideal for this kind of study because their signals let us monitor their presence and movements electronically, simply by recording how often they pass near submerged electrodes, 麻豆精品 S� Crampton says. 麻豆精品 S淥ur loggers allowed us, for the first time, to monitor predator-prey electric signaling interactions continuously in the wild. 麻豆精品 S�

Researchers then analyzed the recordings to distinguish species by their unique electric signal signatures.

How Eels and Knifefish Use 麻豆精品 S淓lectric Stealth 麻豆精品 S�

“With knifefish, we found that when they detect electric eel signals, some flee while some pulse-type species switch off their own electric discharges for several seconds. “ 麻豆精品 S擶illiam Crampton, professor of biology

麻豆精品 S淲ith knifefish, we found that when they detect electric eel signals, some flee while some pulse-type species switch off their own electric discharges for several seconds, 麻豆精品 S� Crampton says. 麻豆精品 S淚n our logger recordings, a knifefish could be producing its normal train of pulses to sense its environment, then suddenly become electrically silent as soon as eel signals appeared. 麻豆精品 S�

Laboratory tests showed that low-frequency components of electric eel signals play a key role in triggering this response, with knifefish reacting far less when those components were reduced.

Electric eels were also found to pause their low-voltage electrolocation pulses before high-voltage bursts used to probe for or stun prey. This silence would make an approaching eel less detectable to electroreceptive prey such as knifefish. Once the eel produces a high-voltage burst, however, it has revealed its presence, temporarily reducing the benefit of stealth. 聽The eel promptly resumes its regular low-voltage pulses, likely to rapidly relocate, track or capture prey.

麻豆精品 S淭he field recordings revealed these phenomena in the ecological context, 麻豆精品 S� Crampton says. 麻豆精品 S淭he laboratory experiments then allowed us to isolate the eel signal features that trigger knifefish responses. 麻豆精品 S�

Parallels in Nature and Technology

In nature, the only well-studied comparison to this behavior is the predator-prey dynamic between killer whales and their toothed-whale prey.

麻豆精品 S淜iller whales and smaller toothed whales such as beaked whales use echolocation, relying on sound rather than electric signals to sense their surroundings, 麻豆精品 S� Crampton says. 麻豆精品 S淢ammal-eating killer whales can suppress echolocation and calls while hunting, while beaked whales and other prey species may reduce vocal activity or take evasive action when they detect killer whale sounds. The eel-knifefish system shows a remarkably similar trade-off in the electric sense. 麻豆精品 S�

The findings suggest convergent evolutionary pressures favoring the ability of both predators and prey to modulate active-sensing signals to improve survival.

Similar trade-offs also occur in human active-sensing technologies such as sonar and radar. A submarine, for instance, can use active signals to detect its surroundings, but each outgoing ping can also reveal the vessel 麻豆精品 S檚 location.

麻豆精品 S淛ust as we found in electric eels and knifefish, operators of these systems balance the need to gather information with the need to remain hidden, 麻豆精品 S� Crampton says. 麻豆精品 S淚n submarines, that can mean alternating between active sonar and passive listening depending on the situation. 麻豆精品 S�

Electric eels, knifefish, echolocating whales and human operators all face the same challenge: balancing the benefits of active sensing with the risk of detection.

Future Research Applications

Electric fish have long contributed to scientists 麻豆精品 S� understanding of concepts beyond biology, including electricity, nerves and sensing.

麻豆精品 S淓lectric fishes have played an outsized role in the history of biology and physics, 麻豆精品 S� Crampton says. 麻豆精品 S淔or example, their discharges helped shape early research on electricity, including Alessandro Volta 麻豆精品 S檚 invention of the first battery, and their electric organs later became important model tissues for studying acetylcholine receptors 麻豆精品 S� protein channels that help nerves send signals to other cells. 麻豆精品 S�

The new findings build on this legacy, showing how electric fish can reveal principles related to sensing, stealth and decision making. Similar trade-offs shape sonar, radar and autonomous sensing technologies, suggesting that nature’s solutions to stealth and detection may offer insights for future adaptive sensing systems.

麻豆精品 S淭his study shows that active sensing is not just about gathering information, but also about managing the risk of being detected, 麻豆精品 S� Crampton says. 麻豆精品 S淭his opens opportunities for future research, from understanding how other aquatic species respond to electric signals to uncovering whether similar stealth strategies occur in other sensory systems. 麻豆精品 S�

This work was funded by National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program grant 2035702 (L.P.), an American Philosophical Society Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research grant (L.P.), and National Science Foundation grant DEB-1146374 (W.G.R.C.).

While immune systems are well studied in mammals and birds, reptiles 麻豆精品 S� particularly sea turtles 麻豆精品 S� remain less explored, leaving critical gaps in scientific understanding.

New research published in helps address this gap by examining the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a critical group of immune system genes that enables organisms to recognize and fight diseases.

The study, which examined four species 麻豆精品 S� loggerheads, green turtles, Kemp 麻豆精品 S檚 ridleys and leatherbacks 麻豆精品 S� found that most sea turtles maintain high levels of immune gene variation, likely inherited from a common ancestor. However, variation differs across species and different copies of these genes can function in distinct ways.

麻豆精品 S淪ea turtles are an interesting case for studying immune system evolution, 麻豆精品 S� says Katherine Martin 麻豆精品 S�24PhD, an integrative conservation biology alum and postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University who led the study. 麻豆精品 S淭hey live for a long time and encounter many different types of pathogens across multiple habitats. 麻豆精品 S�

How MHC and Genetic Variation Work Together

MHC plays a key role in identifying and flagging pathogens for destruction by the immune system.

麻豆精品 S淢HC is essentially holding a small molecular flag that says to T cells, 麻豆精品 S楾his is the invader that you need to seek and destroy 麻豆精品 S�, 麻豆精品 S� says Martin, who specializes in immune system genetics in sea turtles.

Because pathogens vary widely, immune defenses must also adapt, creating strong evolutionary pressure for variation in MHC genes.

麻豆精品 S淔or each different pathogen, you need a different MHC protein, 麻豆精品 S� Martin says. 麻豆精品 S淵ou can think of it kind of like a lock and key. 麻豆精品 S�

Martin adds that immune gene variation is critical for population health and studying this builds insight on how well a population might respond to disease.

Key Findings and Evolutionary Insights

The study revealed differences in genetic variation across species, with leatherbacks showing lower MHC diversity than others.

麻豆精品 S淥ne of the things that can contribute to low genetic variation is low population size, 麻豆精品 S� Martin says. 麻豆精品 S淲e think this might be the case with leatherbacks. 麻豆精品 S�

Another key finding was the presence of shared genetic variants across species, suggesting deep evolutionary roots.

麻豆精品 S淭he results indicate that shared ancestry is the most likely explanation, 麻豆精品 S� Martin says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat likely underscores their importance and their function. 麻豆精品 S�

Martin also identified balancing selection as a key evolutionary force maintaining immune gene variation.

麻豆精品 S淚nstead of selecting for a single trait, it 麻豆精品 S檚 the variation within that trait that 麻豆精品 S檚 advantageous, 麻豆精品 S� Martin says.

A Comparative Approach Across Species

麻豆精品 S淭he turtle species have different diets, habitats and disease prevalence, and [these samples] provided a useful comparison of the different ways of living that sea turtles have and how that might bear out in patterns of MHC variation.”

To establish a baseline for variations, Martin analyzed MHC genes from more than 300 turtles samples collected through and collaborators, highlighting the shared effort behind large-scale conservation research.

麻豆精品 S淸The turtle species] have different diets, habitats and disease prevalence, 麻豆精品 S� Martin says. 麻豆精品 S淸These samples] provided a useful comparison of the different ways of living that sea turtles have and how that might bear out in patterns of MHC variation. 麻豆精品 S�

Martin extracted DNA from samples across coastal nesting sites, lagoons and offshore waters. She then amplified target genes and sequenced them using next-generation DNA sequencing technology.

麻豆精品 S淚n a single sequencing run, you can analyze multiple individuals all at once, 麻豆精品 S� Martin says. 麻豆精品 S淲e also get high sequencing depth, meaning each bit of DNA is sequenced multiple times. 麻豆精品 S�

This approach improves accuracy, especially for highly variable genes like MHC.

Expanding Studies and Conservation Efforts

Martin plans to expand her research to additional sea turtle populations worldwide rather than just the northwest Atlantic, as well as to reptiles more broadly.

麻豆精品 S淚 really love being able to ask questions about how that variation arises in the first place and what forces maintain it over time, 麻豆精品 S� Martin says.聽聽Understanding immune gene variation has direct applications for conservation strategies, particularly as sea turtles face increasing environmental pressures.

麻豆精品 S淚f we protect the habitats these sea turtles rely on, we can bolster population sizes and, in turn, maintain genetic variation across all genes, 麻豆精品 S� Martin says.

While advanced interventions such as gene editing may be possible in the future, Martin emphasizes that habitat protection remains the most practical and effective approach.

麻豆精品 S淭he most effective solution is public advocacy for [protection of] the natural world, 麻豆精品 S� Martin says.

Funding and support for this research was provided in part by the Sea Turtle Grants Program funded from the proceeds of the Florida Sea Turtle License Plate, the Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research Program, the NOAA Oil Spill Supplemental Spend Plan, the Florida RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Program administered through the Florida Institute of Oceanography and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Turtle handling conducted as part of permitted research (FL-MTP-225, FL-MTP-231, NMFS 19508, and predecessors).

This project was paid for in part with federal funding from the Department of the Treasury under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act). The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Treasury.

On how the ocean changed him:

I 麻豆精品 S檝e never been as calm as I’ve been since returning to land. I 麻豆精品 S檓 a kind of restless person in general, somewhat impulsive in certain contexts. I always feel the need to do something, another adventure in nature. I have this fire in me that just makes me adventurous. But I think the success of the crossing, including the three years of preparation, gave me a lot of confidence. And with confidence, I think came the calmness of knowing I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 need to prove anything to anyone anymore.

World Ocean Day is June 8.

On UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 influence in pursuing his dreams:

It was once a dream of mine to leave my home country and do research with NASA. Coming to UCF, I realized that dream. Maybe at one point I wouldn’t have been able to think rowing an ocean was possible, but achieving my dream at UCF gave me the courage to try.

On the role a common goal can have in a team 麻豆精品 S檚 viability:

Our ultimate goal was to cross the ocean such that we would be willing and able to do it again in the next few years with the same team. This is the first time I am admitting out loud, I think we failed at that 麻豆精品 S� none of us wishes to row an ocean again, nor are we planning another adventure with the same team.

So, though I have to admit we didn 麻豆精品 S檛 succeed in the ultimate holistic goal that we had, I think our crossing in general was quite successful. What I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 understand going into this was how strongly a common goal can influence your ability to withstand stress, interpersonal stress or annoyances from other team members. Everyone in this team had to work properly for us to be able to complete the goal. So even though we had that interpersonal tension and occasional conflicts, because of the salience of the shared goal, we were able to work through it.

On the breathtaking force of mother nature:

The ocean is so vast and so powerful. You 麻豆精品 S檙e nothing. We felt that the most when we had a school of whales approaching us from the stern. We saw them breaching, and then one whale swam under our boat, and we saw that it was longer than our boat, like 30 feet at least. It could have just pushed our boat over and do whatever it wanted with us. We had no power whatsoever.

And I really enjoyed the storms. During the last week we had such a strong wind coming from behind, with rain falling literally horizontally. It hurts when it hits you. The rain comes on so strong. And then the wind was so strong that it just pushed our boat. We usually did like 3 knots on our own, but the speed at that moment was 7 knots without rowing. We raised our oars and they became sails basically. We felt how the wind pushed through our oars. You 麻豆精品 S檙e just experiencing this unbelievable power of nature. It was amazing.

On his new motto 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S淒on 麻豆精品 S檛 fight with the ocean 麻豆精品 S�:

Just don 麻豆精品 S檛 fight with the ocean because you can 麻豆精品 S檛 win. There is no point. Just let things be, let them go. I think this was one of the things that I really took back with me from the experience. I can apply this anywhere. Like at the workplace, if we have colleagues who are difficult to deal with, you can’t change them. You can 麻豆精品 S檛 fight with the ocean. You can only change your own reactions and thoughts.

On halfway home still being a far way to go:

After we crossed the halfway point, it became more difficult. You would expect that maybe it gets easier because, oh, half is done, only half more to go, but only half more is still 20 days. It 麻豆精品 S檚 three more weeks. It 麻豆精品 S檚 still a lot of time to be thinking about, What do you want do when you finish? What do you want to eat? What are you going to do when you get back home? I think we as a team mentally got to the finish too fast. We really had to take a step back and remind ourselves to take it two hours at a time.

On the feeling of seeing land for the first time after 39 days:

We arrived at sunrise. When the light appeared and we saw those cliffs, it 麻豆精品 S檚 just something so overwhelming and unique, this feeling of, 麻豆精品 S業t 麻豆精品 S檚 over. It’s done 麻豆精品 S� 40 days of suffering basically has ended. 麻豆精品 S� As we entered the harbor, we saw our family and friends were up there on the cliff, waving the flags and then the finish flare going off. It was the high point, definitely.

On how the experience gave insight into his research on teams in extreme, isolated and confined environments:

I think one of the main takeaways that I got from this project was really that preparation is everything. Everyone externally was focusing on the mission, the row, because of course that 麻豆精品 S檚 the exciting part. For us, completing the row was the goal, but it 麻豆精品 S檚 the smallest piece of the whole project. The three years of preparation and those difficulties that we had, this was much more important.

So now for my research, I 麻豆精品 S檓 thinking, we 麻豆精品 S檙e always focusing on the part or the actual mission. It 麻豆精品 S檚 not necessarily irrelevant, but the mission is the outcome. The input that we should study is before the mission, the preparations. So that informs my future research quite a bit.

On what 麻豆精品 S檚 next:

I graduate in the summer. Days before we started the race, I accepted a job offer, which was a relief. I was prepared to take job interviews on the boat. I 麻豆精品 S檓聽starting as聽an assistant聽professor of industrial/organizational psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey in August.

I realized that I don 麻豆精品 S檛 like this type of several-weeks-endurance events, it 麻豆精品 S檚 too monotonous, too dull. I was thinking that my next big thing would be skiing across Greenland, which is more than a month as well. But now, no, thank you. There 麻豆精品 S檚 not enough variability, or excitement, for me. I love mountaineering, summiting a mountain in a few days. I just bought new mountain boots, so I think this will be my next thing.

Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 coastlines are changing, and so are the fish that depend on them.

As rising temperatures push tropical species northward and mangrove habitats expand into areas historically dominated by salt marshes, scientists are racing to understand how these shifts could affect marine food webs and long-term ecosystem stability.

Meredith Pratt, a UCF integrative and conservation biology doctoral student, is helping answer those questions. Her research on sustainable fisheries management along Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 east coast earned her the prestigious Florida Sea Grant/Guy Harvey Fellowship. The highly competitive award supports graduate students conducting research that informs marine conservation and fisheries management while cultivating future leaders in marine science.

Tracking a Changing Ecosystem

Pratt studies how tropicalization 麻豆精品 S� the northward movement of tropical species and habitats 麻豆精品 S� is altering Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 coastal ecosystems.

“As temperatures rise, mangroves, traditionally found in warmer, tropical regions, are expanding northward into areas historically dominated by salt marshes, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭his shift is influencing the species that live there. 麻豆精品 S�

To understand these changes, Pratt and her team study fish communities along Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 east coast. One fellowship-supported project focuses on predator-prey dynamics among popular sport fish, including common snook, red drum and spotted sea trout.

“The most interesting result so far is that the same fish species are eating different things, … and that raises important questions about how continued mangrove expansion could impact the ecosystem in the long term. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淭he most interesting result so far is that the same fish species are eating different things depending on whether they inhabit traditional salt marshes or increasingly dominant mangrove environments, 麻豆精品 S� Pratt says. 麻豆精品 S淲hile most species primarily feed on shrimp, common snook tend to consume more fish, and that raises important questions about how continued mangrove expansion could impact the ecosystem in the long term. 麻豆精品 S�

These findings were supported through lab gut analysis of fish samples collected in the field using seine nets to determine stomach contents. Because digestion can make some prey difficult to identify, Pratt also used stable isotope analysis, which provides insight into a fish 麻豆精品 S檚position in the food web based on chemical signatures in its tissue.

麻豆精品 S淕ut content analysis shows us exactly what a fish recently ate, while stable isotopes give us a longer-term picture of its diet, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淭ogether, they allow us to answer questions we couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 with just one method alone. 麻豆精品 S�

Guiding Future Fisheries Management

The research is both environmentally and economically important to Florida. As one of the world 麻豆精品 S檚 premier fishing destinations, the state depends on healthy coastal ecosystems and fish populations to support its recreational and commercial fisheries.

麻豆精品 S淢any of the fish we rely on start in estuaries and coastal environments, 麻豆精品 S� Pratt says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey grow in protected areas like mangroves and salt marshes before moving offshore. If we don 麻豆精品 S檛 understand how those habitats are changing, we can 麻豆精品 S檛 effectively manage the fisheries that depend on them. 麻豆精品 S�

Connecting Science and Community

Pratt is also expanding the impact of her research beyond the lab. Through her National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship, she launched the Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) Fisheries Monitoring Program at the GTM National Estuarine Research Reserve.

“Getting people involved and helping them understand the importance of this work makes a big difference.”

The volunteer-driven initiative trains community members to collect fisheries data at designated sites, including species identification, abundance and size measurements. With nearly 20 volunteers participating, the program provides valuable long-term data while increasing public involvement in scientific research.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 been one of the most rewarding parts of my Ph.D., 麻豆精品 S� Pratt says. 麻豆精品 S淕etting people involved and helping them understand the importance of this work makes a big difference. 麻豆精品 S�

A Full Circle Moment

For Pratt, earning the Florida Sea Grant/Guy Harvey Fellowship was a full-circle moment. As an undergraduate, she completed many of her classes and research experiences at the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center at Nova Southeastern University. Now, funding from Florida Sea Grant and the Guy Harvey Foundation is helping advance her research while providing professional development opportunities in science communication.

麻豆精品 S淭his fellowship not only supports my research but also allows me to connect with other scientists, stakeholders and the public, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淪haring our findings and contributing to science communication is a really meaningful part of the experience. 麻豆精品 S�

Looking ahead, Pratt hopes her work will support more informed decision-making around fisheries management and conservation.

麻豆精品 S淐onservation requires research and education working together, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚f we can understand what 麻豆精品 S檚 happening and communicate that effectively, we can make better decisions to protect these ecosystems for future generations. 麻豆精品 S�

This year 麻豆精品 S檚 tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three nations 麻豆精品 S� United States, Canada and Mexico 麻豆精品 S� and the first to include an expanded field of 48 teams from across the globe. Eleven U.S. cities will host 78 matches June 11 麻豆精品 S� July 19, including the championship match in New York and third place playoff in Miami.

This historic event coincides with the United States 麻豆精品 S� 250th anniversary聽and marks the first time since 1994 the country has hosted the men 麻豆精品 S檚 World Cup.

Here 麻豆精品 S檚聽a look at some of the Knights bringing this event to life.

Izzy Angel 麻豆精品 S�23

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听丑耻尘补苍听肠辞尘尘耻苍颈肠补迟颈辞苍

Role:听惭别诲颈补听辞辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉听补苍诲听蝉别谤惫颈肠别蝉
FIFA location: Atlanta

I will be supporting media logistics, guiding photographers and press to designated areas, and facilitating press conferences and interviews. One of the biggest ways UCF prepared me for this opportunity was through its emphasis on networking, collaboration and real-world experience. That mindset opened doors to internships, jobs and experiences that helped me gain confidence in putting myself out there and connecting with people.

It 麻豆精品 S檚 been really fulfilling to meet people with completely different backgrounds and life experiences who are all coming together over a shared passion. Being part of something on such a global scale and feeling that sense of community has been incredibly special.

Brendon Boseja 麻豆精品 S�25

Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in聽integrated聽business

Role:聽Senior聽coordinator,聽Client Group Management聽Accreditation
FIFA site: Miami

At UCF, I learned to network and make many connections in the industry and to continue these relationships. This has especially helped me throughout FIFA, especially since my main job is to communicate with every stadium involved in the tournament. Working for a sports organization as big as FIFA has been a dream of mine, and to be involved with an event like the World Cup is surreal to think about.

Taylor Culver 麻豆精品 S�23 麻豆精品 S�26MSBM 麻豆精品 S�26MBA

Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in kinesiology
惭补蝉迟别谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听蝉辫辞谤迟听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉听尘补苍补驳别尘别苍迟
Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in business administration

Role:聽Event聽executive, FIFA Fan Festival
FIFA site: Houston

麻豆精品 S淏ecause of the connections, mentorship and opportunities I gained through UCF, these experiences expanded my confidence and showed me that I truly belong in this industry. 麻豆精品 S�

My role is to help create and execute large-scale fan experiences that bring the energy of the World Cup to life outside of the stadium. Being able to contribute to an event of this magnitude is both humbling and motivating, and I know it will be one of the most impactful experiences of my career. UCF prepared me for this opportunity by putting me in real-world sports environments early and constantly challenging me to grow as a leader. Through the program and my experience as a recruiting assistant for UCF Athletics with the football team, I learned how to operate in fast-paced environments where organization, communication and adaptability are critical. Because of the connections, mentorship and opportunities I gained through UCF, these experiences expanded my confidence and showed me that I truly belong in this industry.

Daniel Garzon 麻豆精品 S�23 麻豆精品 S�24MSBM 麻豆精品 S�24MBA

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听别濒别尘别苍迟补谤测听别诲耻肠补迟颈辞苍
惭补蝉迟别谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听蝉辫辞谤迟听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉听尘补苍补驳别尘别苍迟
Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in business聽administration

Role:聽Workforce聽integration聽senior聽coordinator,聽Tournament Operation Center Services
FIFA site:聽Miami

I started my journey at FIFA as an intern with the volunteer management team shortly after graduating from the DeVos Sport Business Management program in 2024. As a recruitment coordinator, I spearheaded communications and recruitment strategy while sourcing and scheduling thousands of candidates. Now in my new role, I will be in the heartbeat of the headquarters of the tournament, fulfilling operational needs for all departments while manipulating data to make informed decisions for all the venues during the World Cup.

Risako Karasawa 麻豆精品 S�21

Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in entertainment management
Graduate student majoring in sport business management

Role: VIP Tour Coordinator/Translator
FIFA site:聽Dallas

I serve as the primary point of contact for a VIP delegation from Japan. My responsibilities include coordinating transportation and logistics, providing interpretation and translation support, and ensuring a seamless experience throughout the visit. Combining my passions for sports, entertainment and hospitality, this opportunity feels like the perfect intersection of everything I love. Through both the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and the DeVos Sport Business Management Program, I have gained practical experience through hands-on opportunities working with professionals across the industries in event planning, guest experience, sponsorship and stakeholder management that prepared me for this incredibly exciting opportunity.

William Mendez 麻豆精品 S�26MSBM 麻豆精品 S�26MBA

惭补蝉迟别谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听蝉辫辞谤迟听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉听尘补苍补驳别尘别苍迟
Master 麻豆精品 S檚 in business聽administration

Role: Team protocol liaison officer
FIFA site:聽Miami

I will provide operational support as a main point of contact for the teams 麻豆精品 S� protocol representatives, managing VIP/VVIP seating, ticket distribution and logistics. I 麻豆精品 S檓 truly excited to be part of an event of this magnitude because FIFA 麻豆精品 S�26 goes beyond sports by bringing people together across cultures from all over the world. 麻豆精品 S疶he DeVos Sport Business Management program at UCF has played a major role in preparing me for this moment, giving me the hands-on experience and confidence I need to contribute to an event of this scale.

Colin O 麻豆精品 S橳oole 麻豆精品 S�26MSBM 麻豆精品 S�26MBA

惭补蝉迟别谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听蝉辫辞谤迟听产耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉听尘补苍补驳别尘别苍迟
Master 麻豆精品 S檚聽in business聽administration

Role: Accreditation center coordinator
FIFA site:聽Boston

I grew up watching the World Cup and always dreamed of being part of the most watched sporting event in the world. My experience in the soccer industry through both professional and volunteer roles gave me a strong foundation, and the DeVos program broadened my perspective. It exposed me to the business side of the industry, while simultaneously connecting me with incredible mentors and peers, ultimately giving me the confidence and network to land this opportunity with FIFA.

Connor Pank 麻豆精品 S�17

Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in聽management

Role:听罢别补尘听蝉别谤惫颈肠别蝉听惫别苍耻别听辞蹿蹿颈肠别谤
FIFA site: Tampa, Florida

The sport business management minor at UCF offered plenty of opportunities to gain practical experience in the industry. My junior year, I was fortunate enough to land a season-long internship at Orlando City Soccer Club in the game day operations department, which then turned into a full-time position with seven amazing seasons of constant growth and experiences that I am forever grateful 麻豆精品 S痜or.

Being involved in a FIFA World Cup has been a personal goal of mine since my early days with Orlando City SC, when we hosted a U.S. Soccer vs.聽Panama World Cup Qualifier聽ahead of the聽2018 FIFA World Cup.聽Every team聽participating聽in the World Cup chooses a designated home base,聽which includes the team hotel, training聽site聽and other operational support facilities as needed. My role is centered around acting as FIFA 麻豆精品 S檚 primary operational lead on-site for Cabo Verde 麻豆精品 S檚 home base in Tampa to ensure a seamless, world-class experience.

Annie Quaile 麻豆精品 S�06

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听尘补谤办别迟颈苍驳

Role:聽Venue聽manager,聽FIFA Fan Festival
FIFA site: Atlanta

I act as the bridge between FIFA, Atlanta and the commercial and operational partners delivering the Fan Festival experience. My role focuses on coordinating event聽logistics, operations, guest experience, VIP and talent management, and partner integration while ensuring FIFA brand standards are upheld throughout the event.

One of the biggest takeaways from my experience at UCF was learning how to balance creativity,聽leadership聽and problem-solving under pressure, which is聽essentially the聽foundation of live event and operational management.聽The FIFA World Cup is one of the few truly global experiences that brings together people from every background,聽culture聽and country around a shared passion.聽All of聽the planning, coordination and operational work happens behind the scenes for months, so finally seeing people from around the world聽gathering together, celebrating and creating memories is incredibly rewarding.

Andres Sifontes 麻豆精品 S�24

Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in communication

Role:聽Coordinator, Accreditation Documentation and Training Operations
FIFA site: Houston

I joined the FIFA team in September 2024, supporting preparations for both Club World Cup 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2026. In my role now, I oversee Accreditation Center operations in Houston, assist volunteers, and ensure that key stakeholders 麻豆精品 S� including partners like Coca-Cola, Adidas and Visa 麻豆精品 S� receive proper credentials. UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 communication program, and especially my聽Communication Research Methods听笔谤辞蹿别蝉蝉辞谤 , equipped me with the tools I continue to apply every day in my role at FIFA by teaching me how to communicate effectively, carry myself professionally, and think strategically.

Since graduating, my goal has been to contribute to the growth of soccer in the United States. This passion has always been part of who I am, and UCF helped me build the foundation to pursue it professionally. After graduation, I worked with Inter Miami CF, and now with FIFA, I 麻豆精品 S檝e been fortunate to play a role in supporting the continued development of the sport. I truly believe we are about to witness unprecedented growth for the game in this country. I hope that at the end of my career, I can look back and say I contributed to that growth 麻豆精品 S� and that it all started at UCF.

Dennis Sprenkle 麻豆精品 S�01

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听辫辞濒颈迟颈肠补濒听蝉肠颈别苍肠别

Role:聽Director of聽workforce聽and聽human聽resources
FIFA site:听惭颈补尘颈

My team oversees the employee journey from recruitment to offboarding across the three host countries (Canada, Mexico and the U.S.) and 16 host cities. We are responsible for everything from workforce planning, training, visa management, benefits, payroll, employee uniforms and just about every other aspect of human resources.

I have always had a keen interest in global political and business affairs, which is why I studied political science with an emphasis on international relations at UCF. Working for a governing body like FIFA in many respects is akin to working for the United Nations. 麻豆精品 S� In order to be a successful leader in a global organization like FIFA, it is critical to have an open mind to effectively collaborate, plan and execute the largest sporting event in human history. My education and experience at UCF as a leader in Student Government certainly laid the foundation and has helped prepare me for this opportunity.

Ryan Taheri 麻豆精品 S�24

叠补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚听颈苍听蹿颈苍补苍肠别

Role:听奥辞谤办蹿辞谤肠别听辞辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉听尘补苍补驳别谤
FIFA site: Dallas

I grew up watching the World Cup with my family. Now, I occasionally stop for a second and realize how special it all is to be working behind the scenes on the operational side of the tournament. A big part of what I do in my role is coordinate with different functional areas like transportation, catering, accommodations, uniforms and venue operations to ensure the workforce is supported and operations run smoothly.

麻豆精品 S淯CF pushed me into leadership opportunities early and taught me how to work in fast-paced environments with a lot of moving parts. 麻豆精品 S�

A lot of the role comes down to staying organized, communicating clearly and solving problems quickly. UCF pushed me into leadership opportunities early and taught me how to work in fast-paced environments with a lot of moving parts. Looking back now, I don 麻豆精品 S檛 think I realized at the time how much of my experience at UCF directly prepared me for working on something as large and complex as a 麻豆精品 S疐IFA 麻豆精品 S�26.

Alejandro Tarazona 麻豆精品 S�22

Bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 in integrated business

Role:听惭补苍补驳别谤,听罢谤补颈苍颈苍驳听厂颈迟别听痴别苍耻别听罢谤补苍蝉辫辞谤迟
FIFA site: Miami

I 麻豆精品 S痮versee transportation operations and 麻豆精品 S痩ogistics 麻豆精品 S痑t all 75 training sites across U.S., Canada and Mexico 麻豆精品 S� including shuttles, loading zones, team busses and their fleets, and parking lots for media, volunteers and guests. I grew up in Lake Nona and had an opportunity to play collegiate soccer at a Division II school in Florida, but financially, it just didn 麻豆精品 S檛 make sense for my family and me. Instead I enrolled at Valencia College and earned my degree through the .

UCF gave me the technical skills I needed for my managerial position now, like creating financial analysis for labor rates across 16 stadiums that 麻豆精品 S痺e 麻豆精品 S檒l 麻豆精品 S痓e using in U.S., Canada and Mexico. As a former soccer player and as someone 麻豆精品 S痺ho is 麻豆精品 S痮bsessed with the sport, working for one of the biggest and best sports organization in the world has been a lifelong goal. 麻豆精品 S疶his experience has taught me to consider redefining what 麻豆精品 S檚 possible and keep setting goals.

Tomas Upegui 麻豆精品 S�22

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Role:听贵濒别别迟听辞辫别谤补迟颈辞苍蝉听补苍补濒测蝉迟
FIFA site: Miami

Growing up playing soccer, being involved with FIFA in any capacity is something I never imagined would become reality, especially this early in my career. I am supporting transportation and depot operations across all 16 host cities, contributing to transportation operations involving VIPs and trophy movements. Studying business taught me how to work efficiently in fast-paced environments and quickly adapt while balancing multiple responsibilities at once, which directly translates to my role.

One of the most exciting parts of this experience has been realizing the true scale of the FIFA World Cup and seeing firsthand how much coordination happens behind the scenes to make an event of this magnitude successful.

A newly published study聽in聽聽is taking a broader look at how societies have organized power across history, combining archaeological and historical evidence to better understand governance over time.

Coauthor Sarah 麻豆精品 S淪tacy 麻豆精品 S� Barber, professor and associate chair for UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 , says the project was driven in part by the growing availability of archaeological data and a need to think more expansively about human history.

麻豆精品 S淎rchaeology has been a scientific area of study for about a century, so we now have 100 years of聽aggregate聽data about ancient societies, 麻豆精品 S� Barber says.

She explains that many past societies are often excluded from research because they did not leave behind written records聽the way most European, South聽Asian聽and East Asian聽societies聽did.聽Incorporating聽archaeological聽evidence聽ensures that the interpretation of ancient governance is not limited to societies聽with written聽history but聽instead allows for the聽reflection聽of an array of human experience.

麻豆精品 S淲hen we forget about huge swaths of our past, we are weakening our ability to make decisions in the present, so anything that broadens our knowledge of how people can be people is a good thing, 麻豆精品 S� Barber says. 麻豆精品 S淚t opens paths to other options that may be more sustainable or more just in the future. 麻豆精品 S�

Challenging Assumptions About Power

One of the study 麻豆精品 S檚 key findings聽challenges聽the assumption聽that聽population size聽determines聽how power is organized.

Although very densely populated societies are more likely to align with聽an autocracy 麻豆精品 S斅爋ne person聽ruling聽with聽absolute power聽 麻豆精品 S斅燘arber says the study found there are other options for managing large populations that do not require autocratic governance.

Instead, access to resources and funding play a聽more聽critical role in shaping governance structures.

麻豆精品 S淲hen the governing entities are relying on funding that comes from taxation and the general population, the population is going to have more influence in governing decisions,聽and leaders are constrained in how they can decide to use those resources, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

The study also points to a connection between governance and聽potential for聽imbalance.

麻豆精品 S淭he聽less聽your governing regime has聽to聽answer to聽the populace, the more your governing regime can amass wealth for its own interests as opposed to the interests of everyone, 麻豆精品 S澛燘arber聽says.

Expanding the Definition of Governance

The study approaches governance as a spectrum rather than a set of fixed categories, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of how societies function聽and the wide range of ways that humans organize themselves.聽To analyze governance across societies, the research team developed an index focused on two key factors: how concentrated power is and how聽much of the population is involved in decision making.

“We聽broke it down in terms of聽how many individuals or entities were involved in making decisions for a general population, and what proportion of the population was involved or had a voice in governing decisions, 麻豆精品 S� Barber says.

Looking Ahead

Barber聽says the team 麻豆精品 S檚 plans for future research聽could聽expand the number of cases studied to聽determine聽whether findings shift as more societies from聽additional聽world regions are included.

More broadly,聽she聽says the work creates space for scholars to revisit fundamental ideas about governance.

麻豆精品 S淭his research offers opportunities for scholars across the social sciences to reconsider what we mean by 麻豆精品 S榙emocracy 麻豆精品 S� and to try and refine our understanding of how聽different aspects聽of governance affect the well-being of everyday citizens, 麻豆精品 S� she says.聽“We have the choice to reframe the way we live and redirect our futures, if we as a society deem it necessary. The future is not inevitable, and history shows us that.”

The funding for this project was provided to the project leads by The Coalition for Archaeological Synthesis, the Amerind Foundation, and the Field Museum of Natural History provided the funds to hold two workshops at the Amerind Foundation in Dragoon, Arizona. Publication support was provided to co-author David Stasavage by Arts & Science at New York University.

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 went on to represent the county admirably at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, where they took home several prizes against more than 1,700 high schoolers from around the globe.

Most notably, Santra took home first place and $6,000 in the Plant Sciences category and received the EU Contest for Young Scientists Award. She will represent Regeneron ISEF at the EU Contest for Young Scientists to be held this September in Kiel, Germany.

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� says Calvo-Chumbimuni, who earned fourth place ISEF’s biochemistry category this year. 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.

Both presented 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� while Das made his first time at the competition memorable with his fourth-place finish in the engineering technology: statics and dynamics category.

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�

The study, led by UCF , identifies hydrazinoacetic acid as a key building block in the production of N-nitroglycine, a rare compound that offers new insight into how living systems carry out sophisticated chemical processes.These processes could be used to create safer and more efficient chemical reactions across manufacturing, healthcare and more. The research has been accepted for publication in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology and was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the Graham Laboratory at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Zdilla Laboratory at Temple University.

麻豆精品 S淓nzymes 麻豆精品 S� or bacteria, more broadly 麻豆精品 S� are capable of generating many interesting types of molecules, including ones we would think are explosive, 麻豆精品 S� Caranto says. 麻豆精品 S淲e don 麻豆精品 S檛 know why they 麻豆精品 S檙e making them, but it 麻豆精品 S檚 fairly interesting that they do. 麻豆精品 S�

While compounds like nitramines are often associated with industrial and energetic applications, their role in biology remains poorly understood. By identifying hydrazinoacetic acid as a key precursor to N-nitroglycine, the team begins to explain how bacteria construct these unusual nitrogen-rich molecules 麻豆精品 S� and what those pathways may tell scientists about chemistry in living systems.

Why It Matters

Understanding how bacteria produce nitrogen-rich compounds could have implications across multiple fields, from industrial chemistry to medicine. Traditional methods for synthesizing these compounds often require energy-intensive processes or hazardous materials. Biological systems, by contrast, operate under milder conditions and could offer a blueprint for alternative production methods.

麻豆精品 S淐urrently, the way these compounds are made requires a lot of very corrosive, hazardous and environmentally detrimental materials, having a bacterium make it instead would present a lot of advantages in terms of eliminating waste. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Jonathan Caranto, associate professor of chemistry, UCF College of Sciences

麻豆精品 S淐urrently, the way these compounds are made requires a lot of very corrosive, hazardous and environmentally detrimental materials, 麻豆精品 S� Caranto says. 麻豆精品 S淗aving a bacterium make it instead would present a lot of advantages in terms of eliminating waste. 麻豆精品 S�

At the same time, the discovery opens new avenues for studying how these molecules function in biological systems, including potential applications in drug development and enzyme engineering.

Uncovering Nature 麻豆精品 S檚 Hidden Chemistry

At the center of the discovery is hydrazinoacetic acid, a small but highly reactive molecule that functions as a precursor, or starting material, in the bacterial synthesis of N-nitroglycine. By identifying its role, researchers were able to map a previously unknown biosynthetic pathway, showing insight into how bacteria construct these compounds. For postdoctoral scholar Ben Rathman, the discovery highlights how much remains unknown about these molecules.

麻豆精品 S淭he biological role of these compounds is not really well understood, 麻豆精品 S� Rathman says. 麻豆精品 S淲e have a lot to learn from nature, and that 麻豆精品 S檚 where my interest in the project lies. 麻豆精品 S�

That uncertainty is central to the work. While these compounds have been studied in synthetic contexts for decades, their presence in biology raises new questions about how and why organisms produce them.

A Paradox in Biology

Part of what makes the finding compelling is the tension between how these molecules are typically understood and how they behave in living systems.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 one of those things where, at first, you might say this shouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 be a biomolecule, 麻豆精品 S� chemistry doctoral student Gabriel Padilla 麻豆精品 S�17 says. 麻豆精品 S淭hese types of functional groups are usually associated with energetics, but here they 麻豆精品 S檙e produced by living systems. 麻豆精品 S�

Rather than behaving like traditional energetic materials, the compounds studied do not detonate under normal conditions. Instead, they appear to exist as stable intermediates within biological systems, suggesting they may serve entirely different functions.聽 In addition, most hydrazines are regarded as highly toxic.

For Caranto, this reflects a broader theme in the research.

麻豆精品 S淥ne insight from our work is that life is pretty remarkable in how it can safely and productively use molecules that would otherwise be toxic, 麻豆精品 S� he says.

For the team, the work represents an early step in a much larger effort to understand the role these compounds play in nature.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e really interested in why bacteria make these nitramines, 麻豆精品 S� Caranto says. 麻豆精品 S淭his is the first step on a much longer road toward understanding that. 麻豆精品 S�

Work in the Caranto and Graham labs was supported by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) projects WP24-4206 and WP2332, respectively. Work of the Caranto lab was also supported by the National Institutes of Health (R35GM147515).Work from the Zdilla lab was supported by an NSF (CHE-2215854). and the Office of Naval Research (N00014-22-1-2266).

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.