Some of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 most promising scientists can be found in Will Furiosi 麻豆精品 S�13 麻豆精品 S�14MAT 麻豆精品 S檚 Oviedo High School classroom.

Spend five minutes talking to Ankan Das, Angela Calvo-Chumbimuni and Moitri Santra about their research innovations in robotics, mental health and agriculture, and one truth becomes quite clear: These teens are the real deal.

Backed by UCF associate professors Ellen Kang (physics and NanoScience Technology Center) and Candice Bridge 麻豆精品 S�07笔丑顿聽(chemistry) and researcher Max Kuehn 麻豆精品 S�22 (Exolith Lab), the Oviedo High trio recently earned recognition as the top three projects at Seminole County 麻豆精品 S檚 regional science fair.

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

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

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

A Will to Succeed

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

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

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

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

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

Infusing Life into Science

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supporting Excellence

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A future nurse adjusts their cap, preparing to enter a hospital where the need for care continues to grow.

An engineer looks out into the crowd, knowing the next step leads into an industry building what 麻豆精品 S檚 next.

At UCF, these moments don 麻豆精品 S檛 happen one by one. They happen all at once 麻豆精品 S� thousands of stories, each with a different starting point, moving forward together.

Opportunity, Provided at Scale

At UCF, scale has always meant more than size.

It means access. It means opportunity. It means students who arrive with ambition and leave with proof.

More than 10,000 Knights make up the Spring Class of 2026.

Additionally, about 37% of bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree recipients are eligible for Pell Grants, and about 22% are the first in their families to earn a college degree 聽 麻豆精品 S� reflecting a university built to open doors and help students move through them.

This is scale with purpose.

Where Talent Meets Demand

UCF graduates move directly into high-demand fields 麻豆精品 S� from hospitals and schools to tech firms, startups and public agencies.

This is a workforce built not just in classrooms, but for real-world impact.

Each year, the university awards nearly 19,000 degrees 麻豆精品 S� more than any other institution in Florida 麻豆精品 S� including leading the state in bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees in engineering and nursing. These two fields are essential to sustaining Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 economic growth and meeting the needs of an expanding population.

Turning Studies Into Real Skills

Before they graduate, Knights are already building career-ready experience.

That same hands-on approach extends into high-impact research across fields from computer vision to biotechnology to pediatric prosthetics.

Career Prep From the Start

Support starts early, and it 麻豆精品 S檚 designed to carry students all the way through.

From day one, students connect with career counselors who help them build resumes, practice interviewing, find internships and connect with employers.

And when it 麻豆精品 S檚 time to take the next step, campus-wide career fairs open the door. They 麻豆精品 S檙e a gateway for students to explore a wide range of career paths, get real insight from industry professionals and stay ahead in a fast-moving job market.

Retaining Talent Across Florida

The impact of a UCF education doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 leave with its graduates. In many cases, it stays 麻豆精品 S� and grows.

But where graduates go next tells an even bigger story.In and around聽Orlando聽 麻豆精品 S� the No. 2 Best City to Start a Career in America (WalletHub) and one of the fastest-growing hubs for innovation 麻豆精品 S� that talent doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 just fill jobs.

It builds industries. It strengthens economies. It accelerates growth.

More Than a Milestone

Commencement is what everyone sees.

The walk. The tassel. The celebration.

But at UCF, it 麻豆精品 S檚 also something more.

Before students cross the stage, they 麻豆精品 S檝e already built experience. By the time they graduate, they 麻豆精品 S檙e aligned with real-world demand. After they leave, they power the industries shaping Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 future and beyond.

Each commencement adds thousands more to that momentum. Each graduate strengthens the pipeline.

And across the state 麻豆精品 S� and far beyond it 麻豆精品 S� you can already see what they 麻豆精品 S檙e building.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Building the Digital Twin

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

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

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

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

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

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

Strengthening Industry-Academic Partnerships

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supporting Space Exploration

Goldwater Scholar: Keanu Brayman

Major: Mechanical engineering

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

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

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

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

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

Engineering the Brain

Goldwater Scholar: Kyle Coutray

Majors: Computer engineering and biomedical sciences

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

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

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

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

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

Advancing Patient Care

Goldwater Scholar: Varun Nannuri

Major: Molecular and cellular biology

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

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

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

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

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

Restoring Human Senses

Goldwater Scholar: Trevor Overton

Majors: Electrical engineering and biomedical sciences

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Growing Research Powerhouse

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

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

To advance knowledge in this area, UCF Assistant Professor of Biology , collaborated with international researchers through the Antscan, a global initiave聽led by the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), with contributions from universities and museums.

The effort has led to a Nature Methods publication and created a freely available, morphological database of over 2,000 ant specimens representing nearly 800 species.

麻豆精品 S淎nts are important to study because they are ubiquitous, abundant and highly varied, ecologically dominant, and some species practice agriculture, facing challenges similar to human agriculture, such as crop pests, 麻豆精品 S� says Sosa-Calvo, who began researching insect diversity at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the University of Maryland.

Using a fast and powerful X-ray scanning technique, researchers created phenotypically accurate 3D models, providing a detailed look at both ants 麻豆精品 S� external and internal anatomy that can benefit a wide range of fields.

麻豆精品 S淭here is strong potential for more ant species to be聽added to Antscan and that other small insect or invertebrate groups create similar repositories of phenotypic data to advance our understanding of biological morphology, 麻豆精品 S� Sosa-Calvo says.

Closing the Gap Between Genetic and Morphological Data

Standard imaging tools used to photograph specimens, like high-resolution cameras, can capture the external morphology of ants from multiple angles, and micro-CT scanning can capture the internal morphology like organs and muscle tissue. However, these methods are time-consuming and limit how many specimens can be studied.

The Antscan initiative is filling this gap of available data by providing a library of morphologically accurate 3D models of ant anatomy. To solve the throughput bottleneck, the team of researchers is using high-throughput X-ray micro-CT scanning powered by a synchrotron particle accelerator.

麻豆精品 S淭he synchrotron particle accelerator produces much higher intensity light beams, resulting in images with higher contrast and faster processing times than a normal micro-CT scanner, 麻豆精品 S� Sosa-Calvo says. 麻豆精品 S淚t takes about 3,000 images per specimen in a short period of time. So instead of taking most of the day to scan a single specimen, researchers can scan a single ant in聽about a minute or so. 麻豆精品 S�

Once the 2D images are captured, they are reconstructed into a 3D tomogram of the specimen, allowing researchers to see fine details from the exoskeleton to internal structures like the nervous system.

Why This Tech Matters for Biodiversity Research

By streamlining the process of scanning smaller specimens and making the 3D models publicly available, the Antscan initiative has opened the door for researchers to study morphology at a scale previously only possible for genetic data, helping morphological research catch up with its molecular counterpart.

It has also helped document the presence of characteristics previously thought to occur in only a single species.

麻豆精品 S淎 few years ago, we discovered that fungus-farming ants 麻豆精品 S攁聽group of ants that grow fungus for food and are the subject of Sosa-Calvo’s聽research at UCF 麻豆精品 S攈ave biomineralized armor that protects them聽like the shell of marine crustaceans and mollusks, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲ith the scans performed in this project, we now know that other species, within fungus-farming ants also have this armor, which appears to be a unique feature among ants. 麻豆精品 S�

Applications in Art and Media

Scientists aren 麻豆精品 S檛 the only group that benefits from this extensive library. Since the files are open to the public, Sosa-Calvo says artists are using them to better understand and animate natural ant movement and is a valuable tool for education by engaging students.

He adds that this proven method of collecting morphological data could encourage researchers to generate similar databases, including other Hymenopteran groups, such as聽wasps andbees, as well as other insect groups like beetles, and other invertebrates.

Sosa-Calvo 麻豆精品 S檚 work contributed expertise on insect diversity, particularly within the order Hymenoptera, which includes ants, bees, and wasps. His research focuses on fungus-farming ants, a group known for their highly organized, cooperative colonies and unique agricultural behavior, or fungiculture.

This research was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (DEB-1927161).

Researchers and students in the Department of Biology within UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Sciences, including the Sosa-Calvo Ant Lab, have contributed to the Antscan initiative.

The聽study was sponsored by the聽National Institutes of Health 麻豆精品 S檚 National Institute on Aging聽and聽was led by UCF Nanoscience Technology Center聽Professor聽James Hickman聽and聽Research聽Professor聽Xiufang 麻豆精品 S淣adine 麻豆精品 S� Guo. In collaboration with聽researchers at聽healthcare tech company Hesperos, the team used聽lab-grown,聽human-cell systems designed to model how the body functions聽to聽examined聽how genetic mutations associated with聽familial聽Alzheimer 麻豆精品 S檚聽affects聽movement.聽Today, the聽study was published in聽Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

麻豆精品 S淢otor deficits may be an earlier indication聽[of Alzheimer 麻豆精品 S檚], 麻豆精品 S� she聽says. 麻豆精品 S淚f we can detect those changes and intervene earlier, that could help delay the onset of central nervous system symptoms. 麻豆精品 S�

How聽Movement and Alzheimer 麻豆精品 S檚 Are Connected

Familial Alzheimer 麻豆精品 S檚 is聽a聽rare聽form of the disease that聽is聽hereditary and appears聽earlier聽(from聽40 to 65 years of age)聽in people affected than those聽with the typical聽condition.

While聽Alzheimer 麻豆精品 S檚 disease is widely聽associated with聽memory loss and dementia,聽clinicians have long聽observed聽that some patients show changes in balance, gait聽(manner of walking)聽or movement years before cognitive symptoms appear. These聽early motor changes聽raise聽questions about whether聽parts of the disease begin聽outside the brain.

Through a tech-powered approach, the聽team found that the diseased motor neurons聽 麻豆精品 S斅爀ven without involvement from the brain聽 麻豆精品 S斅燿isrupted聽the neuromuscular junction, which is聽central to daily movement.

麻豆精品 S淭his is the first time it 麻豆精品 S檚 been demonstrated that deficits in the peripheral nervous system can arise directly from these mutations, 麻豆精品 S� Hickman聽says. 麻豆精品 S淚t means drugs that target the brain may not fix problems in the rest of the body. 麻豆精品 S�

Maintaining聽motor function may also聽support overall聽brain聽health,聽as聽physical activity is known to聽play a role in cognitive well-being, Guo notes.

How Researchers Build Human Disease Models in the Lab

To explore how these mutations affect movement, the researchers turned to a聽cutting-edge聽approach called 麻豆精品 S渉uman-on-a-chip 麻豆精品 S� technology, which is manufactured聽through Hesperos, a company co-founded by Hickman.聽These miniature lab systems recreate the way human cells interact and function in the body, allowing scientists to study disease in a more realistic way than traditional lab or animal models.

The team built a neuromuscular junction-on-a-chip 麻豆精品 S� a small system that mimics the connection between motor neurons and muscle cells.聽What makes聽this system powerful is聽what 麻豆精品 S檚聽left out: the brain and spinal cord. By isolating motor neurons and muscle cells, the researchers could聽determine聽whether movement problems could arise without the central nervous system being involved.

To test this, the researchers聽paired聽healthy聽muscle cells聽with聽motor neurons聽that were聽created from stem cells聽and聽carried聽familial Alzheimer 麻豆精品 S檚 disease聽mutations.聽The聽findings suggest that Alzheimer 麻豆精品 S檚-related movement issues may begin in the network of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord rather than being caused solely by brain degeneration.

Why the聽Nerve-to-Muscle Connection Matters

The neuromuscular junction is the point where a nerve cell signals a muscle to contract, making movement possible.聽If that connection is damaged, the body may lose strength,聽coordination聽or endurance.

In the study, the researchers measured several aspects of neuromuscular function, including how reliably nerve signals triggered muscle contraction and how long muscles could remain contracted before fatiguing. These measurements mirror the kinds of tests doctors use to evaluate movement disorders.

麻豆精品 S淵ou can 麻豆精品 S檛 move unless the motor circuit works, 麻豆精品 S� Hickman聽says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen a doctor taps your knee to check your reflex, they 麻豆精品 S檙e testing that exact connection. 麻豆精品 S�

The Future of聽 麻豆精品 S楬uman-on-a-Chip 麻豆精品 S櫬燭echnology

The researchers believe their approach will become increasingly important as drug developers look for more聽accurate聽ways to study human disease.

Because the models use human cells and measure real biological聽function, they can reveal effects that may not appear in animal studies.

For Hickman, the work reflects聽30 years of research to聽better understand disease and help people.

麻豆精品 S淭hese systems let us study disease in a way that 麻豆精品 S檚 closer to what actually happens in the human body, and that 麻豆精品 S檚 what we need to develop better treatments, 麻豆精品 S澛爃e says.

Research reported in this article was supported by the National Institutes of Health 麻豆精品 S檚 National Institute on Aging under award number R01AG077651 and R44AG071386. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health

To reduce these challenges, associate professors of health sciences Michael Rovito and Keith Brazendale in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Department of Health Sciences are conducting a 6-month intervention study, which is funded by the Florida Department of Health Cancer Innovation Fund.

The National Cancer Institute estimates survival rates for testicular cancer are high, as about 10,000 men are diagnosed each year and fewer than 5% die from the disease 麻豆精品 S� underscoring the need to improve quality of life for these patients.

麻豆精品 S淥ur focus is on finding ways to improve the quality of life for these survivors, and to improve their mental, emotional and social health, 麻豆精品 S� says Rovito, who has researched testicular cancer and men 麻豆精品 S檚 health for nearly two decades.

A New Approach to Survivorship Care

Previous survivorship programs have often focused on high-intensity exercise, which can be difficult for patients managing recovery, work and family demands. To develop a more sustainable path to recovery, Rovito and Brazendale are testing a uniquely designed intervention in Florida, known as the Physical Activity and Connectivity for Testicular Cancer Survivors (PACT) program.

PACT combines low-impact, remote, physical activity with an online support network to help survivors navigate psychosocial challenges. Participants engage in regular low-intensity physical activity, such as walking or taking the stairs, and track their progress using Fitbit devices. The devices provide real-time feedback, allowing researchers to set weekly goals and offer personalized guidance. This feedback loop helps participants stay engaged while building sustainable habits.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e seeking an intervention they can do for the rest of their lives, 麻豆精品 S� Brazendale says. 麻豆精品 S淲e want these healthy supports to become habit. 麻豆精品 S�

Support Beyond Physical Recovery

Connected through Zoom sessions, PACT program participants receive personalized counsel and encouragement from the researchers directly. They also take part in virtual peer-support sessions led by a social worker and a survivor advocate trained in trauma-informed care. Monthly sessions include breathwork, meditation and discussions on common concerns such as fertility, relationship changes and fear of recurrence.

麻豆精品 S淭he online support session provides coping strategies and tools for the participants to use during the day, when they can feel anxious or depressed or overwhelmed, 麻豆精品 S� Rovito says.

Outside of the meetings, researchers stay in touch regularly with individual messages to participants, sending tailored motivational text messages.

麻豆精品 S淥ur hope is that we are providing realistic physical activity changes that are sustainable when the monitoring ends, 麻豆精品 S� says Brazendale. 麻豆精品 S淲e want these survivors to have adopted habits and skills that result in them being healthier over the long-term. 麻豆精品 S�

The researchers say they hope to expand the program to other cancer survivor groups and integrate it into broader survivorship care across Florida, while securing additional funding for larger-scale trials.

The Feasibility of the Physical Activity and Connectivity for Testicular Cancer Survivors (PACT) program is supported by a grant from the Florida Department of Health Cancer Innovation Fund grant number 25C33.聽

Presented by the SCHOTT Group and the Ernst Abbe Fund, the award recognizes outstanding contributions to research and technology in glass, glass-ceramics and advanced materials. Richardson shares this year 麻豆精品 S檚 honor with Iowa State University researcher Steve Martin.

Together, their work reflects how advances in material structure can translate into real-world applications across industries including healthcare, energy, electronics and advanced technologies.

A Career of Innovation

Over the course of her career, Richardson has focused on advancing the science of optical materials, helping to expand how glass can be used in increasingly complex and demanding environments.

Her work has contributed to the development of materials that can be precisely engineered for performance, supporting innovations in imaging, sensing and optical systems.

麻豆精品 S淭his award recognizes a lifetime of investment in know-how, specialized facilities creation and professional development of skilled personnel, which has resulted in unique prototype materials and technology development, 麻豆精品 S� Richardson says. 麻豆精品 S淭hese efforts have resulted in products that have gone on to be licensed to partners in this critical application space. I am truly honored to be recognized by one of the global leaders in advanced optical materials for our team 麻豆精品 S檚 sustained work in IR materials. 麻豆精品 S�

Advancing Optical Materials

Richardson is recognized for her contributions to the development of optical glasses and infrared materials 麻豆精品 S� specialized materials that control how light is transmitted and detected.

Her research focuses on designing glass compositions at the atomic level to achieve precise optical properties, enabling high-performance systems for infrared imaging, sensing technologies and advanced optics.

麻豆精品 S淒r. Richardson 麻豆精品 S檚 sustained career has driven significant advancement in infrared material technologies, laying the foundation for next-generation sensing capabilities, 麻豆精品 S� says Winston Schoenfeld, vice president for research and innovation at UCF. 麻豆精品 S淗er relentless pursuit of discovery in optical and infrared materials illuminates UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 expanding impact on the frontiers of advanced technologies that continue to shape the future. 麻豆精品 S�

From Fundamental Science to Application

The Otto Schott Research Award highlights the critical connection between fundamental research and industrial application, a hallmark of Richardson 麻豆精品 S檚 work. By advancing how glass materials are engineered and processed, her research helps expand the performance limits of existing materials while opening the door to entirely new classes of optical systems.

These innovations include glasses with improved infrared transmission and tailored properties that support emerging technologies in fields including aerospace, electronics, energy production and medical technologies.聽 Her work has benefited from diverse support ranging from government to industry (local and international) as well as state funding from Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 High Technology Corridor (FHTC) which has provided extensive matching funds that have leveraged state funds to support education and training of several dozen graduate and undergraduate students from the Richardson group, over her career.

Why Infrared Materials Matter

Infrared materials play a critical role in technologies that rely on detecting and transmitting light beyond the visible spectrum. These systems are used in applications ranging from medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring to advanced imaging and sensing technologies.

Unlike conventional optical materials, infrared (IR) glasses must be carefully engineered to maintain transparency and performance under demanding conditions, including extreme temperatures and radiation.聽聽 Their chemistry is difficult requiring specialized facilities unique to UCF, present in the University 麻豆精品 S檚 Optical Material Laboratory, which houses the Glass Processing and Characterization Laboratory (GPCL). 聽As a result, workforce training in such novel optical material science benefits not only local industry, a stronghold in IR optical materials manufacturing and systems, but government agencies as well.

Richardson 麻豆精品 S檚 work focuses on developing glass compositions that meet these challenges while offering greater flexibility than traditional crystalline materials, which are often more expensive and difficult to manufacture.

By enabling more adaptable and scalable materials, her research supports continued advances in imaging systems, sensing technologies and other applications that rely on precise optical performance.

A Global Recognition

The award, endowed with about $29,000, was presented April 13 during the annual meeting at the International Commission on Glass in Lyon, France.

麻豆精品 S淭he research of Steve Martin and Kathleen Richardson clearly shows how essential a deep understanding of material structures is for technological progress, 麻豆精品 S� says Matthias M眉ller, head of research and development at SCHOTT. 麻豆精品 S淭hese insights form the basis for developing new glass solutions that perform reliably in real-world applications and expand the boundaries of what is possible. 麻豆精品 S�

Awarded every two years, the Otto Schott Research Award recognizes scientists whose work bridges scientific discovery and practical innovation.

About the Awardee

Richardson is a UCF trustee chair and Pegasus Professor of optics and materials science and engineering in CREOL. She is also Director of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Glass Processing and Characterization Laboratory (GPCL).

She earned her bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in ceramic engineering and her master 麻豆精品 S檚 and doctoral degrees in glass science from Alfred University. Richardson has spent more than two decades at UCF, following earlier work at Clemson University.

Nearly half聽of the world 麻豆精品 S檚 citizens聽live in areas with a聽risk of catching dengue fever,聽according to聽the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.聽As聽the mosquito-borne聽illness rapidly聽spreads, especially in the Americas and Caribbean, a聽聽researcher is playing a crucial role in finding solutions.

James聽Earnest, an assistant professor at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, is聽leading聽two聽new聽research projects to examine how humans build an immune response to dengue and the Zika virus over time, in pursuit of creating better preventative measures.

Tackling a Global Problem

Both聽dengue and聽Zika聽are carried by the聽Aedes aegypti聽mosquito,聽which has expanded聽its habitat from Africa to tropical,聽subtropical聽and even聽temperate聽areas worldwide.聽According to the World Health Organization, dengue infections in humans climbed聽from聽505,430 in 2000聽to聽14.6 million in 2024, an increase of more than 2,700%.

Dengue can be asymptomatic or cause severe pain, fatigue and high fever. Repeated infections can be fatal.

Since 2017, there have been few cases of聽Zika聽recorded in the U.S., but the disease persists sporadically in Africa, the Americas and Asia. The virus 麻豆精品 S� biggest health concern is聽for聽pregnant聽women because contracting聽Zika聽can increase risks for聽serious聽congenital birth defects.

While people in Mexico and Uganda聽may聽benefit聽from this research,聽Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 location as a worldwide travel destination聽adds to聽the聽growing聽need for solutions.聽U.S.聽dengue聽cases聽are on the rise and聽have been reported in Florida, California,聽Texas聽and Hawaii. Most are related to travel.聽Dengue is also prevalent in聽Puerto Rico.

麻豆精品 S淭he threat to the U.S. is growing over time. … We want to be the leaders at looking at these viruses. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� James Earnest, UCF Assistant Professor

麻豆精品 S淲ith more favorable temperatures and with people traveling around the globe these days, the threat to the U.S. is growing over time, 麻豆精品 S� Earnest says. 麻豆精品 S淚 think, especially here in Florida, the potential for these mosquitoes to live in these areas and start transmitting these diseases in the very near future is high. UCF recognizes that this is an important avenue of research for this region, and so we want to be the leaders at looking at these viruses. 麻豆精品 S�

How the聽UCF聽Research Works

Earnest 麻豆精品 S檚 lab is focused on how the immune system responds to mosquito-borne viruses. Before arriving at UCF in 2024, he tracked dengue via longitudinal sampling in Mexico 麻豆精品 S檚 Yucatan Peninsula.

Earnest is collaborating with the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) through a five-year $970,813 subcontract, part of a larger grant awarded to UVRI from Wellcome, a London-based charitable organization that supports science to solve urgent health challenges. The project aims to study immune system and antibody responses to dengue and Zika in large cohorts of people in Uganda and in Mexico.

UCF will also collaborate with Emory University on a聽$578,157聽grant from the National Institutes of Health, with Earnest subcontracted to Emory to study whether combining two current dengue inoculations used in Brazil gives humans better protection against repeat infections.

麻豆精品 S淚t’s important that we understand what good and bad immune responses look like to these viruses. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� James Earnest, UCF Assistant Professor

麻豆精品 S淚t’s聽important聽that we understand what good and bad immune responses look like to these viruses, 麻豆精品 S澛燛arnest聽says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen we know those factors, then聽we can try to steer people in聽the right聽direction so that their antibodies will protect them from聽disease. 麻豆精品 S�

Earnest will coordinate with teams in other countries to regularly collect blood samples and measure antibody production to get a comprehensive look at how different people 麻豆精品 S檚 bodies react to dengue and Zika over time. The samples will be collected and processed in Mexico and Uganda, and Earnest will analyze the results in his lab.

麻豆精品 S淚 think what’s unique about聽this work is that we 麻豆精品 S檙e聽following people over time and not necessarily聽just聽when they get sick, 麻豆精品 S澛燛arnest says.

His research focuses on B cells, which are white blood cells that make antibodies and help the body remember how to fight infections. By tracking how聽people 麻豆精品 S檚聽B cells change over time, his team aims to understand how immune responses differ across regions.

In a related project with Emory, the lab will聽identify聽the most effective memory B cells and antibodies induced by two existing methods of inoculation for dengue, then test whether combining those methods in Brazilian trial participants produces a stronger immune response.

Students Aim to Save Lives Through Lab Work

With this new research,聽Earnest 麻豆精品 S檚 lab has welcomed聽two new UCF聽students聽who have聽personal聽experience聽with聽dengue and聽Zika.

Maiesha聽Mahmood, a聽second-year聽biotechnology聽master 麻豆精品 S檚 student,聽is from Bangladesh, where the threat of dengue looms.

麻豆精品 S淚 have been around dengue a lot growing up, 麻豆精品 S� Mahmood聽says.聽 麻豆精品 S淚 know people who have been in hospital聽with聽severe forms聽of dengue, and聽people聽who’ve聽passed away聽suddenly.聽People become scared of mosquitos and dengue. 麻豆精品 S�

She聽says she聽hopes聽UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 research will someday save lives.

麻豆精品 S淏ack in Bangladesh,聽we don’t really have a lot of facilities that can support virology research, 麻豆精品 S澛爏he says. 麻豆精品 S淚t was聽a huge opportunity to be able to come here and be able to work聽with Dr. Earnest.聽I want to continue looking into these kinds of聽viruses聽and聽find聽a way to help people who keep suffering from聽these聽diseases. 麻豆精品 S�

叠谤耻苍辞听笔颈苍丑别颈谤辞听 麻豆精品 S�25, a first-year Ph.D. candidate,聽joined Earnest 麻豆精品 S檚 lab聽to further his education and hopes research will聽help people close to him.

麻豆精品 S淢y family is from Brazil and so聽Zika聽was a very big thing for them, 麻豆精品 S� says聽Pinheiro, who聽earned his bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in聽biotechnology聽 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 great to work on something that you can feel will impact the community that you’re a part of. 麻豆精品 S�

Researcher Credentials:

Earnest joined UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Medicine as聽an assistant professor聽in 2024. He聽earned聽his doctorate in聽microbiology and聽immunology from Loyola University Chicago in 2017. He performed postdoctoral research at Washington University in St. Louis studying antibody responses to mosquito-borne viruses and Emory University where he managed clinical field trials in Latin America.

Funding聽and Disclosure:

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number U01AI186860. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily聽represent聽the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

With more than 200 participating funds and so many opportunities for inspiration, activation and growth 麻豆精品 S� we 麻豆精品 S檙e counting down to liftoff by highlighting unique areas to consider supporting with your gift this UCF Day of Giving.

As Knights, we challenge status quo. We charge boldly ahead toward industry evolutions and technological advancements. We dare to build a future the world has only begun to imagine. And it 麻豆精品 S檚 all driven through moments like this and individuals like you.

Together,聽we 麻豆精品 S檙e聽launching Knights to new heights.

When the unexpected arises,聽help聽sometimes聽comes in the form of .聽Created to support聽Knights聽facing聽hardship that may聽hinder聽their education,聽this fund聽provides聽financial support聽for textbooks,聽fees聽and other education-related聽expenses聽for qualifying students.

Your gift ensures that聽when聽life 麻豆精品 S檚聽trials聽test our聽Knights,聽they聽pass聽with flying colors,聽securing聽the education聽and future聽they聽deserve.

The 麻豆精品 S痯rovides services, programming and resources for thousands of military-connected students currently enrolled at UCF.

helps ensure聽that聽those who have served and their connected students are fully supported as they pursue their educational and career goals.

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聽on UCF Day of Giving聽supports the continuation of this聽important聽service for our community, as well as the hands-on experience UCF student clinicians聽receive.

Support UCF College of Medicine researchers as they聽break聽into new realms of聽understanding聽around聽the聽country 麻豆精品 S檚聽second leading cause of death聽 麻豆精品 S� cancer.聽Through聽innovative science,聽they 麻豆精品 S檙e聽exploring key聽avenues of discovery聽including聽the role that聽genes play聽in聽determining聽a person 麻豆精品 S檚 cancer risk, what causes cancer to spread聽and how to harness the body 麻豆精品 S檚 immune system to kill cancer cells.

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Did you know聽that UCF has one of the top Moot Court聽teams in the nation, ranking聽among the top 15聽overall聽by the American Moot Court Association?聽Supervised by the , these student advocates聽are challenged聽with arguing聽mock supreme court cases聽on constitutional amendments.

and聽national聽leadership聽by聽making a gift on UCF Day of Giving.聽Help聽cover聽competition travel expenses, as well as聽the聽cost of聽the聽annual tournament聽hosted聽at UCF Downtown聽each fall.

It 麻豆精品 S檚聽time for launch, Knight Nation! Join us聽as聽we rally around聽our favorite causes, and聽maybe even聽uncover some聽new聽ones, during UCF Day of Giving.聽Find聽more areas of support聽by聽别虫辫濒辞谤颈苍驳听迟丑别听, 麻豆精品 S痑nd聽save the date to聽聽on Thursday, April 9.聽聽