Our students are groundbreaking national and global scholarship winners, researchers, athletes, teaching assistants, residence assistants and leaders in campus organizations, including Student Government, LEAD Scholars and the President’s Leadership Council. The honorees include transfer students, those from first-generation and international backgrounds and members of the Burnett Honors College.

Aside from focusing on academics and campus causes, many of the student honorees volunteered at hospitals, schools, parks, food banks, shelters, clinics, youth clubs and with many community service organizations — at times as organizers and coordinators for support drives and campaigns.

“When you look at this group, you see trajectory.” — John Buckwalter, UCF’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs

“The students we recognize at our Founders’ Day Student Honors Celebration are extraordinary not just for what they’ve achieved, but for how they’ve shaped their time at UCF. They’ve pursued opportunities, challenged themselves and lifted others along the way,” says John Buckwalter, UCF’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “When you look at this group, you see trajectory — students whose experiences here are opening doors in meaningful ways and changing the direction of their futures, the trajectories of their families and the communities they inhabit.”

Student award categories highlight new inductees of the Order of Pegasus, �����’s highest student honor; graduate awards for outstanding master’s thesis and outstanding dissertation; undergraduate awards for honors thesis; and individual college awardees as chosen by the respective college deans. All honorees earned financial awards.

This year’s 37 inductees into the Order of Pegasus mark the 25^th anniversary class of top-achieving Knights. The average GPA of the 2026 class is 3.912.

The campus community is invited to attend the Student Honors Celebration on Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Student Union’s Pegasus Ballroom. A brief reception will follow.

Here are the students to be recognized.

Order of Pegasus Inductees

• Fatima Alziyad, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Andy Ayup, College of Sciences
• Megan Bailey, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
• Stacie Becker ’23, College of Arts and Humanities
• Akash Hari Bharath ’25MS, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Swati Bhargava ’25MS, College of Optics and Photonics
• Sanjana Bhatt, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Griffon Binkowski ’24, College of Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Ossyris Bury, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
• Nico Chen, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
• Kyle Coutray, College of Medicine, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College
• Allyson Crighton, College of Nursing and Burnett Honors College
• Nyauni Crowelle-Feggins, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Cameron Cummins, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
• Andrew “Drew” Hansen ’25, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Andrea Hernandez Gomez, College of Sciences
• Lindsey Hildebrand, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Ariana Johnson, College of Medicine
• Sanjan Kumar ’23, College of Medicine
• Kworweinski Lafontant, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Meera Lakshmanan, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Abrianna Lalle, College of Nursing
• Ilana Logvinov, College of Nursing
• Hannah Lovejoy, College of Business
• Taiel Lucile, College of Health Professions and Sciences and Burnett Honors College
• Robin Marquez, College of Sciences
• Shanel Moya Aguero, College of Community Innovation and Education and Burnett Honors College
• Gabrielle “Gabby” Murison, College of Sciences
• Varun Nannuri, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Natalie Otero, College of Business and Burnett Honors College
• Om Pathak, College of Medicine, College of Arts and Humanities and Burnett Honors College
• Pritha Sarkar ’24, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Jacob Vierling, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Janapriya Vijayakumar, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Ornella Vintimilla, College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
• Om Vishanagra, College of Medicine, College of Engineering and Computer Science and Burnett Honors College

Undergraduate Student Awards

College Founders’ Award

• Liam Pivnichny, Burnett Honors College
• Antonella Bisbal Hernandez, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jordan Nell, College of Business
• Jude Hagan, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Ossyris Bury, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Timothy Horanic, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Sun Latt, College of Medicine
• Abrianna Lalle, College of Nursing
• Jacob Silver, College of Optics and Photonics
• Emily Willis, College of Sciences
• Fabian Rodriguez Gomez, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis

• Edwin Garcia ’25, College of Arts and Humanities, Outstanding Honors Thesis in Arts, Humanities and Creative Inquiry
• Eric Haseman ’25, College of Sciences, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Social Sciences
• Shreya S. Pawar ’25, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Natural Sciences
• Andrea C. Molero Perez ’25, College of Medicine, Outstanding Honors Undergraduate Thesis in Health Sciences
• Nicholas Rose ’25, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Outstanding Honors Thesis in Engineering and Technology

Graduate Student Awards

Outstanding Dissertation

• Jessica Moon ’25PhD, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Michael Pierro ’20 ’23MS ’25PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science

“Central Florida is my home, and I’d like to be part of this community for as long as I can,” he says.

That plan fell into place when he landed a job at Lockheed Martin, a UCF Pegasus Partner, just weeks after graduating with his bachelor’s degree in May. His new role as an electro-optical engineer associate in Lockheed Martin’s Orlando Missiles and Fire Control division involves developing new imaging systems — a project that comes with its own challenges.

“These systems make use of sensors specific to the mission,” says Lopez-Zelaya, who is part of the 83% of career-ready UCF alumni who help fuel Florida’s workforce. “We’re concerned with how these sensors generate images, so we take the optics and other sources of noise into consideration.”

That’s��exactly the skillset he honed during his time at��the��UCF College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL). In addition to engineering and physics concepts, CREOL students learn the hands-on methods necessary to build optical and electro-optical systems — allowing them to contribute to technological developments that benefit humanity. Lopez Zelaya says he now puts that training to use every day.

“Somebody who doesn’t have an optics and photonics background can’t truly engage in these discussions,” he says, “Because they don’t understand the basics of what is actually happening in these systems.”

Lopez Zelaya’s early career success is a continuation of the legacy he built during his��undergrad��years. Between classes that taught him MATLAB, display technology, image��processing��and semiconductor devices, he got involved as an undergraduate student research assistant. He also volunteered at Grace Medical Home, served as president of the IEEE Photonics Society student��chapter��and served on �����’s President’s Leadership Council. His dedication to both professional development and his fellow students led to his induction into Order of Pegasus, the most prestigious award UCF bestows upon students.

Lopez Zelaya says�������’s��culture of creating lifelong learners prepared him well for his next steps at Lockheed Martin.

“Everybody is willing to learn something new about optics,” he says, adding that��he’s��often a source of��expertise��for questions that arise in the field.

Lopez Zelaya’s quick transition illustrates the value of the talent pipeline��CREOL supplies to the Central Florida photonics industry.��As a valued, longtime member of CREOL’s Industrial Affiliates Program, Lockheed Martin’s partnership has strengthened both the available opportunities for students and collaborative research efforts that aim to��benefit��the industry at large. And as a new��Pegasus Partner��with UCF, Lockheed Martin’s investment in the future will make impacts far beyond CREOL’s walls,��building on��a longstanding and pragmatic focus on talent pipeline.

With a 7-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, CREOL’s students are in a unique position to have a small-college experience at a big university. Lopez Zelaya says��he’s��glad to have found a similar sense of community at Lockheed Martin.

“There’s a misconception that new technologies mostly emerge from startups, but a lot of them are being developed here,” he says. “Development is fun — taking a concept and making it into a working product.”

Lopez Zelaya says he’s proud to put those skills to use in his hometown, and for a company that’s leading the way in emerging optical technology – positively contributing to Central Florida’s economy along the way.

“It’s one of the best ways to make an impact here,” he says.

That’s the understanding 11th grader Micah Terry now has about photonics after spending a week at CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics’ Laser and Photonics Summer Camp. The Orlando Science High School student learned how to solder, constructed a pinhole camera, built a homemade telescope and brainstormed some ideas for his future.

“I’m definitely considering photonics as a career,” he says.

Terry was one of about 50 high school students from across Central Florida – and the world – who will return to their classrooms with a new understanding of the science of light and as an advocate for Florida’s only bachelor’s degree in photonic science and engineering.

“There are only six universities in the United States with this degree,” CREOL Undergraduate Adviser Mike McKee says. “Because of that, students don’t know that this is a potential career that they could go into.”

This is the third year CREOL has hosted the camp and the second year that organizers expanded the program into three one-week sessions to meet the demand. Each week, about 15 students collaborated in the teaching lab, helping each other assemble their projects in between talks by CREOL students and faculty members.

“It’s an opportunity for high school students to learn about the many important things that you can do with the science of light, whether it’s applications in imaging or in measuring distances, such as LIDAR in cars or fiber optic communications,” CREOL Dean David Hagan says.

Those connections aren’t always made in high school classrooms. CREOL senior Kiva McCracken kept that in mind as she planned the activities for the camp.

“There’s very few programs that teach photonics, and there’s basically no exposure on a pre-college level,” McCracken says.

Changing that reality promises to grow enrollment in the bachelor’s program as the awareness grows, but there are broader implications for the photonics industry. The��U.S. Department of Labor��projects that each year, there are more than 10,000 job openings for photonics engineers – 700 of which are in Florida. But only 80 to 100 students in the��entire U.S.��graduate with bachelor’s degrees in photonics engineering. UCF and CREOL proudly supply more than one third of those graduates.

“They’re high-paying jobs, and some of them are companies in the Central Florida area,” McKee says. “With CREOL, they’re going to be able to get home-grown people, versus going outside of the state and bringing them in, so we’re going to enable some of these companies to continue to grow and advance in photonics locally.”

Often, local growth is made possible by international talent. Chloe Phung attends high school in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She was awarded a scholarship to make the trip to Orlando to learn about photonics.

“I had the chance to learn many things, to know more about optics and lenses, and lasers,” Phung says.

Orange County Public Schools teachers Bill Young and Jorge Vallin helped McCracken facilitate the lessons and activities. At the end of the camp, parents gathered to watch their students present what they learned. Campers explained the science behind printed circuit boards, LED lighting, lasers and light diffraction. Parents were also given information about what classes their children might take to get on the right track for the bachelor’s degree program. There are multiple pathways, including earning credits at Valencia College that will ultimately transfer. One day of the camp was dedicated to a tour of Valencia’s Osceola campus, which offers introductory courses in photonics.

“We have a really strong undergraduate program in optics and photonics at UCF, and not many people know about it,” Hagan says. “This is a chance for students to get familiar. It’s also just as important for them to get a broader view of science than they might get in high school.”

The camp follows an inaugural Teacher Ambassador Program at CREOL. Eight teachers from across Central Florida spent three days doing similar hands-on activities that they could bring back to their classrooms. Unlike normal professional development workshops, the sessions also empowered teachers to become representatives for the college – and in turn, introduce more high school students to what CREOL has to offer.

Two UCF researchers, Department of Materials Science and Engineering and CREOL Assistant Professor Leland Nordin, and CREOL Professor Shuo Sean Pang, are developing an infrared imager that can overcome these limitations. Their team is led by Sandia National Laboratories, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratory. The three-year, $450,000 project is funded by the Photonic Enabled Tera-scale InfraRed Imager (PETRI) Grand Challenge Laboratory Directed Research and Development program, which asks researchers to create the next generation of infrared-imaging technologies.

“The Grand Challenge programs bring people with expertise together to solve a problem for a period of three years, says Shuo Sean Pang, a professor in CREOL and co-principal investigator of the project. “Through the program, we can tackle solving a technology problem that we choose.”

Building a Better Camera

The lead on the project is Nordin, who shares a joint appointment between the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and CREOL. He is using his knowledge of materials and his expertise in photonics to create some of the hardware for the camera while Pang and his team work on data encoding and transmission.

Nordin will use radiation-tolerant materials and a form of nanostructuring known as atomic layer deposition to fabricate the semiconductor that can detect infrared light.

“You put the wafer, known as the substrate, and different target elements inside the chamber, you then warm up the ovens which hold the elements so they come out of the oven and fly toward the substrate, building it up atomic layer by atomic layer,” he says. “It’s like spray-painting with atoms.”

At the same time, Pang and his team, which includes optics and photonics doctoral student Andrew Klein, will determine how to transmit a high-resolution image from space with minimum energy consumption from the hardware. Pang says the collaboration with Sandia allows them to try out different ideas, including non-traditional forms of data encoding to achieve high efficiency in communication, while maintaining the image quality.

The Key Component: Collaboration

For this team, collaboration is a key component of the project. Pang has worked with Sandia for three years now and Klein previously completed an internship with the national laboratory.

Klein says his internship provided a great training ground for this current project and he hopes to work for a national lab or a space-focused engineering organization after graduation.

“I love the Space Coast,” he says. “I think there are lots of opportunities to apply space photonics. Engineers don’t usually consider using optics to solve problems like communication, but they can benefit from seeing things differently.”

Nordin says he’s particularly excited about working with fellow CREOL researchers and is glad this national challenge fostered a partnership with someone who literally works next door.

“These projects are fun because it’s a new modality,” he says. “You get to learn about problems and find solutions to things that you don’t particularly do.”

About the Researchers

Leland Nordin is an assistant professor in the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and holds a joint appointment with CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics. His cutting-edge research focuses on next-generation semiconductor materials and devices, covering design, growth, fabrication and characterization. For his work, Nordin has received the Army Research Office Early Career Program Award. Prior to UCF, Nordin was a postdoctoral research fellow at Stanford University’s Geballe Lab for Advanced Materials. He earned his doctoral and master’s degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.De

Sean Pang is an associate professor at CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics. He received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Caltech and conducted his postdoctoral research at Duke University. His current research focuses on the intersection on computing and imaging systems. His group is interested in modeling and developing optoelectronic system for sensing, imaging and computing applications, including the application of AI in solving imaging and photonic design problems.

Each early-career faculty researcher is making a substantial impact through their respective areas of expertise.

As in previous years, the variety of disciplines represented through the awards showcases �����’s commitment to cultivating and recognizing groundbreaking and academically diverse research.

Honorees will receive a $10,000 annual research grant for three years in addition to the distinction of being an award recipient.

The prestigious award is second only to Pegasus Professor as �����’s highest faculty honor.

The UCF community is cordially invited to come and congratulate the recipients from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2 in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union as part of the 2025 Founders’ Day Faculty Honors Celebration.

This year’s Reach for the Stars honorees are:

Amrita Ghosh

• Assistant professor of South Asian literature at �����’s within its and a member of The India Center at UCF
• Ph.D. in postcolonial literature and theory from Drew University.

Amrita Ghosh hopes to create an understanding in conflict zones and bridge gaps in cultural interpretations spanning the varied peoples of South Asia through her cultural and literary research.

Her research as an assistant professor of South Asian literature at UCF focuses on studying literature and media from countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, among others.

Ghosh says she hopes to bring to light a better understanding of the nearly 2 billion people inhabiting these countries and how some of them have adapted since gaining independence and sovereignty from occupying nations.

“My research is important because it creates an understanding of the effects that colonialism had over South Asia for over 200 years, including the sources of conflicts, but also the resilience of the people,” she says. “It enables us to build cross border solidarity with a part of the world that’s often mired in essentialized representations.”

Ghosh says she believes there is value in learning about South Asia’s profoundly rich history for not just the 2 billion people living there, but for everyone.

“Through my research I hope to underscore solidarities and critical intimacies that can help mitigate the increasing rhetoric of division and fragmentation that is there in some South Asian nations,” she says. “South Asia has many different communities, ethnicities, identities and cultures living together. Through my work I hope to highlight syncretic pasts and how to also forge ahead together toward ethical futures.”

Ghosh was inspired by her family history tracing back to modern day Bangladesh. She had studied the aftermaths of the British partitions of the Indian subcontinent into Bangladesh, India, Pakistan.

“Prior to researching the Partition, I was always interested in this huge historical rupture because of stories I heard within the family,” Ghosh says. “I grew up hearing stories of Partition, of courage, resilience and of friendship of cross border relations. Many such families exist in South Asia with stories of Partition that are there buried within families and that created an interest for me to enter this field of study.”

In addition to her research and student mentorship, Ghosh has shared her prolific findings through authoring or editing a variety of unique books spanning topics on India’s largest film industry in Mumbai, popularly called Bollywood, and literary and media analysis of the militarized border zone such as Kashmir.

She says she’s also working on more enlightening discoveries to be published soon.

“I am also very excited about upcoming research that is coming out on intersecting the narratives of Partition and [artificial intelligence] AI,” Ghosh says. “This upcoming journal article is on how AI can be used in creative imaginations to rethink hatred and foster solidarities and friendships in the so-called rival nations of India and Pakistan.”

While some people may think the arts and humanities are distinct from STEM, Ghosh says she believes they are is both complementary to science and essential in enhancing the human experience.

“Literature, arts and the humanities have an important role at a time when the world is rapidly shifting through technology, scientific and business innovations constantly,” she says. “Literature and the arts can enable us to understand the significance of human reliance towards each other, the values of pluralistic thinking and help us come closer. I say this with hope especially because UCF has been such a space where knowledge is built together alongside many different divergent fields.”

Ghosh’s proficiencies aligned with �����’s desire to expand its literary offerings, as the university was looking for an expert in South Asian literature. She says she the mutual interest was evident almost instantly.

“When I interviewed with UCF, I was very impressed with the wide variety of different research expertise that is there in my department,” Ghosh says. “After getting to know the department and my colleagues, I knew it was absolutely the right place for me. I also had the chance to meet with students for an interview and I still remember the fantastic energy they had even in a short meeting.”

While she still holds dear the memories of where she had lived before, Ghosh says she feels at home here in Orlando.

“When I first visited Orlando, I was particularly impressed with the dynamism of the city and what it offers to the people,” she says. “In my third year here, I call myself a Floridian now.”

Although Ghosh is comfortable here at UCF, she says that she’s far from finished with furthering her aspirations.

She says that being a Reach for the Stars honoree is incredibly humbling, and that it encourages her to continue growing with UCF.

“I am so thankful for the support UCF has shown me and this award means the world to me to be able to continue my research,” she says. “I feel overjoyed and so grateful for all the amazing opportunities that last three years of UCF have provided me that led to this award.”

Leland Nordin

• Assistant Professor of materials science and engineering at within its with a joint appointment with .
• Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Semiconductors are specialized components omnipresent in everyday electronics — including the phone that Leland Nordin answered to hear President Alexander N. Cartwright congratulating him on earning a 2025 Reach for the Stars award.

“It was a great honor and surreal moment to receive a call from �����’s president informing me of the award,” says Nordin, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering whose research focuses on semiconductors. “I deeply appreciate that UCF recognizes the hard work my students and I are doing, and I am excited about the research opportunities this award will unlock.”

Nordin, who also holds a joint appointment at CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics, works to realize better and more efficient semiconductor materials and devices. Specifically, he and his group of students work on specialty devices that emit, detect, or manipulate light — such as lasers, LEDs and photodetectors like those found in a cell phone camera.

“My research is important because semiconductor materials and advanced devices drive nearly every critical technology today and will be central to future innovations,” Nordin says. “These future applications include, but are not limited to, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, next generation 5G/6G communications, autonomous systems, space exploration, and hypersonics.”

While many of these terms may seem cumbersome and unfamiliar, Nordin says he hopes his research helps to translate these technologies into ways that improve the lives of people everywhere.

“I strive to develop semiconductor materials and devices that make a real impact,” he says. “For example, we are working on ultraviolet light emitters, particularly lasers, that could help efficiently sterilize hospitals and other critical environments. Additionally, we are exploring ways to improve computer memory, which is a key bottleneck in modern data centers that power the AI revolution.”

Nordin leverages �����’s plentiful semiconductor resources, such as its state-of-the-art cleanrooms, to grow his research and educate students.

“We take a ‘full stack’ approach to semiconductor materials and devices, meaning we design, synthesize, fabricate and test our own materials and devices,” he says. “Using molecular beam epitaxy (a process akin to spray painting with atoms) we grow high-quality semiconductor materials. We then carve these materials into working devices in a cleanroom before testing their performance in our lab.”

In evaluating universities where he could launch his career, Nordin says he found UCF to be the most opportune place to harness his multidisciplinary research without excluding or overplaying any one aspect of his work.

“Before joining UCF, I worked across a range of disciplines, including physics, electrical engineering, and materials science and engineering,” he says. “I chose UCF because it is the ideal place to pursue this interdisciplinary work, offering world-class facilities, outstanding colleagues and as I’ve come to appreciate, exceptional research support. I am especially fortunate to have a joint appointment as well.”

Since joining ��AV in 2023, Nordin has not only prioritized accelerating semiconductor and optoelectronic research but preparing students for a career in STEM.

“One of my primary goals is to train the next generation of the U.S. semiconductor workforce,” he says. “As an educator, I believe my most significant contribution is the students I mentor and graduate. I want them to be the most hardworking, well-equipped scientists and engineers in the field.”

Nordin says he takes great pride in the student research group he assembled, and that he greatly appreciates their trust in his ability to focus and guide meaningful research.

“I know it may sound corny, but I’m especially proud of the research group I’ve built and their enthusiasm for semiconductor materials and devices,” he says, “There’s always some risk in joining a junior faculty member’s lab, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the students in my group.”

Nordin says he is elated to receive this award, and he reiterates his appreciation for the support of his many close collaborators and friends.

“I am incredibly honored, humbled, and excited to receive this award,” he says. “I would like to express my gratitude to my current graduate students, undergraduate students and my academic mentors.”

Yogesh Rawat

• Assistant professor at the .
• Ph.D. in computer science at the National University of Singapore.

Yogesh Rawat aspires toward a future where artificial intelligence (AI) is accurate, efficient and ultimately trustworthy.

Rawat, who completed his postdoctoral training at �����’s Center for Research in Computer Vision (CRCV) from 2017 to 2019, continues to hone his expertise in AI and computer vision as an assistant professor.

His work with computer vision focuses on video understanding, which enables AI to interpret media and respond to real-world events automatically.

“The world generates massive amounts of video data every second — whether through CCTV cameras, medical imaging or autonomous systems,” Rawat says. “However, manually analyzing such data is nearly impossible. My research focuses on developing AI models that can efficiently process and understand video streams in real time, allowing for faster decision-making in high-stakes environments.”

Allowing AI and machine learning to sift through and decipher video datasets may prove to be valuable as data interpretation can be automated to free up human expertise for high-level decision making, he says.

“The ability to analyze video in real time has immense potential to make our world safer and more efficient,” Rawat says. “From healthcare to security, disaster response and law enforcement, AI can provide instant insights where human analysis may be slow or impractical.

His research is funded by a variety of sources including the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity as part of the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and it has resulted in multiple patents and even a startup company. Among his proudest accomplishments are his contributions to secure and AI-powered identification systems.

“The intersection of technology and real-world impact is what drives my passion for this field,” Rawat says.

He credits �����’s enduring legacy as one of the top computer vision programs in the world to several key factors which ultimately led him here.

“Ů��AV is one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, with a strong commitment to innovation and interdisciplinary research,” Rawat says. “It is home to one of the top computer vision research groups, led by [CRCV Director] Mubarak Shah, and offers a collaborative, resource-rich environment that enables groundbreaking AI research. The university’s strong connections with government agencies also provide an excellent platform for translating research into real world impact.”

Earning a Reach for the Stars award is something, he says, that is both humbling and profoundly inspiring.

“It is incredibly motivating to see my research acknowledged in this way and it reaffirms my commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI for societal benefit,” Rawat says. “This award is not just a personal achievement — it is a testament to the hard work of my students, collaborators and the incredible research environment at UCF.”

Similar to how his work with AI and computer vision is guided by human guidance, Rawat says his success is guided by those who support him at UCF.

“This recognition would not have been possible without the unwavering support of UCF,” he says. “I am deeply grateful to the technical assistance team, Mubarak Shah, [Department of Computer Science Chair] Damla Turgut, [Professor] Gary Leavens and [CECS Dean] Michael Georgiopoulos. I must give special recognition to [CRCV Administrative Coordinator] Cherry Place, whose incredible support has made a profound impact on my success.”

There are so many people at UCF to thank that at times it may be challenging to quantify just how crucial of a role they play, but Rawat says he’s particularly grateful for Place’s assistance and coordination.

“To be honest, at least 30% of what I have achieved would not have been possible without her,” he says. “I truly appreciate everything she has done for me and for our research group.”

Kelly Stevens

• Assistant professor of public administration at within its , and a member of�������’s Resilient, Intelligent, and Sustainable Energy Systems (RISES) Faculty Cluster�����Ի���.
• Ph.D. in public administration from Syracuse University.

There’s no better place for remaining resilient and adaptive than the Sunshine State.

Kelly Stevens, assistant professor of public administration at UCF, thrives by navigating Florida’s unique weather conditions, energy opportunities and challenges through her research in sustainable and resilient technologies.

Much like the technologies she researches, Stevens harnesses creative methods of pursuing a bright future.

“A major part of my work right now looks at what community members identify as problems related to energy, resilience, and sustainability,” says Stevens, who is a member of �����’s Resilient, Intelligent and Sustainable Energy Systems (RISES) Faculty Cluster. “It’s useful for people who are engineers or policy makers to understand how something like a power outage impacts people differently across the state — the elderly, the poor, people with medical conditions.”

Before she adopted the signature black and gold of UCF, she donned shades of garnet and gold while earning her master’s in meteorology from Florida State University and working as a meteorologist for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the Division of Air Resource Management. Stevens says she was drawn to policy and program design as she continued immersing herself in the field of air quality modeling and monitoring.

Stevens returned to Florida after completing her doctoral degree in public administration from Syracuse University and supplementing her existing background with electricity and energy expertise.

She says bridging the gap between academic research and practice within Florida and beyond is part of how she ensures work makes a positive impact.

“I’m excited to be back in Florida applying what I’ve learned to different energy and environmental projects here in Central Florida,” Stevens says. “With my background in both social and physical sciences, I try to move beyond typically siloed disciplines to talk about complex questions in our energy system from a more holistic perspective. I believe this strategy is important to so we can better translate from science to practice by making sure technologies we create here at UCF are useful and user-friendly.”

Disaster preparedness is a critical component of resiliency, and it is something Floridians need to be particularly aware of given the state’s susceptibility to adverse weather such as hurricanes, she says. Her efforts to help local people is something Stevens says is incredibly rewarding.

“The project I am most proud of is the NSF-funded Resilience, Education and Advocacy Center for Hazard preparedness, the REACH hub,” she says. “We worked closely with the City of Orlando to design a portable and innovative resilience hub to provide energy-related services before and after disasters here.”

The hub eventually will be delivered to and used by the City of Orlando for local use to help residents stay safe, recharged and informed.

“With community feedback … we designed a solar-powered, portable hub with an extensive battery system to provide internet connection, cooling, information via display screens, and device charging that can help residents prepare for and respond to a disaster,” Stevens says. “The hub is built, we are conducting demonstrations, and anticipate the hub will be used by the City of Orlando as soon as this hurricane season.”

Stevens says she’s grateful for the collaborative nature of UCF, particularly for the Faculty Cluster Initiative, which links faculty from different colleges, institutes and centers together to accomplish interdisciplinary breakthroughs.

“I am deeply grateful to be part of a talented and innovative team of researchers who embrace challenging questions and different perspectives in their work,” she says. “I am also grateful for the support and opportunities provided by the Faculty Cluster Initiative in fostering interdisciplinary work, as well as support from the College of Community Innovation and Education as well as the School of Public Administration for highlighting the great work that happens here.”

Stevens says that the funds earned from the Reach for Stars award will sustain and further her research while helping to inspire and energize students.

“It is a huge honor to be recognized for this early-career award,” she says. “The research funding will be beneficial for funding more students to continue research on power outages and resilience over the next few years.”

The research was recently published in Nano Letters, an esteemed scholarly journal published by the American Chemical Society.

The findings are the result of a $1.5 million project funded through the Extreme Photon Imaging Capabilities program of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that was awarded nearly two years ago.

The new detection and imaging technique will have applications in analyzing materials by their spectral properties, or spectroscopic imaging, as well as thermal imaging applications.

Humans perceive primary and secondary colors but not infrared light. Scientists hypothesize that animals like snakes or nocturnal species can detect various wavelengths in the infrared almost like how humans perceive colors.

Infrared, specifically LWIR, detection at room temperature has been a long-standing challenge due to the weak photon energy, Chanda says.

LWIR detectors can be broadly classified into either cooled or uncooled detectors, the researcher says.

Cooled detectors excel in high detectivity and fast response times but their reliance on cryogenic cooling significantly escalates their cost and restricts their practical applications.

In contrast, uncooled detectors, like microbolometers, can function at room temperature and come at a relatively lower cost but exhibit lower sensitivity and slower response times, Chanda says.

Both kinds of LWIR detectors lack the dynamic spectral tunability, and so they can’t distinguish photon wavelengths of different “colors.”

Chanda and his team of postdoctoral scholars sought to expand beyond the limitations of existing LWIR detectors, so they worked to demonstrate a highly sensitive, efficient and dynamically tunable method based on a nanopatterned graphene.

Tianyi Guo��’23�ʳ�� is the lead author of the research. Guo completed his doctoral degree at Ů��AV in 2023 under Chanda’s mentorship. He is the recipient of an international thesis award from Springer Nature and his thesis exploring potential LWIR detection methods was published in the high-impact��Springer Theses��book series.

This newly discovered method is the culmination of the research that Guo, Chanda and others in Chanda’s lab have performed, Chanda says.

“No present cooled or uncooled detectors offer such dynamic spectral tunability and ultrafast response,” Chanda says. “This demonstration underscores the potential of engineered monolayer graphene LWIR detectors operating at room temperature, offering high sensitivity as well as dynamic spectral tunability for spectroscopic imaging.”

The detector relies on a temperature difference in materials (known as the Seebeck effect) within an asymmetrically patterned graphene film. Upon light illumination and interaction, the patterned half generates hot carriers with greatly enhanced absorption while the unpatterned half remains cool. The diffusion of the hot carriers creates a photo-thermoelectric voltage and is measured between the source and drain electrodes.

By patterning the graphene into a specialized array, the researchers achieved an enhanced absorption and can further electrostatically tune within the LWIR spectra range and provide better infrared detection. The detector significantly surpasses the capabilities of the conventional uncooled infrared detectors — also known as microbolometers.

“The proposed detection platform paves the path for a new generation of uncooled graphene-based LWIR photodetectors for wide ranging applications such as consumer electronics, molecular sensing and space to name a few,” Chanda says.

Researchers from Chanda’s group include postdoctoral scholars Aritra Biswas ’21MS ’24PhD, Sayan Chandra, Arindam Dasgupta, and Muhammad Waqas��Shabbir ’16MS ’21PhD.

Licensing Opportunity

The technology is patented. For more information about licensing this technology, please visit the .

Researchers’ Credentials:

Chanda has joint appointments in �����’s NanoScience Technology Center, Department of Physics and CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics. He received his doctorate in photonics from the University of Toronto and worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He joined Ů��AV in Fall 2012.

Guo joined �����’s physics doctoral program in the fall of 2017 and graduated in fall 2023. He received his bachelor’s of science in 2015 from the University of Science and Technology of China. Guo currently is a postdoctoral researcher in Chanda’s group at UCF.

The tour included visits with key UCF research centers, such as (IST), , and the Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion (HyperSpace Center).

While Grady toured �����’s defense-related research, his wife, Christine Grady, visited �����’s Office of Military and Veteran Student Success; , a clinic dedicated to treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and met with UCF Army and Air Force ROTC cadets.

“The visit from Admiral and Mrs. Grady underscores the vital role Ů��AV plays in advancing national security and defense research, supporting critical DOD needs, and preparing the next generation of military leaders,” says Winston V. Schoenfeld, �����’s vice president for research and innovation. “Over 30% of �����’s federal funding has come from the DOD for more than a decade, positioning UCF as a national leader in delivering key innovations to the DOD.”

The Tour

Grady began his visit with a meeting alongside UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright, where they discussed �����’s longstanding commitment to supporting the nation’s defense through cutting-edge research and workforce development.

While with CREOL, Admiral Grady received a briefing on directed energy research and its applications for DOD missions, particularly the capabilities of the Townes Institute for Science and Technology Experimentation Facility. The institute, located at Kennedy Space Center, supports multidisciplinary research with a focus on space science, optics and other advanced technologies.

At IST, UCF showcased the latest advancements in digital twin technology, such as real-time 3D digital twins of structures and areas, and artificial intelligence for DOD-decision making tools.

Grady’s visit to the HyperSpace Center focused on the integration of students into the research process and the timeline for the hypersonic technology, which would allow air travel at speeds of up to 13,000 miles per hour (Mach 17).

Commitment to National Defense and Military Success

��AV is a national leader in supporting military and defense initiatives through education, research and industry partnerships.

�����’s Office of Military and Veteran Student Success supports more than 3,200 military-connected students, including veterans, active-duty and dependents, by providing academic advising, transition assistance and tailored guidance.

UCF RESTORES offers innovative, no-cost PTSD treatment for veterans and first responders, with clinical trials achieving a 100% success rate in just 14 days for participants completing VR-assisted exposure therapy. The program has treated more than 500 veterans and 950 first responders, with the majority no longer meeting PTSD criteria.

UCF also boasts top-ranked ROTC programs, with the Army ROTC Fighting Knights Battalion and Air Force Detachment 159 preparing leaders for military and civilian careers. �����’s AFROTC program, which has been developing officers for the Air Force and Space Force for more than 50 years, has earned the DOD’s ROTC and Educational Institutional Partnership Excellence Award for multiple areas of excellence.

In research, �����’s close ties to the defense industry are amplified through Central Florida Research Park, a $7 billion hub for modeling and simulation adjacent to �����’s main campus, which is also home to six DOD headquarters. UCF also ranks No. 1 in Florida for VA certifications, is leading the nation in the number of cybersecurity championships, and is the top supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industries.

Nordin, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering, is leading a project to develop a compact semiconductor light source for defense and civilian applications such as room disinfection. The work is funded through a new, $1 million grant from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory.

The laser device would operate at the ultraviolet C (UVC) wavelength, which is the shortest of all forms of UV light.

“UVC is part of the UV spectrum,” Nordin says. “When we talk about UV, we talk about what hurts us from the sun – UVA and UVB. UVC has the shortest wavelength and the highest energy. The reason why it’s useful is because, unlike longer wavelengths, it doesn’t penetrate the skin deeply, but it does provide disinfection and virus protection.”

The drawback to UVC semiconductor lasers is their short lifespan. They can last one hour at best, making their use impractical and costly. Nordin plans to develop a UVC laser that can last for at least 10,000 hours by overcoming the electromigration of defects, which can cut the life of a laser short.

“What that means is that while making lasers through crystal growth, defects can occur,” Nordin says. “There can be an atom missing or an extra atom generated.”

To optimize the laser’s performance, Nordin will employ a suite of novel growth approaches, including the use of digital alloys. These superlattice structures can be easily scaled, offer superior transport properties, and have high thermal conductivity, among other benefits. The end result is a more powerful UVC laser with fewer defects and a longer lifespan.

The Army could use these UVC laser for non-line-of-sight communication and the detection of chemical or biological weapons and explosives. There also are other applications for these lasers. Hospitals could use them to remove viruses from surfaces simultaneously, while wastewater treatment plants could use them to sterilize water. Homeowners could someday benefit from this technology as well.

“Imagine this technology being connected with smart home technology,” Nordin says. “You could click a button and while you’re out, the technology could disinfect the room for you.”

Nordin’s co-PI on the project is UCF materials science researcher Leo Schowalter, who co-created the first UVC laser with Nobel Prize winner Hiroshi Amano at Nagoya University in 2019. They look forward to building a bigger semiconductor ecosystem in Florida and are eager to collaborate with faculty from the University of Florida who are already working on semiconductors with researchers from the Florida Semiconductor Institute. Nordin says this project provides a chance to develop the semiconductor workforce in Florida, and to foster the spirit of collaboration that Ů��AV is known for.

“UCF supports industry partnerships, and this pairs well with those efforts,” Nordin says. It demonstrates the level of partnership that Ů��AV is so eager and interested to do.”

Researchers’ Credentials:

Nordin is an assistant professor in the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and holds a joint appointment with CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics. His cutting-edge research focuses on next-generation semiconductor materials and devices, covering design, growth, fabrication and characterization. Prior to UCF, Nordin was a postdoctoral research fellow at Stanford University’s�� Geballe Lab for Advanced Materials. He earned his doctoral and master’s degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Schowalter is the chief technology officer for Lit Thinking and a research adjunct professor at UCF. After receiving his doctoral degree in physics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Schowalter worked at the GE Global Research Center and at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 1997, he co-founded Crystal IS, a manufacturer of high-performance LEDs for disinfection and instrumentation applications. Schowalter is also a designated professor at Nagoya University.

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

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

�����’s cutting-edge areas of space expertise include:

Space Medicine

�����’s College of Medicine is pioneering new frontiers in aerospace medicine, positioning itself as a leader in space health research and education. Spearheaded by initiatives to create an interdisciplinary curriculum, Ů��AV is integrating expertise from engineering, medicine and nursing to address the unique health challenges of space exploration.

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

Space Propulsion and Power

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

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

Space Technology and Engineering

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

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

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

Space Commercialization

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

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

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

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

Autry will also be leading �����’s effort to develop and execute a roadmap for the university’s SpaceU brand through targeted investments in talent and facilities.

Space Domain Awareness

Ů��AV is advancing space domain awareness research to protect critical assets in orbit by developing sophisticated algorithms for tracking and predicting the movement of objects such as satellites and asteroids, so they don’t collide with spacecraft. Under the guidance of aerospace engineering expert Tarek Elgohary, UCF researchers are creating a computational framework to rapidly and accurately track space objects in real time. This initiative is backed by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research Dynamic Data and Information Process Program.

Ů��AV is also addressing the growing issue of orbital debris through a NASA-funded study that includes researchers from �����’s FSI and . This project seeks to increase public awareness and support for managing space debris, a hazard to satellites and potential space tourism ventures.

Workforce Development

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

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

At the , students gain direct experience in microgravity research and robotics. The center embodies �����’s commitment to democratizing space access, offering pathways for students from all backgrounds to participate in and contribute to the growing space industry.

FSI’s CubeSat program further immerses students in satellite design and operation, offering direct involvement in active space missions.

Planetary Science

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

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

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

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

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

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

Advancing Astrophotonics, History and Policy

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

Meanwhile, delves into space history, exploring the cultural and scientific impacts of milestones like the Apollo missions and the Space Shuttle program, helping illuminate humanity’s journey into space.

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

Pioneering Tomorrow’s Space Exploration

Ů��AV is pushing the frontiers of space research and education, tackling today’s challenges while preparing for the demands of future space missions. As the new space race continues, �����’s forward-thinking approach will continue to drive progress, inspire new possibilities and expand humanity’s reach into the universe.

UCF hosted the symposium on its main campus and co-organized the event with the University of South Florida and the Florida High Tech Corridor.

The symposium brought together some of the best minds in Florida to equip them with the skills and knowledge to successfully engage with DoD.

Additionally, the symposium featured presentations and lectures by distinguished speakers on opportunities within various DoD agencies, strategies for creating winning proposals, building effective relationships between research faculty and DoD officers, identifying and cultivating critical fields for research and development, poster presentations and faculty lightning talks. The research and collaboration discussion focused on artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, modeling and simulation, space technologies, and lasers and optics.

Participants included local and federal defense agency representatives and officers from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the U.S. Special Operations Command.

Attendees also had plenty of opportunities to bolster their connections with each other between panels, during breaks and in networking sessions.

UCF Vice President for Research and Innovation Winston Schoenfeld mirrored President Alexander N. Cartwright’s sentiments in his introductory speech by highlighting UCF and Florida’s track record for fostering meaningful research.

“Here at UCF, we have a rich history of exceptional research in key defense areas such as hypersonics, optics, directed energy, cybersecurity, [AI], and modeling and simulation — just to name a few,” Schoenfeld said to attendees on the second day of the symposium. “Our research in these areas has benefitted from significant DoD support — with more than 30% of our federal funding coming from DoD sources for over a decade.”

He also encouraged attendees to take advantage of the opportunities at the symposium.

“With a deep well of talent, expertise, and interdisciplinary research, Florida academic institutions are uniquely positioned to address the emerging needs and challenges of security and defense,” Schoenfeld said. “This symposium will help ensure that we harness this across our institutions through greater awareness and stronger alignment with the nation’s defense priorities.”

Sylvia Wilson Thomas, USF vice president for research and Innovation, also echoed Schoenfeld’s desire for collaboration.

“There’s an opportunity for us to make a unique impact across the defense industry,” she said. “We want the program officers here to embrace what we have to offer.”

The symposium was well-received, and organizers are hopeful it will become a regular event, said Saiful Khondaker, UCF assistant vice president for research advancement.

“It was wonderful to see so many faculty and program officers coming together,” he said. “The promise of continuing to advance our partnerships and developing critical technologies is exciting. With the success of this symposium, we’re optimistic we can bring everyone together again and keep the momentum going.”

Learn more information about the FDSTS .