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

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

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

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

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

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

Building the Digital Twin

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

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

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

�鶹��Ʒ S�Reliable communication is essential for future systems such as drones, emergency response UAVs and urban air taxis. �鶹��Ʒ S� �鶹��Ʒ S� Saumya Gupta, postdoctoral researcher

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

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

Strengthening Industry-Academic Partnerships

NASA �鶹��Ʒ S�s MUREP program aims to broaden participation in aerospace research while strengthening partnerships between universities and NASA centers.

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

�鶹��Ʒ S�We plan to expand student involvement as the project progresses, �鶹��Ʒ S� Gupta says. �鶹��Ʒ S�We also look forward to engaging with NASA researchers to provide mentorship and collaborative learning opportunities. �鶹��Ʒ S�

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

This material is based upon work supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Partnership Learning Annual Notification (MPLAN) program. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASA. 

The work, �鶹��Ʒ S�Grand Challenges in Industrial and Systems Engineering, �鶹��Ʒ S� shares a set of eight key areas in which the profession can make significant contributions to society. A concept that originated from the grand challenges introduced by the National Academy of Engineering a decade ago, the idea to put forth a similar effort focused on industrial engineering was introduced by Pegasus Professor Waldemar Karwowski, chair of the UCF Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, and University Distinguished Professor Gavriel Salvendy.

A global team of 18 authors from three continents and five countries, including the U.S., China, France, India and South Korea, contributed to the work, representing expertise in areas such as manufacturing, logistics and healthcare. Despite the monumental task at hand, the team �鶹��Ʒ S�s collaborative effort in synthesizing their ideas into eight areas took just over a year in the making.

Karwowski says that the profession is ideally suited to play a pivotal role in addressing the world �鶹��Ʒ S�s most pressing economic, environmental, sustainability and health and well-being issues.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Scientific and engineering expertise requires a deep understanding of social and human factors to design systems that improve efficiency and productivity, enhance resilience and safety, and promote sustainability in the future age of pervasive artificial intelligence (AI), �鶹��Ʒ S� Karwowski says.

He adds that the discipline must evolve to remain relevant and practical in the 21st century by integrating systems thinking, AI capabilities and real-world problem solving into education and practice.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Our discipline faces unprecedented challenges in an era of exponential technological growth and increasing system complexity, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�The profession can play a crucial role in addressing complex economic, health, environmental and sustainability challenges facing contemporary society. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Karwowski served as a keynote speaker at this summer �鶹��Ʒ S�s North American Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management hosted by UCF, where he shared the grand challenges with attendees:

• AI for Business and Personal Use
  This area leverages AI technology in decision-making and system design operations. It recognizes AI �鶹��Ʒ S�s revolutionary impact on society, as the internet has done in the past.

• Cybersecurity and Resilience
  The need to protect critical infrastructure and information, while ensuring the capability for system recovery, is the focus of this challenge. Systems engineering tools can identify risks, protect systems and design resilient infrastructures.

• Sustainability: Environment, Energy and Infrastructure
  The profession must create optimization models to use resources that balance environmental protection with economic development. Solutions can be developed using a systems perspective by studying the relationships with humans, organizations and the natural environment.

• Health Issues
  Through process optimization and technology integration, the profession can significantly enhance healthcare delivery systems by creating systems that improve patient care and reduce costs.

• Sociotechnical Issues
  A collaborative approach to problem solving that uses systems thinking, a method that examines problems by studying relationships, can help address sociotechnical issues to build resilient communities.

• Logistics and Supply Chain
  Improving global distribution networks through logistics and supply chain management can address global disruptions, resource scarcity and changes in consumer demand.

• System Integration: Humans, Automation and AI
  By developing frameworks that allow humans and technology to work together, systems and operations can work seamlessly while also mitigating risks like trust, transparency and skill development of humans and machines.

• Industrial and Systems Engineering Education
  The profession plays a critical role in preparing future engineers for interdisciplinary collaboration. This includes curriculum development, integrating large language models into problem solving and combining operations research with machine learning and AI models.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Our discipline has been changing following developments in technology and the widespread use of AI, �鶹��Ʒ S� Karwowski says. �鶹��Ʒ S�In all these challenges, the use of AI is mentioned in one way or another. The world is rapidly changing and technology is changing the field of industrial engineering. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Their work is already gaining traction in the field. Karwowski says the paper received more than 7,500 views in just five months. It has been cited in three works so far, much more quickly than the typical year it takes for many papers to receive a single citation, signaling a burgeoning interest from researchers.

The team is making a concerted effort to share the grand challenges with the profession. Karwowski has shared the paper with his colleagues at other universities, where it was well accepted. One of the paper �鶹��Ʒ S�s authors, Laura Albert, department chair of industrial and systems engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discussed the paper in her blog and as a podcast guest.

In addition, Karwowski was invited to present the paper to the industry advisory board for the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. The presentation was well received and he left with an important request from the board to serve as the next step in sharing the grand challenges: to develop a customized version of the paper specific to industry.

�鶹��Ʒ S�I think this paper will definitely help our profession to understand what research we should be doing in the future and how should we adopt our educational programs to be able to do the research that is needed to be able to implement its results for the benefit of people everywhere, for the benefit of humankind, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says.

Unlike a typical scholarship that only covers the cost of tuition and fees, the SMART scholarship also provides an annual stipend, a summer internship, an experienced mentor and guaranteed employment with the DOD after graduation.

The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing STEM degrees who can commit to one year of employment with the DOD upon graduation. The goal is to develop a talent pipeline of technically proficient professionals who can meet the nation �鶹��Ʒ S�s security needs.

Carlos Arteaga

M.S. in civil engineering

For Arteaga, applying for the DOD SMART Scholarship program was a no-brainer. He already works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a geotechnical engineer and plans to use his time in the program to develop as a professional within that agency. He says this program stood out because it aligned perfectly with his values of technical excellence, service to country and long-term impact.

�鶹��Ʒ S�I was drawn to the program �鶹��Ʒ S�s integration of academic advancement with real-world application, especially within the DOD �鶹��Ʒ S�s infrastructure and research divisions, �鶹��Ʒ S� Arteaga says. �鶹��Ʒ S�The opportunity to contribute to national security while deepening my expertise in structural and geotechnical engineering made it an ideal fit. �鶹��Ʒ S�

As a master �鶹��Ʒ S�s student on the non-thesis track, Arteaga plans to take a more practical approach to the internship. He hopes to gain a better understanding of how engineering decisions are made in defense and looks forward to collaborating with experts across the DOD.

Balancing coursework with a job and the responsibilities of the DOD program is no easy feat, but Arteaga says that the flexibility and technical rigor are what drew him to UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s graduate programs.

�鶹��Ʒ S�The curriculum has strengthened my foundation in structural and geotechnical principle while also enhancing my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively, �鶹��Ʒ S� Arteaga says. �鶹��Ʒ S�Combined with my experience at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, my time at UCF has prepared me to contribute confidently and competently to the DOD �鶹��Ʒ S�s mission. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Chance Brewer �鶹��Ʒ S�20

Ph.D. in mechanical engineering

Through his work in the Putnam Lab, managed by Shawn Putnam, mechanical engineering associate professor, Brewer has had the chance to collaborate on research projects sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). As a DOD SMART scholar, Brewer will rejoin the AFRL team to work on research related to his expertise.

�鶹��Ʒ S�My academic research on multifunctional materials in thermal management systems is already closely tied with the work I will be doing with AFRL, but the challenges and applications I am targeting will shift to focus on thermal control for space vehicles, �鶹��Ʒ S� Brewer says. �鶹��Ʒ S�Over the past two summers I have worked with the same team that I will be working with for SMART, so I am already very familiar with the community that I will be joining after I graduate, and I feel very fortunate to be joining such a great team. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Brewer thanks Putnam as well as the UCF Office of Undergraduate Research and the UCF Academic Advancement Programs office for their support and encouragement to get involved with research as an undergraduate student. He credits their guidance and sense of community with shaping his graduate experience and, ultimately, a career with the DOD.

�鶹��Ʒ S�My ultimate goal from this experience is to establish a career within AFRL leading research on coupled thermal and optical materials for thermal monitoring and control systems, �鶹��Ʒ S� Brewer says. �鶹��Ʒ S�Through these efforts, I also hope to learn how we can leverage thermal solutions being developed for space applications to help support missions across the DOD and to help advance thermal management systems for commercial technologies. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Jean-Philippe Perrault �鶹��Ʒ S�06 �鶹��Ʒ S�14MBA

Ph.D. in industrial engineering

Like Arteaga, Perrault is already employed with the DOD. He works as an engineering supervisor for the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD). He �鶹��Ʒ S�s also a father of five, a chess coach an active community volunteer and a doctoral student. With a very full schedule, the DOD SMART Scholarship was a practical choice because it designates study time during work hours, alleviating the pressure of pursuing a Ph.D.

After earning a bachelor �鶹��Ʒ S�s degree in mechanical engineering and a master �鶹��Ʒ S�s degree in business administration, Perrault returned to UCF in Fall 2024 to continue his studies. He also serves on the advisory board for the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems and with the encouragement of Professor Luis Rabelo, joined the industrial engineering doctoral program �鶹��Ʒ S�s systems engineering track.

Perrault �鶹��Ʒ S�s research focuses on the development of a theoretical framework to adopt AI technology in military training systems. He says the SMART scholarship program will help him deepen his technical knowledge and in turn, inform his research.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Beyond technical skills, I aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of how research translates into real-world applications within the DOD, including navigating the complexities of defense innovation and collaboration, �鶹��Ʒ S� Perrault says. �鶹��Ʒ S�I also look forward to developing leadership, project management and interdisciplinary collaboration skills that will enable me to contribute effectively to the defense community both during and after my scholarship. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Perrault plans to continue working for the NAWCTSD but hopes to strengthen the collaborative relationship the agency has with UCF. As a three-time alum, he says that some of his most cherished memories were formed at UCF �鶹��Ʒ S� memories of friendship, hard work and achievements.

�鶹��Ʒ S�As a continually growing university located close to home, UCF has played a significant role in shaping my professional journey, �鶹��Ʒ S� Perrault says. �鶹��Ʒ S�My success is largely attributed to the comprehensive education and experiences I gained here �鶹��Ʒ S� the coursework, laboratories, professors and student support services all contributed to my development as a leader within our local community. �鶹��Ʒ S�

The selected fellows �鶹��Ʒ S� Vladimir Boginski, Nichole Lighthall and Dinender Singla �鶹��Ʒ S� will develop and implement programs that can help improve faculty grant success and accelerate the growth of the research enterprise.

Topics the fellows will focus on include research infrastructure, proposal development and specific research awards.

The fellowship begins in Fall 2024 and will continue through Summer 2025.

Meet the new Research Faculty Fellows:

Vladimir Boginski

Professor of industrial engineering and management systems and co-director of UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Applied Operations Research Laboratory

How does it feel to be selected as a faculty fellow?

I am honored to be selected by the Office of Research as one of the faculty fellows this academic year. I am looking forward to the opportunity to use my experience in conducting interdisciplinary research and participating in large multi principal investigator grants to help UCF reach its strategic goals in terms of research funding and expenditures.

How do you hope to use this fellowship to further your research?

I hope that my experience in this role will be beneficial to my own research program development. I view this fellowship as a “two-way” opportunity. On one hand, I will be happy to offer my experience with various aspects of large grants and use it to the benefit of UCF achieving strategic funding goals. On the other hand, I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the high-level strategic and administrative aspects of sponsored research that the UCF Office of Research deals with. In addition, it would be very interesting to learn about UCF faculty research in various fields and potentially identify new opportunities for interdisciplinary research. Therefore, I believe that this fellowship would be beneficial both to my own academic research career and to UCF.

What is your background in research and what does your work focus on?

My research background and interests are in the broad area of network science and engineering. Networks are everywhere in the modern world: application areas are abundant, spanning the domains of big data and physical/virtual complex systems. Examples of real-world networked systems include communication networks, interdependent infrastructure networks, social networks, biological networks, financial networks and many others. Because everything is connected in one way or another, my research spans a multitude of disciplines. Although specific details of my research may vary depending on the field, the underlying broad goals are often the same: to identify nodes and links that are critical for the integrity of a network, and to optimize the connections so that each system functions more efficiently.

What else should Knight Nation know about you?

Prior to joining UCF, I was a faculty member at the University of Florida, and during my academic career I have served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on multiple grants for over $16 million. I have always valued the exposure to research disciplines different from my own background, and I was honored be nominated to participate in the Frontiers of Engineering program administered by the National Academy of Engineering, which connects and facilitates collaborations between engineers across different fields. In this fellowship role, I hope to participate in initiatives to promote interdisciplinary research collaborations between UCF faculty.

Nichole Lighthall

Associate professor of psychology, lab director of UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Adult Development and Decision Lab and associate program director of UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology Ph.D. Program

How does it feel to be selected as a faculty fellow?

I feel honored to be selected �鶹��Ʒ S� and excited to have the opportunity to train in university leadership. The primary feeling has been joy over getting to work with UCF faculty who want to gain more skills and success in grant development. I’ve already gotten involved in the Office of Research’s Grant Writing Academy and the faculty in that program are so motivated and excited about their research. It’s going to be very fulfilling to help them achieve their goals.

How do you hope to use this fellowship to further your research?

My primary goal for the fellowship is to enhance UCF’s success in securing funding from The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and generally expand its health-related research portfolio. As a cognitive neuroscientist working in cognitive aging, I depend on NIH funding to conduct my research. So, any success toward my fellowship goal will help my research program grow as well.

What is your background in research and what does your work focus on?

I have been studying cognitive aging since I was an undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley over 20 years ago. Over time, my research interest came to focus on how decision-making changes in healthy aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Most recently, my lab has been trying to understand risk factors for financial exploitation in older adults, and how we can better protect seniors from scams and fraud. To address these questions, we use behavioral and neuroimaging approaches, but also consider social and health factors that might make some seniors more vulnerable.

What else should Knight Nation know about you?If you want help with developing your own NIH grants or have ideas for initiatives that we should develop to support NIH-funded research at UCF �鶹��Ʒ S� please reach out to me. I’m here to help you!

Dinender Singla

Professor of medicine, UCF cardiovascular division leader and Florida Hospital chair in cardiovascular science

How does it feel to be selected as a faculty fellow?

Being selected as a faculty fellow is an extraordinary accomplishment, and I am deeply grateful for this opportunity. I feel a profound sense of pride in this achievement and am eager to contribute to the institution and its faculty.

How do you hope to use this fellowship to further your research?

This fellowship will enhance my in-depth research knowledge as I meet different faculty members, unit chairs, and deans. I took this position primarily because I want to serve the faculty at large, and I am keen to see their growth. This role allows me to mentor and guide other unit faculty, inspiring them to reach their full potential. The faculty growth is essential and will positively impact the lives of countless postdoctoral fellows and students. These insights and expertise will be highly valuable and will carry weight in shaping the future direction of different colleges, and university, which will ultimately support our community.

What is your background in research and what does your work focus on?

I have over 25 years of research experience in basic and translational research in cardiovascular sciences. I have brought more than $12 million in NIH grant funding to UCF. My major research area is stem cells and their derived exosomes for treating diabetes and anti-cancer drugs-induced cardiotoxicity. We have recently prepared specialized exosomes which can target tumors and kill them. Additionally, we have prepared exosomes to deliver drugs in the heart. This new research will lead to treat cancer patients more precisely. I am head of the Division of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Sciences in the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, which is part of UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s College of Medicine.

His devotion to his research and desire to improve the human condition earned him the honor of being named a 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow in the section of engineering. He is the 17^th current UCF leadership and faculty member to earn the honor.

Karwowski, who also serves as chair of within the (CECS), joins 501 other esteemed fellows across 24 different AAAS-recognized disciplines.

�鶹��Ʒ S�I was a bit surprised that I was elected, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�But of course, it was a pleasant surprise, and I �鶹��Ʒ S�m very honored. �鶹��Ʒ S�

�鶹��Ʒ S�Being an active fellow means greater recognition at the national level, �鶹��Ʒ S� Karwowski says. �鶹��Ʒ S�You really must have demonstrated significant contributions to science and education. Since my work in human factors is interdisciplinary, and crosses the issues of engineering, management, psychology, neuroscience, I think that that �鶹��Ʒ S�s very fitting. �鶹��Ʒ S�

On Sept. 21, Karwowski and other new fellows will receive a certificate and a gold and blue rosette pin (representing science and engineering, respectively) to commemorate their election at a forum in Washington, D.C., which will also mark the 150^th anniversary of the AAAS.

Karwowski was elected, �鶹��Ʒ S�for distinguished contributions to the field of human factors and ergonomics, particularly for modeling and simulation of human performance in complex systems, �鶹��Ʒ S� according to AAAS.

Being elected an AAAS Fellow is a tremendous accomplishment, says Sudip Parikh, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals.

�鶹��Ʒ S�As we celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the AAAS Fellows Program, AAAS is proud to recognize the newly elected individuals, �鶹��Ʒ S� Parikh said in a press release. �鶹��Ʒ S�This year �鶹��Ʒ S�s class embodies scientific excellence, fosters trust in science throughout the communities they serve and leads the next generation of scientists while advancing scientific achievements. �鶹��Ʒ S�

A Super Science

Ergonomics and human factors are so much more than workplace buzzwords or esoteric theories for Karwowski. He defines them as sciences that apply to how we relate to everything.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Ergonomics is a super science, �鶹��Ʒ S� Karwowski says. �鶹��Ʒ S�From the moment we are born, we interact with the outside world. Understanding these interactions �鶹��Ʒ S� not just with computers or cars, but with one another �鶹��Ʒ S� is crucial to improving the human condition worldwide. Our goal is to make our lives as productive and joyful as possible. �鶹��Ʒ S�

The contemporary field of human factors and ergonomics aims to understand how people interact with any system, at any level, and at any age, Karwowski says. His research focuses on enhancing efficiency and satisfaction while reducing fatigue and human error.

�鶹��Ʒ S�My field is relatively new, dating back to World War II, when it became crucial to understand how people operate systems without fatigue or errors, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says.  �鶹��Ʒ S�This initial focus on military has now expanded to manufacturing, service systems, space exploration, leisure, entertainment and everyday activities. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Karwowski has seen the field greatly broaden with even more opportunities to fine tune and study human factors and ergonomics. Advances in technology have allowed him and his peers to explore an emerging field of “neuroergonomics.”

Karwowski, who holds over 20 editorial roles in various academic publications, co-founded and serves as a field-chief-editor for the Frontiers in Neuroergonomics scholarly journal due to his interest in this new discipline.

�鶹��Ʒ S�The field of neuroergonomics is young, �鶹��Ʒ S� Karwowski says. �鶹��Ʒ S�We can now better understand brain signatures of daily activities, getting to the core of neural basis of human cognition and its limitations. This is fundamental to understanding human performance at a deeper level. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Analyzing cognitive feedback to prevent error or fatigue and see where it happens, is crucial in understanding how we work and interact with the world around us, Karwowski says.

�鶹��Ʒ S�We use knowledge of our neuronal processes to understand our limitations and capabilities for efficient and safe work, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�We must also design systems with these factors in mind. �鶹��Ʒ S�

A Perfect Fit

Karwowski �鶹��Ʒ S�s pursuit of improving the human condition through ergonomics research is possible through UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s arsenal of resources and ease of access, he says. The university �鶹��Ʒ S�s commitment to fostering research and interdisciplinary partnerships aligns with his ambitions.

�鶹��Ʒ S�There are no limits to what you can achieve here at UCF, �鶹��Ʒ S� he says. �鶹��Ʒ S�The environment here is conducive to collaboration across departments and colleges. I �鶹��Ʒ S�ve worked with people from psychology, computer science, sociology, mathematics, business and other engineering departments. It �鶹��Ʒ S�s very easy to do that here. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Karwowski joined UCF as a professor in 2007 after working at the University of Louisville. He received his master �鶹��Ʒ S�s in production management from the Technical University of Wroclaw in Poland and his doctorate in industrial engineering from Texas Tech University.

Karwowski says he felt embraced and guided by his peers when he became chair of UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems. UCF professors Charles Reilly, Gavriel Salvendy, CECS Dean Michael Georgiopoulos, and former CECS Dean Marwan Simaan were especially supportive, he says.

�鶹��Ʒ S�As a new chair, I benefited greatly from Professor Marwan Simaan, my mentor, who helped me adapt to my role as chair, �鶹��Ʒ S� Karwowski says. �鶹��Ʒ S�I wanted to continue my development as a researcher and scientist. Thanks to great staff support and talented graduate students, I was able to advance my research while serving as chair. The environment here allows me to mentor many Ph.D. students and continue my research. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Karwowski, who has advised 60 doctoral students throughout his career, says above all else the mentorship he �鶹��Ʒ S�s provided young scientists is the most gratifying accomplishment of his career.

�鶹��Ʒ S�UCF attracts excellent domestic and international students, �鶹��Ʒ S� Karwowski says. �鶹��Ʒ S�They are the backbone of education and research. �鶹��Ʒ S� Our graduate students �鶹��Ʒ S� contributions should never be forgotten. They motivate us to excel as we strive to educate them and enable them to gain the knowledge needed to make significant contributions to the world. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Other current UCF leadership and faculty who have been previously inducted as AAAS fellows include:

• Peter Delfyett (2022; UCF) College of Optics and Photonics Pegasus Professor and University Distinguished Professor
• Ronald DeMara (2022; UCF) College of Engineering and Computer Science Pegasus Professor
• Talat Rahman (2020; UCF) College of Sciences Pegasus Professor, distinguished professor
• Alexander N. Cartwright (2016; State University of New York)
  UCF President
• Martin Richardson (2015; UCF) College of Optics and Photonics Pegasus Professor, Northrup Grumman professor
• Louis Chow (2012; UCF) College of Engineering and Computer Science Professor
• Peter Hancock (2012; UCF) College of Sciences Pegasus Professor and provost distinguished research professor
• Zhihua Qu (2012; UCF) College of Engineering and Computer Science Pegasus Professor, Thomas J. Riordan and Herbert C. Towle chair
• Ni-Bin Chang (2011; UCF) College of Engineering and Computer Science Professor
• Charles Reilly (2010, UCF) College of Engineering and Computer Science assistant vice provost, professor
• Debra Reinhart (2009; UCF) College of Engineering and Computer Science Professor Emerita
• Mubarak Shah (2009; UCF) College of Engineering and Computer Science Trustee chair professor
• Issa Batarseh (2008; UCF) College of Engineering and Computer Science Pegasus Professor
• Sudipta Seal (2008; UCF) College of Engineering and Computer Science Chair and professor
• Al Sattelberger (2002; Los Alamos National Laboratory) College of Sciences Courtesy research scientist
• Marwan Simaan (1999; University of Pittsburgh) College of Engineering and Computer Science Florida 21st Century chair, distinguished professor

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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s composition.

Topping the list was a story on the world �鶹��Ʒ S�s first energy-saving paint inspired by butterflies. The plasmonic paint utilizes a nanoscale structural arrangement of colorless materials �鶹��Ʒ S� aluminum and aluminum oxide �鶹��Ʒ 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s First Energy-saving Paint �鶹��Ʒ S� Inspired by Butterflies

2. The Long Journey of NASA �鶹��Ʒ S�S 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 �鶹��Ʒ S�s 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 UCF Today 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, UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Office of Research and UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s colleges.

A total of 18 projects received Phase I funding across 15 universities. UCF received the most awards, with all three housed within the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Dean Michael Georgiopoulos says this speaks to the quality of research produced by CECS faculty.

�鶹��Ʒ S�I �鶹��Ʒ S�m proud to see that three of our research teams have been recognized by NASA for their innovative ideas that can shape the future of air travel and space flight, �鶹��Ʒ S� Georgiopoulos says. �鶹��Ʒ S�Our college has built a rich history with NASA and this award further solidifies the partnership between our respective researchers. �鶹��Ʒ S�

All Phase I award recipients will be eligible to compete for Phase II funding and University Leadership Initiatives and Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) grants. Learn more about the projects below.

Project Title: Multimodal Wireless Piezoelectric Microsensors

Award Amount: $50,000

Researchers: Reza Abdolvand and Hakhamanesh Mansoorzare ’21PhD

The third time was the charm for the Artemis I launch. After two unsuccessful launch attempts due to dangerously high engine temperatures, a crack in the fuel tank insulation and multiple fuel leaks, the rocket finally soared into orbit off the Space Coast.

To prevent these issues from delaying future Artemis missions or other NASA space explorations, a team of UCF researchers is developing a wireless multimodal sensor module that can monitor conditions such as temperature, pressure, acceleration and airflow in real time.

The module, less than a cubic centimeter, will include multiple microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonators that will measure those conditions. MEMS resonators are often used for motion sensing, time referencing and signal filtering in electronic devices but show promise in the aerospace engineering field due to their light weight, highly accurate readouts and cost-effective manufacturing.

Although the sensors will be roughly the size of a pencil eraser, they will be able to withstand extreme temperatures since there is no battery or electronics in the device. This will be the first wireless multimodal sensor of its kind.

�鶹��Ʒ S�Piezoelectric MEMS resonators can detect change in environmental parameters without the need for any auxiliary power source such as battery as they could be powered wirelessly by a remote transceiver unit, �鶹��Ʒ S� says Reza Abdolvand, professor and chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. �鶹��Ʒ S�This will create a unique opportunity for development of compact and battery-less sensing units that could withstand a harsh environment. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Once manufactured, the sensing system can be used across various NASA missions to detect dangerous temperatures in critical spacecraft components, monitor the pressure in fuel tanks to prevent leaks, measure the temperature and pressure of lunar regolith, and assess the climate conditions for takeoff.

Project Title: SUPERSAF-SAF for Low Emission Supersonic Transport

Award Amount: $50,000

Researchers: Subith Vasu, Justin Urso, Ramees Khaleel Rahman, Gihun Kim

Supersonic commercial aircraft may be able to fly faster than the speed of sound and reduce the time for transatlantic journeys considerably, but their ultra-fast flights powered by fossil fuels could have a harmful effect on the environment. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Subith Vasu and his team of postdoctoral scholars aim to protect the environment by studying the emissions of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), a greener alternative made from sustainable resources such as wood residues, fatty acids, fermented sugars and processed alcohols.

Several government agencies have started to test these fuels for emissions.

The team in the Vasu Lab will conduct shock tube experiments to test the NOx and soot emissions of several different SAFs. That data will be used to improve the aviation industry �鶹��Ʒ S�s and NASA �鶹��Ʒ S�s current chemical kinetic models that can predict the soot and NOx output of various SAFs in flight conditions.

�鶹��Ʒ S�The data we collect could significantly improve the current chemical kinetic model and advance the production of combustors for supersonic flights, �鶹��Ʒ S� Vasu says.

The research is timely, given NASA recently awarded contracts to both Boeing and Northrop Grumman to develop technology roadmaps and concept vehicles for supersonic aircraft. Vasu plans to work with industry partners on this research and to seek additional funding from NASA beyond the MPLAN grant.

Project Title: A CNS Digital Twin Framework for AAM

Award Amount: $50,000

Researcher: Adan Vela

Airplanes and helicopters are often spotted in the sky, but in the future, cargo-loaded drones and passenger-carrying air taxis might become a common sight. Through NASA �鶹��Ʒ S�s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) mission, the organization aims to create a safe and accessible aerial transportation system that can send cargo or people to hard-to-reach areas or even tourist destinations.

However, before AAM can take flight, engineers must address fundamental challenges of the communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) system that supports control, command and collision of these vehicles, as they could face challenges from the low altitude at which they fly or the lack of a human pilot. Buildings or terrain could distort or delay important CNS signals such as GPS or 5G.

To better understand this problem, Industrial Engineering and Management Systems Assistant Professor Adan Vela will develop the CNS-AAM simulation engine, a digital twin framework that mimics the CNS system that the AAM would require. With the aid of computer science students, Vela will create the simulation engine in Python. The resulting framework will allow NASA, the FAA and researchers around the world to digitally develop and test new artificial intelligence algorithms that manage aircraft and CNS technologies, including cybersecurity measures that could protect UAVs from malicious attacks.

If you �鶹��Ʒ S�re an engineering student interested in working on this project, contact Associate Professor Adan Vela at adan.vela@ucf.edu.

This new method can be beneficial in accelerating the development of life-saving medicines that otherwise take billions of dollars and decades of time to produce.

The results were published recently in the journal Briefings in Bioinformatics.

Their new model, BindingSite-AugmentedDTA, uses their previously reported model, AttentionsiteDTI, as the first step of a two-step prediction approach.

�鶹��Ʒ S�A unique aspect of our approach is that it can be easily integrated with any deep learning-based prediction model, which allows for improved performance compared to using the prediction models alone, �鶹��Ʒ S� says study co-author Ozlem Garibay ’01MS ’08PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems.

�鶹��Ʒ S�By integrating our approach with other state-of-the-art deep learning-based drug-target-affinity prediction models, we have shown significant improvement in prediction performance across multiple metrics, �鶹��Ʒ S� Garibay says. �鶹��Ʒ S�This integration makes it a powerful tool for drug discovery research. �鶹��Ʒ S�

How it Works

The researcher �鶹��Ʒ S�s AttentionsiteDTI model is a classification model specifically designed to determine two key aspects. First, it identifies whether a drug compound binds with a target protein, and second, it determines the specific binding site on the protein where the drug compound interacts.

Their improved BindingSite-AugmentedDTA model follows a two-step prediction approach in which the first step uses the AttentionsiteDTI model to identify the specific binding site on the protein.

In the second step, a regression prediction model is integrated to estimate the binding strength, or affinity, between the drug molecule and the identified protein binding site.

Garibay says that this combined approach enhances the accuracy of drug target affinity predictions by reducing the search space of potential-binding sites of the protein in the first step, thus making the binding affinity prediction more efficient and accurate.

The researchers validated the prediction power of their model through in-vitro experiments and used it to successfully predict binding affinity values between FDA-approved drugs and key proteins of SARS-CoV-2.

They also showed improved performance of state-of-the-art predictive models, such as GraphDTA, DGraphtDTA and DepGS, in finding the most probable binding sites of proteins when AttentionSiteDTI was included in the models compared to when it wasn �鶹��Ʒ S�t.

Next Steps

The researchers are working on a Python package that includes most of the drug-target interaction and drug-target affinity models and datasets, which is highly customizable.

�鶹��Ʒ S�This will enable further high-quality research in the community by providing a convenient tool for researchers to develop and evaluate their models, �鶹��Ʒ S� Garibay says.

They also plan to make their largest model available online for inference.

�鶹��Ʒ S�This will facilitate fast drug screening for biology and pharmaceutical researchers with limited computer science knowledge �鶹��Ʒ S� allowing them to easily predict drug-target binding affinities and identify potential drug candidates, �鶹��Ʒ S� Garibay says. �鶹��Ʒ S�This can potentially accelerate the drug discovery process and lead to the development of new treatments for various diseases. �鶹��Ʒ S�

About the Team

Ozlem Garibay is an assistant professor of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, part of UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s College of Engineering and Computer Science, where she directs the Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Research Lab. Prior to that, she served as the director of research technology. Her areas of research are big data, social media analysis, social cybersecurity, artificial social intelligence, human-machine teams, social and economic networks, network science, STEM education analytics, higher education economic impact and engagement, artificial intelligence, evolutionary computation and complex systems. She earned her master’s and doctorate in computer science from UCF.

Mehdi Yazdan-Jahromi is a third-year doctoral student in computer science at UCF. His current research interests include computer vision, drug �鶹��Ʒ S�target interaction and algorithmic fairness.

Niloofar Yousefi �鶹��Ʒ S�17PhD is a postdoctoral research associate at UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Complex Adaptive Systems Laboratory in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Her research areas include machine learning, artificial intelligence and statistical learning theory to develop data analytics solutions with more transparency and explainability.

Collaborators:

Aida Tayebi is a third-year doctoral student at UCF. Her current research interests include algorithmic fairness and bias mitigation techniques in DTI.

Elayaraja Kolanthai is a postdoctoral research associate at the UCF Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His current research interests include the development of nanoparticles, layer-by-layer antimicrobial/antiviral nanoparticle coatings, polymer composites for tissue engineering, and gene/drug delivery methodologies.

Craig Neal �鶹��Ʒ S�14 �鶹��Ʒ S�16MS �鶹��Ʒ S�21PhD is a postdoctoral research associate at the UCF Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His current research interests include wet chemical synthesis and surface engineering of nanoparticles for biomedical applications and electrochemical devices, and electroanalysis of nanomaterials and bio-nano interactions.

Sudipta Seal is currently the chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UCF as well as a Pegasus Professor and a University Distinguished Professor. He joined the Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center (AMPAC) at UCF in 1997. He has been consistently productive in research, instruction and service to UCF since 1998. He has served as the nano initiative coordinator for the vice president of research and commercialization. He served as the director of AMPAC and the NanoScience Technology Center from 2009 to 2017.

Research Study: BindingSite-AugmentedDTA: enabling a next-generation pipeline for interpretable prediction models in drug repurposing

�鶹��Ʒ S�You should see it here during football season, �鶹��Ʒ S� says Wes Mosedale �鶹��Ʒ S�07MS, senior test director for NASA. �鶹��Ʒ S�That �鶹��Ʒ S�s when the colors really come out. �鶹��Ʒ S�

The UCF logos at KSC are symbolic of deeper connections: between the university and the space program, between the past and the future, between Earth and outer space, and between the Apollo missions that sent men to the moon for the first time and the Artemis 2 mission that will send men and women to the moon at the end of 2024.

�鶹��Ʒ S�There �鶹��Ʒ S�s a lot of work to do between now and then, �鶹��Ʒ S� Mosedale says.

These three UCF alumni are taking it one day and one task at a time. For them, Artemis 2 is as personal as it is historic.

THE GRANDSON: WES MOSEDALE �鶹��Ʒ S�07MS

Position: Senior test director
Major: Industrial engineering

This has always been a dream of mine.
I grew up on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, not far from Kill Devil Hills, where the Wright Brothers tested their first planes. Most of my interest, though, came from my grandfather. He flew Air Force One for President Kennedy. In fact, he brought President Kennedy to the Cape during the height of the space race. He passed away years ago, and I wish I could hear his stories again. I could tell him a few stories from my perspective, too.

At the moment, I �鶹��Ʒ S�m wearing two hats.
We �鶹��Ʒ S�re applying lessons we learned during years of work on Artemis 1 to the Artemis 2 mission. A lot of us are increasing the scope of our work because a crewed mission is so complex. This time I �鶹��Ʒ S�m involved in ground system testing and the integration of support teams as well as launch training. We �鶹��Ʒ S�ll create a launch-day atmosphere for about 30 countdown simulations, including worst-case scenarios, to make sure everyone is in sync for the real thing.

There �鶹��Ʒ S�s nothing more exciting to me than launching rockets.
Before Artemis, I had the opportunity to support close to 30 shuttle launches, but these rockets are now the biggest ever built. I can walk over to the vehicle assembly building (VAB) and see first-hand the magnitude of what we �鶹��Ʒ S�re doing. Sometimes I go there as an engineer to familiarize myself with the systems and hardware. Other times, the kid in me just wants to look at that rocket.

UCF came to me for my master �鶹��Ʒ S�s degree.
Two nights a week, professors would drive out and teach engineering management classes at our visitors center so we could complete the accelerated program while focusing on our full-time jobs here. It �鶹��Ʒ S�s a smart program because we learned without leaving this work environment.

I still use one of the first lessons from that program.
Dr. Tim Kotnour instructed us on PDSA: Plan, Do, Study, Act. It �鶹��Ʒ S�s the same process we use for Artemis. We launched the first rocket to test and validate systems, and now we �鶹��Ʒ S�re distilling everything we learned into actions for Artemis 2. Dr. Kotnour was on a Teams call with us a year ago. I hadn �鶹��Ʒ S�t seen him in 14 years, and the first thing I said, was, �鶹��Ʒ S�Hey, Dr. Kotnour: PDSA, PDSA. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Artemis 2 has multi-generational meaning for me.
I have two daughters �鶹��Ʒ S� 8 and 5 years old �鶹��Ʒ S� and this mission is helping to lay the groundwork for their generation to sustain life away from Earth. But there �鶹��Ʒ S�s also the connection with my grandfather. He played an indirect part in us getting to the moon the first time and now I have a role in getting us back there, with bigger goals beyond.

THE LOCAL GIRL: PARIS BISHOP �鶹��Ʒ S�19

Position: Test conductor and recovery operations manager in Pacific Ocean
Major: Aerospace engineering

I �鶹��Ʒ S�m among the lucky few to be part of both ends of the Artemis 2 mission.
Because of my dual certifications, I �鶹��Ʒ S�m involved with Artemis flight hardware processing, testing and rollout before launch �鶹��Ʒ S� and then I �鶹��Ʒ S�ll manage the landing recovery in the Pacific Ocean. It �鶹��Ʒ S�s hard to believe that I �鶹��Ʒ S�ll see this historic mission first-hand from pre-launch to splashdown.

For Artemis 1, I was in multiple places, too.
On launch day we had about 90 people in Firing Room 1. When we reached t-minus-12 hours my responsibilities were complete. Instead of taking up space in the Firing Room, I drove home to watch with my family. That �鶹��Ʒ S�s how I watched shuttle launches growing up near the Cape �鶹��Ʒ S� with the windows of our house rumbling. For Artemis 1, I watched from our yard. Then I tried to get some sleep because I had to fly to San Diego the next day and prepare for the ocean recovery.

We �鶹��Ʒ S�re already practicing Artemis 2 recovery on a big Naval ship.
Our support teams go out for seven days at a time, pulling a capsule just like Orion from the Pacific Ocean. There �鶹��Ʒ S�s so much public attention on the launch, but the landing recovery is sensitive, too. We were out there when the unmanned capsule from Artemis 1 came out of the sky. That was amazing. But the capsule for Artemis 2 won �鶹��Ʒ S�t be a training article. There will be people in it.

My job at a local restaurant led to this job.
During college I worked the 6 a.m. shift as a server to pay for tuition. People from the Cape would come in for breakfast and encourage me to think big. One of them connected me for my first interview. Here I am.

I still can �鶹��Ʒ S�t believe I �鶹��Ʒ S�m here sometimes.
In community college, I considered all kinds of careers: marketing, TV production, even acting. I didn �鶹��Ʒ S�t know what an engineer did, but I did like math. When I enrolled at UCF, I decided to get back into math and give this program called �鶹��Ʒ S�aerospace �鶹��Ʒ S� a try.

My roles say something about how far the space program has come.
This used to be for someone with multiple degrees and more experience. My first week on the job, though, I saw women in prestigious leadership roles. Working around all these great women inspired me to learn more and dream bigger.

Being an astronaut is always in the back of my mind.
I �鶹��Ʒ S�ll need to earn my master �鶹��Ʒ S�s degree and put the work in. But Artemis 2 is the first of a lot more launches to come. So sure, send me to the moon.

THE NEW MOTHER: LAURA POLIAH �鶹��Ʒ S�10 �鶹��Ʒ S�12MS

Postion: Orion test engineering lead
Majors: Aerospace engineering and mechanical engineering

My life has changed since Artemis 1.
Three months after the mission, I gave birth to my son, Isaiah. We live in Merritt Island, so whenever there �鶹��Ʒ S�s a launch now, I seize the opportunity to take him outside and feel the rumble. I know he �鶹��Ʒ S�ll appreciate it more as he gets older. Someday, when he sees future Artemis missions, he �鶹��Ʒ S�ll say, �鶹��Ʒ S�My mom helped to create the capability for getting humans to space. �鶹��Ʒ S�

See the very top of the rocket?
That �鶹��Ʒ S�s the Orion spacecraft, which is comprised of the crew module, service module and launch abort system. It �鶹��Ʒ S�s what our team tests �鶹��Ʒ S� every system, one at a time, and then again after it �鶹��Ʒ S�s all integrated. The testing ensures the spacecraft can withstand a trip into space and back. Some of the tests include vacuum and thermal tests to simulate extreme differences in pressure and temperature, acoustic tests to see there �鶹��Ʒ S�s no loss of function from intense vibrations at liftoff or throughout the mission and end to end tests to double-check that the systems work after they �鶹��Ʒ S�re assembled. The tests are critical to make sure everything holds together for the astronauts for Artemis 2 and beyond.

No one knew the name of the Artemis mission when I started 12 years ago.
The shuttle program was ending and a new excitement was starting to grow about something else �鶹��Ʒ S� something big. I started working on Orion when the first structures for Artemis 1 came in, and that �鶹��Ʒ S�s when it hit me: I was working on hardware that would someday be in space. We �鶹��Ʒ S�re always worked ahead. When Artemis 1 launched, our test team was already performing Artemis 2 and 3 testing.

My interest in space started with books.
As a child I loved reading �鶹��Ʒ S� books, magazines, cereal boxes, anything with words. One day I was picking up some books off the floor of the library and saw a cover with multiple galaxies. It looked interesting, so I opened the book and saw a question: �鶹��Ʒ S�How do you know if there are planets and other solar systems? �鶹��Ʒ S� I thought it was amazing that people do this as a job.

Mom had different ideas for my future.
She and my dad are of Indian heritage and grew up in Trinidad. They preferred I become a doctor or accountant. When I told mom I wanted to go into aerospace engineering at UCF, she jokingly said, �鶹��Ʒ S�What are you going to do with that degree? Are you going to take me to the moon? �鶹��Ʒ S� I distinctly remember that conversation now and smile because I do have a role in sending people back to the moon, and she �鶹��Ʒ S�s very supportive of my career.

What we �鶹��Ʒ S�re doing is instrumental for the future of society.
I �鶹��Ʒ S�ve had the amazing privilege to see the Orion spacecraft come together, piece by piece, from the beginning. The Apollo missions gave us tremendous benefits, like advances in medicine and technology. We �鶹��Ʒ S�ve already learned so much from the first Artemis launch that I have no doubt these missions will enrich lives for generations in ways we cannot yet comprehend.

The study, �鶹��Ʒ S�Six Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Grand Challenges, �鶹��Ʒ S� was published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction.

Ozlem Garibay �鶹��Ʒ S�01MS �鶹��Ʒ S�08PhD, an assistant professor in UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, was the lead researcher for the study. She says that the technology has become more prominent in many aspects of our lives, but it also has brought about many challenges that must be studied.

For instance, the coming widespread integration of artificial intelligence could significantly impact human life in ways that are not yet fully understood, says Garibay, who works on AI applications in material and drug design and discovery, and how AI impacts social systems.

The six challenges Garibay and the team of researchers identified are:

• Challenge 1, Human Well-Being: AI should be able to discover the implementation opportunities for it to benefit humans’ well-being. It should also be considerate to support the user �鶹��Ʒ S�s well-being when interacting with AI.

• Challenge 2, Responsible: Responsible AI refers to the concept of prioritizing human and societal well-being across the AI lifecycle. This ensures that the potential benefits of AI are leveraged in a manner that aligns with human values and priorities, while also mitigating the risk of unintended consequences or ethical breaches.

• Challenge 3, Privacy: The collection, use and dissemination of data in AI systems should be carefully considered to ensure protection of individuals �鶹��Ʒ S� privacy and prevent the harmful use against individuals or groups.

• Challenge 4, Design: Human-centered design principles for AI systems should use a framework that can inform practitioners. This framework would distinguish between AI with extremely low risk, AI with no special measures needed, AI with extremely high risks, and AI that should not be allowed.

• Challenge 5, Governance and Oversight: A governance framework that considers the entire AI lifecycle from conception to development to deployment is needed.

• Challenge 6, Human-AI interaction: To foster an ethical and equitable relationship between humans and AI systems, it is imperative that interactions be predicated upon the fundamental principle of respecting the cognitive capacities of humans. Specifically, humans must maintain complete control over and responsibility for the behavior and outcomes of AI systems.

The study, which was conducted over 20 months, comprises the views of 26 international experts who have extensive backgrounds in AI technology.

�鶹��Ʒ S�These challenges call for the creation of human-centered artificial intelligence technologies that prioritize ethicality, fairness and the enhancement of human well-being, �鶹��Ʒ S� Garibay says. �鶹��Ʒ S�The challenges urge the adoption of a human-centered approach that includes responsible design, privacy protection, adherence to human-centered design principles, appropriate governance and oversight, and respectful interaction with human cognitive capacities. �鶹��Ʒ S�

Overall, these challenges are a call to action for the scientific community to develop and implement artificial intelligence technologies that prioritize and benefit humanity, she says.

The group of 26 experts include National Academy of Engineering members and researchers from North America, Europe and Asia who have broad experiences across academia, industry and government. The group also has extensive educational backgrounds in areas ranging from computer science and engineering to psychology and medicine.

Their work also will be featured in a chapter in the book, Human-Computer Interaction: Foundations, Methods, Technologies, and Applications.

Five UCF faculty members co-authored the study:

• Gavriel Salvendy, a university distinguished professor in UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s College of Engineering and Computer Science and the founding president of the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida.

• Waldemar Karwowski, a professor and chair of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems and executive director of the Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering at the University of Central Florida.

• Steve Fiore, director of the Cognitive Sciences Laboratory and professor with UCF �鶹��Ʒ S�s cognitive sciences program in the Department of Philosophy and Institute for Simulation & Training.

• Ivan Garibay, an associate professor in industrial engineering and management systems and director of the UCF Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Initiative.

• Joe Kider, an associate professor at the IST, School of Modeling, Simulation and Training and a co-director of the SENSEable Design Laboratory.

Garibay received her doctorate in computer science from UCF and joined UCF’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, part of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, in 2020.