Name: Dinender Singla
Position(s): Professor of medicine; head of the Division of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Sciences; AdventHealth endowed chair of cardiovascular sciences

Why are you interested in this research?
My research journey began more than 30 years ago, while pursuing my doctorate, with a focus on developing molecular-based diagnostic tests for the early detection of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Over time, this foundation evolved as I collaborated with cardiovascular clinicians and basic scientists, deepening my commitment to creating innovative technologies that can meaningfully improve patient outcomes. Despite substantial global investment in heart disease treatment, mortality rates remain unacceptably high. Closing this gap continues to motivate my work and inspires me to find solutions. My ultimate goal is to develop transformative, science-driven therapies that not only improve clinical care but also save the lives of millions affected by cardiovascular disorders.

Who inspires you to conduct your research?
My mother has always been my strongest source of inspiration. She often shared stories about my maternal uncle and cousin, both of whom earned doctoral degrees. They sparked my early curiosity for scientific discovery. Though she was a homemaker, she was remarkably intelligent, forward-thinking and active. The values she instilled in me — hard work, persistence and creativity — continue to guide my scientific pursuits. Her passing from diabetes and diabetic cardiomyopathy profoundly strengthened my commitment to advancing cardiovascular research. Beyond her, my wife has been my greatest supporter, constantly motivating me to pursue ambitious scientific goals. These remarkable individuals have shaped my journey and empowered me to achieve all that I have accomplished in my research career.

How does UCF empower you to do your research?
I joined Ĺ®ĆÍAV in June 2007, coming from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Vermont, when the College of Medicine was still emerging and biomedical research was in its early stages. Making this move came with questions and uncertainties, even from colleagues who were hesitant about my decision. But I was driven by the desire to help build something unique and make a meaningful contribution at a new institution.

Are you a faculty member or student conducting research at UCF? We want to hear from you! 

Throughout my journey, there were moments when challenges made me consider leaving. However, the support I received from Deborah German, dean of the College of Medicine and vice president for health affairs, reinforced my commitment to stay and grow here. As a clinician, German deeply understands the value of research and ensures I have the resources to succeed. More recently, Griff Parks, professor and director of the , has continued that support by providing the guidance and facilities essential to advancing my research. His perspective as an accomplished researcher allows him to recognize exactly what is needed for success in this field.

UCF has also been an exceptional environment for finding talented, motivated students. I am deeply grateful for the support of my outstanding students, colleagues, staff and administration, all of whom have been instrumental to my success.

What major grants and honors have you earned to support your research?
I have secured more than $12 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health to support a broad portfolio of innovative cardiovascular studies. Throughout my career, I’ve also been honored with numerous awards recognizing my scientific contributions. One of the most meaningful distinctions has been my appointment as the AdventHealth endowed chair of cardiovascular sciences, which reflects both the impact of my work and my vision for advancing cardiovascular research.

Why is this research important?
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide and imposes a significant economic burden on healthcare systems. Despite major advances in medicine, millions of patients still die each year because current diagnostic tools and therapies often fail to precisely target diseased heart tissue. Many treatments require patients to take multiple high-dose medications, yet clinicians cannot be certain that these drugs are effectively reaching the heart, limiting efficacy and increasing the risk of side effects.

My research directly addresses this critical challenge by developing an innovative, targeted drug delivery platform to transform cardiovascular therapy. Our goal is to create a safe, highly targeted treatment strategy that improves patient outcomes, reduces healthcare costs and lowers global cardiovascular mortality rates — all while advancing a more personalized, effective approach to heart disease care.

Name: Brian Peach
Position(s): Associate professor of nursing; Honors Undergraduate Thesis Program director in the College of Nursing; Co-advisor to the Student Nurses Association, Orlando

Why are you interested in this research?
My interest in this research is rooted in nearly 20 years of nursing practice, most of it spent caring for critically ill patients in intensive care units. I worked alongside dedicated multidisciplinary clinicians to save lives, and I took pride in seeing patients survive conditions such as sepsis, respiratory failure, heart failure and gastrointestinal bleeds.

Are you a faculty member or student conducting research at UCF? We want to hear from you! 

I assumed that once they left the ICU, they would recover, reclaim their lives and enjoy the years we had helped them gain. During my doctoral program however, I learned something that fundamentally shifted my perspective. Survivors were not simply recovering — they were facing new or worsened long-term physical, cognitive and mental health challenges that persisted months or even years after discharge.

These chronic issues, collectively known as post‑intensive care syndrome (PICS), included something I found especially troubling: post‑traumatic stress disorder stemming from the ICU experience itself. This realization was unsettling.

As clinicians, we often celebrate when a patient survives and moves on to the next unit or facility. Once they leave our care, they tend to slip out of sight and out of mind. Yet if you asked any ICU clinician what they hope for their patients, none would say they want survivors to live with debilitating long‑term consequences. We want them to thrive.

Recognizing the hidden burden carried by ICU survivors — and the gap between survival and true recovery — motivates my work. I am committed to advancing research that acknowledges, prevents, and treats PICS conditions, with particular focus on PTSD. My goal is to ensure that surviving critical illness is not the end of the story. While many critical illness survivors may never return to their prior level of health, I hope we can effectively treat their PTSD and remove a major barrier to living a fulfilling post‑ICU life.

Who inspires you to conduct your research?
The critical illness survivors and their families motivate me to conduct this research. Through my research, I’ve heard their stories, and admittedly they trouble me. Their experiences remind me that survival is only the first step; what happens after the ICU matters just as much. I want survivors to have the chance at a meaningful, high‑quality life, and I want families to feel supported rather than blindsided by the long‑term effects of critical illness.

Part of my motivation is personal as well. I know that my own loved ones could one day find themselves in an ICU, and if they were to leave with PICS‑related challenges, I would want them to have access to timely, effective care.

This research has also opened doors to service opportunities that continually reinforce my commitment. Through the PICS Advocacy Network, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, and the American Psychological Association, I’ve met survivors, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers who are working tirelessly to improve post‑ICU outcomes.

Two years ago, I co‑founded Walk‑4‑PICS Orlando with a survivor and the spouse of a survivor. What began with a handful of determined individuals holding small walks in 2023 to raise awareness about PICS has grown into a global movement — now 20 walks across four countries with increasing numbers of attendees. Each year, our walk brings together survivors, families, clinicians, and community members, and I leave every event more inspired than when I arrived.

For the past two years, I’ve worn a Walk‑4‑PICS bracelet every single day. It’s a simple reminder of my “why”: the belief that we can do better for those whose lives have been devastated by critical illness.

How does UCF empower you to do your research?
UCF has empowered my research since my arrival in 2018. The College of Nursing has consistently supported my work with critical illness survivors by providing the facilities, staff assistance, and encouragement needed to pursue both intramural and extramural funding. This particular project was made possible through intramural support from the School of Social Work’s Center for Behavioral Research and Training, which allowed the study to take shape and move forward.

Through the university, I met my collaborator, Pegasus Professor Deborah Beidel. Our therapy study has been conducted at the UCF RESTORES Clinic, where she serves as executive director. The RESTORES team has been enthusiastic, skilled and deeply committed to adapting and testing their therapy for critical illness survivors. Their partnership has elevated the quality and reach of this work.

Students from the College of Nursing and other programs have played an important role as well, assisting with data collection and analysis and bringing fresh perspectives to the research. Their involvement has strengthened the project and given me the opportunity to train the next generation of clinicians and PICS researchers.

What major grants and honors have you earned to support your research?
I have received funding from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Sigma Theta Tau International, and UCF’s Center for Behavioral Research and Training, each of which has supported different phases of my work with critical illness survivors. These awards have helped advance my research program and build the foundation for larger studies. I am now pursuing funding from the National Institutes of Health to further expand my work and strengthen its impact on post‑ICU care.

Why is this research important?
This research matters because the consequences of critical illness extend far beyond the ICU. More than half of the 5.7 million Americans admitted to an ICU each year develop at least one post‑intensive care syndrome (PICS) condition within the first year after discharge, and roughly 20% experience clinically significant PTSD symptoms within six months. These psychological injuries can disrupt survivors’ ability to work, care for their families, and maintain relationships, while placing substantial emotional and practical burdens on caregivers.

When survival comes with a cost of long‑term suffering, we have an obligation to find ways to treat PICS-related conditions. Identifying effective ways to treat PICS conditions — especially PTSD  —can help survivors regain stability, restore a sense of normalcy and reengage fully in their communities. And this isn’t an abstract issue. Any one of us, or someone we love, could find ourselves in an ICU because of an infection, an accident, or an unexpected medical crisis. Improving care for ICU survivors is not only a clinical priority; it is a societal responsibility.

Founded to reach the moon, we’re already on our way to the next frontier. Built for liftoff, America’s Space University celebrates UCF Space Week Nov. 3-7.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Boldly Forge the Future of Space

Whether it’s solving the world’s biggest problems or investigating the potential of novel discoveries, researchers at UCF are on the edge of scientific breakthroughs that aim to make an impact. Through the, student and faculty researchers condense their complex studies into bite-sized summaries so you can know how and why Knights plan to improve our world.

Name: Kerri Donaldson Hanna
Position(s): Associate professor of physics and member of UCF’s Planetary Sciences Group

Why are you interested in this research?
How cool is it to be able to study planetary bodies using spacecraft and telescopic observations and with studies in the lab!

Who inspires you to conduct your research?
My research group that includes undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers as well as my colleagues and teammates located at research institutions from the U.S. and U.K. Working with such great people really motivates me and makes we want to keep pushing forward even when things are tough.

How does UCF empower you to do your research?
Being surrounded by such fantastic colleagues to work with on a daily basis has really empowered me and my research. And being at SpaceU where all of our cool projects are really celebrated is a lot of fun!

What major grants and honors have you earned to support your research?
I have been the principal investigator (PI) or Co-PI on several NASA projects including the Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer (Lunar-VISE), a project to collect terrestrial rocks similar to what we expect at the Gruithuisen domes (the Lunar-VISE landing site) and characterize them in the lab, a project to work with lunar samples collected and returned to Earth by the Apollo astronauts, and the Lunar Compact Infrared and Imaging System (L-CIRiS) which is a thermal camera that is going to the lunar south pole on an Intuitive Machines lander.

Why is this research important?
Scientific investigations from the lunar surface like what we will be doing with Lunar-VISE will help us better understand how planetary bodies form and evolve into what we observe today and will help in developing and building tools, rovers and robots for future exploration.

Name: Carla Perscky
Major: Master’s in biology

Why are you interested in this research?
When I learned that seagrass provides ecosystem services like mitigating shoreline erosion, improving water quality, cycling nutrients, sequestering carbon dioxide, and providing nursery and habitat for commercially and recreationally important species I realized that I wanted to contribute to the long-term conservation of these ecosystems for future generations.

Are you a faculty member or student conducting research at UCF? We want to hear from you! 

How did you get started in research at UCF?
My research journey began under the mentorship of Dr. Linda Walters at the Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Lab through a former U.S. National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) scholarship. This program was pivotal in launching my career as an early scientist. Without the REU it would have been incredibly difficult to break into STEM or pursue graduate school, especially as a U.S. Navy veteran who took a nontraditional path to higher education. Dr. Walters continues to serve as my mentor throughout my master’s degree in biology.

Who inspires you and how?
I am inspired by Claudia Sheinbaum, the newly elected president of Mexico. As a scientist, and now national leader, she represents the kind of intersection I strive for, where science informs public policy, and leadership is rooted in evidence and sustainability. Her journey gives me hope that [researchers] with strong STEM backgrounds can make lasting impact not only in the labs and classrooms, but in the world stage.

How does UCF empower you to do your research?
UCF has given me access to an amazing network of scientists and field opportunities.

Why is this research important?
Seagrasses are essential to healthy ecosystems and livelihoods. However, these coastal plants are experiencing global declines, especially under anthropogenic stressors like eutrophication, which occurs when nutrients that can lead to excessive plant growth and pollution. My research is about future-proofing our conservation approach to help these critical ecosystems and the people who depend on them thrive in a changing environment.

This episode of Research in 60 Seconds also highlights UCF’s honors undergraduate theses, which have received more than 2 million downloads from .

Name: Nicholas Rose
Colleges: College of Medicine and Burnett Honors College
Major: Biomedical sciences
Research Area: Materials science and engineering

Why are you interested in this research?
My major goal after high school was to become a physician, so I started a journey as a biomedical science major at UCF. As I’ve always had a personal hobby and a love for the basic sciences, I pursued STEM hobbies alongside my biomedical sciences studies. I did NASA academies in my first year and shared my passion for organic chemistry by becoming a UCF in my second year.

What really drew me into my current research project was its interdisciplinary nature. It connects physics, biomedicine, electrical engineering and chemistry to study new energy harvesters. This complex network of disciplines both intimidated me and drew me in. I never thought my STEM interests could make their way into my future career as a physician. I now see an exciting future where I merge clinical practice with interdisciplinary research.

Are you a faculty member or student conducting research at UCF? We want to hear from you!

How did you get started in research at UCF?
Before joining my lab two years ago, I had little idea what research was. A free UCF course really helped me figure out what research was all about. I took it in the summer of my first year, and it highlighted the basics of what research is and how to get started. It even gave a guide on how to message professors to begin research. In combination, I also attended workshops hosted by UCF and the UCF honors college, where people explained research and best practices for getting involved.

With all this knowledge, I began searching through UCF’s extensive catalog of projects and professors to find some that resonated with me. I crafted emails to meet with professors, and this started it all.

My first meeting with Dr. [Kaitlyn] Crawford, my mentor, [and associate professor of material science and engineering] was super impactful. She shared her passion for what she was studying and her plans for the future, which drew me in. Her lab was super free-flowing, and she let me try out anything I wanted. I worked with different PhD students until I found what interested me the most.

It was intimidating at first, joining a materials science and engineering lab and studying phenomena that were distant from what my biomedical sciences courses taught me. However, it was also really rewarding and freeing. Since this field was outside my area of expertise, I could let my guard down and ask a million questions. I always carried a little notebook around and jot down everything I learned.

Who is your mentor? Who inspires you and how?
My mentors are Dr. Crawford and all the Ph.D. students in her lab. Everyone in the lab answered any and every question I had, which set me up for success in the long run. They’re all highly supportive and willing to help; they even visited me during my student scholar presentation this Thursday and cheered me on.

As for who inspires me, my mom, dad and grandpa were major inspirations. My mom immigrated from Russia to America when she was 18, traveling through the circus. Despite language differences and many challenges, she now works as a successful software engineer. My dad was extremely inspirational as well. He overcame a period of intense difficulty while I was in middle and high school. However, these struggles made him stronger and more determined to pursue his goals. I went to live with him during this transitionary period, and I witnessed his goals become a reality as I helped him build his first bagel shop, Bagel Bros, in Clermont, Florida. Finally, my grandpa constantly pushed me to chase the things I loved. He always supported me through every roadblock, reminding me I could do anything I set my mind to.

How does UCF empower you to do your research?
Doing research at UCF has been amazing. Since UCF has so many professors, students and organizations, there was so much support and networking available to find great opportunities. UCF research workshops, specifically the honors thesis workshops, were super helpful for getting me on the right path with a project I loved.

Furthermore, UCF offers grants to undergrads. I’m thankful to have received two undergraduate grants offered, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Al Dallago Gerontology Research grants. These open up every semester, and this support laid the groundwork for my early research.

Why is this research important?
My research focuses on finding new ways to improve energy harvesters. I genuinely believe these devices, called triboelectric and piezoelectric nanogenerators, will significantly impact our lives. These devices can be microns thin and a few millimeters in size or large and cover entire fields. My research focuses on improving how we test these devices and interpret their output, an essential prerequisite to developing reliable and powerful energy harvesters in the future.

Name: Sejal Mehta Barden

Position(s): Professor of counselor education and school psychology; executive director of the Marriage and Family Research Institute (MFRI)

Why are you interested in this research?
I am deeply passionate about helping others and making a difference through my research on healthy relationships for both couples and individuals. Strong relationships are the foundation of thriving communities, and when families are healthy, children grow up with the support they need to succeed. The good news is that building strong relationships doesn’t have to be complicated — simple lessons can make a big difference. When we feel loved and understood, our mental and physical health are at their best, and I am committed to sharing this knowledge to create lasting, positive change.

Who inspires you to conduct your research?
My inspiration for this work comes from witnessing the real, lasting impact it has on people’s lives. Seeing individuals and couples return months or even a year later, sharing how learning relationship skills saved their partnership, strengthened their bond with their children and even inspired them to pay it forward, is incredibly rewarding. These stories remind me that small, intentional changes can create a ripple effect — transforming not just relationships, but entire families and communities. Knowing that our work provides hope and practical tools for lasting connection is what drives my passion every day.

How does UCF empower you to do your research?
Ĺ®ĆÍAV is an incredible university in the heart of one of the greatest cities in the country — Orlando. I am proud to be part of an institution that leads in innovation, impact and community-engaged research. The support from the College of Community Innovation and Education, along with strong administrative leadership, has allowed me to conduct meaningful research that directly benefits the communities we serve. UCF’s commitment to making a real difference isn’t just a vision — it’s a reality, and I am grateful to contribute to the university’s mission of creating lasting impact.

What major grants and honors have you earned to support your research?
To date, I have secured over $20 million in federally funded research, highlighting my ability to attract funding for projects that improve relationship outcomes. The true impact of my work lies in the lives we have touched, offering hope and support to individuals and families during challenging times.

In 2020, I received a five-year, $7.5 million research grant from the Office of Family Assistance to study the impact of relationship interventions for low-income couples. This study is the first national comparison of in-person and online relationship education. Concurrently, I completed a previous five-year, $9.6 million grant, leading a clinical trial on relationship interventions for economically disadvantaged couples, enrolling over 4,800 participants in Central Florida.

In 2021, my research team was awarded $2.77 million by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to adapt an online couples’ communication program for Latina breast cancer survivors and their partners. Reviewers commended our interdisciplinary team’s innovation and research rigor.

My research has been nationally recognized with awards from the Association for Assessment in Research and Counseling, and the Association for Specialists in Group Work. Regionally, I have received awards from the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. At UCF, my contributions have been honored with the Women of Distinction Award, Research Incentive Awards, Excellence in Research Award, and Reach for the Stars Award.

Why is this research important?
The MFRI is committed to strengthening relationships and empowering economically vulnerable individuals and families. Our work focuses on teaching essential skills like healthy communication, conflict resolution  and relationship-building — tools that not only transform couples and individuals but also create lasting positive effects for their children and communities.

With over 8,000 individuals and couples served in the Orlando area — one of the fastest-growing minority metropolitan regions — we prioritize inclusivity by offering bilingual services, addressing barriers like transportation and childcare, and ensuring every participant feels safe and supported. For many, this may be the only intervention they seek, making our work even more critical.

In recognition of this work, the MFRI received a national award from the American Counseling Association, underscoring our dedication to strengthening families and communities.

Name: Melanie Coathup
Position(s): Professor of medicine and lead of the Biionix Cluster

Why are you interested in this research?
Exposure to ionizing radiation can affect so many people from different walks of life such as cancer survivors to the those in the military to astronauts and our plans for deep space exploration. From the physics, chemistry and biological aspects of it, it’s an area where there’s still so much to learn and understand, and if we can figure out a way to prevent the harm and injury it can cause, it will positively impact so many lives.

Who inspires you to conduct your research?
The enthusiasm and hard work of my postdocs and students in the lab plays a huge part in this. But also, everyone I see who chooses to keep going after a setback. I think every job or ambition comes with its challenges and despite how it may sometimes seem, the path forward isn’t always so smooth. I’m inspired to conduct this research through remembering past trailblazers such as Marie Curie, as well as directly by those I see who keep on striving despite difficulties — particularly those who do it with grace and generosity to others.

How does UCF empower you to do your research?
Ĺ®ĆÍAV is a really great place to work and the resources and support that I’ve received from so many individuals in the various departments and services has been so critical in progressing the day-to-day aspects of the research.

What major grants and honors have you earned to support your research?
To date, this research has been supported by NASA, the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Why is this research important?
Exposure to ionizing radiation can be highly damaging to the body. Even if a localized area of the body is exposed, it can cause systemic injury and significant ill health. The development of a radioprotective agent would be helpful for cancer survivors undergoing radiotherapy and to warfighters or civilians in anticipation of radiation exposure. However, at the moment, there are no effective FDA-approved medications that can be given either before or indeed after accidental exposure to high-doses of radiation. Finding such countermeasures could help prevent injury and potentially, death due to radiation.

Name: Ladda Thiamwong
Position: Florida Blue Endowed Professor for Healthy Communities

Why are you interested in this research?
I believe strongly in the human ability to change and grow. I love to see this and be able to measure and share information on how best to enhance our longevity and quality of life. Ultimately, I want to prevent falls and enhance healthy aging.

Who inspires you to conduct your research?
I have had numerous friends and family members who are older adults and they and their families were negatively impacted by falls.

How does UCF empower you to do your research?
UCF has provided and encouraged me with such a wonderful atmosphere of collaboration and support. I am grateful to be able to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues, a huge support team of staff and wonderful students. It’s such a blessing to be in the Central Florida area with all the resources and community partnerships that are available and focused on improving life for older adults.

Are you a faculty member or student conducting research at UCF? We want to hear from you!

What major grants and honors have you earned to support your research?
My work has earned recognition from several prestigious organizations. I am a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (2023) and a distinguished fellow in the Nursing Academy of the National Academies of Practice (2024).

I, in collaboration with other researchers at UCF, have received National Institutes of Health grants to optimize a technology-based body and mind intervention to prevent falls and reduce [gaps in healthcare] in low-income populations. This interdisciplinary project includes Jeff Stout, founding director for the School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences; Joon-Hyuk Park, assistant professor of mechanical engineering; Rui Xie, associate professor of statistics and data science; Nichole Lighthall, associate professor of psychology; and Vicki Loerzel, the Beat M. and Jill L. Kahli Endowed Professor in Oncology. Our team has also won a Healthy Longevity Global Competition Award from the U.S. National Academy of Medicine.

Why is conducting research important to you?
Working at an R1 research university in the U.S. is a great honor. As an immigrant, a first-generation college graduate who grew up in a rural area and relocated from Thailand, I have experienced extraordinary personal and professional challenges in achieving and maintaining academic and scientific success. I commit to teaching, sharing my experience and securing external funding to support students and sustain my research and mentorship.

Name: Ben Sawyer ’14MS ’15PhD

Position(s): Associate professor of industrial engineering and director of The Readability Consortium

Why are you interested in this research?
My mother was a children’s librarian focused on building collections, and my father was a high school teacher, and then a professor of education. My own early work was focused on attention and distraction, and I became fascinated by how people get information out of machine systems, and into their minds. My present research centers around human performance in reading: how can we best move information into your awareness, so you can do something with it.

Are you a faculty member or student conducting research at UCF? We want to hear from you!

Who inspires you to conduct your research?
I’m inspired by people working hard to understand [information, including] children, soldiers, analysts, physicians, and older adults all looking to find the information they need to get them to their goal and keep them safe on the way. My father worked with children with dyslexia, and it’s amazing how much parity I see between the struggles of those kids and the struggle of a physician trying to move through a 60-year medical history in a clunky interface in time to make a good decision for an anxious patient. I’m inspired by that struggle, which all of us face to a greater degree every day.

How does UCF empower you to do your research?
Ĺ®ĆÍAV provides access to a brilliant community of students and collaborators. Industrial engineering is a friendly and collaborative faculty. I’ve met so many fascinating students in my classes and have been privileged to have some of them join my research group. I have graduated a few of these as scientists and engineers. I love the [variety] at UCF: people from every imaginable walk of life are on this campus, and the perspectives they bring to this research make it possible. Moreover, I like the people I get to work with, and I wake up every day happy to see them and excited to move our work forward. I feel very lucky in this.

What major grants and honors have you earned to support your research?
My readability research is primarily funded by industry. The consortium’s founding members Adobe and nonprofit Readability Matters provided the initial foundation for a community that now notably includes Google and Monotype. We also are beginning to work with these companies to attract state funding directly, including a 2023-24 $1 million appropriation from the State of Florida.

Why is this research important?
Billions of readers have too much to read. The information age is only as miraculous as our individual abilities to access infinite information. The written word, one of the great engineering accomplishments of human history, was literally developed on reeds and animal hide. This research is founded in the idea that writing and reading, is due for an update. Rebuilding the written word to help humans of the information age is also an opportunity for languages that have not benefited so strongly from the digital revolution. Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi, Bengali and other scripts are underserved by modern Latin alphabet centered digital infrastructure but are receiving large investments as billions of these readers move online. Our readability research provides an opportunity to build equity in these languages, while working from evidence-based first principles of readability.

Name: Pavan Senthil
Majors: Electrical engineering and biomedical sciences with a track in neuroscience

Why are you interested in this research?
The research projects at Limbitless Solutions presented a unique opportunity to be involved in the intersection of engineering and medicine. Our bionic arms and Project Xavier utilize innovative electromyography (EMG) technology to develop clinical applications that aim to improve the user’s quality of life through the assistive device.

As an aspiring biomedical engineer, these projects aligned perfectly with my academic and career interests in developing assistive technology. It’s exciting to be able to help others directly through my coursework and research, especially as early as an undergraduate. I’m deeply grateful to be a part of an organization that not only supports my professional development but also dedicates itself to a positive cause.

How did you get started in research at UCF?
Having taken the AP Capstone program for research in high school, I came to UCF with the goal of continuing my involvement in research at the undergraduate level. Fortunately, I was presented with a wide variety of opportunities through various programs at UCF. The Office of Undergraduate Research’s (OUR) peer-mentoring program and student researchers I met at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a student organization on campus, were influential in guiding me to the various ways to get involved in research.

I discovered Limbitless’s research through my Honors Symposium course and was encouraged to apply to the program by both faculty members and peers. At Limbitless, I have been able to immerse myself in a variety of research opportunities in both individual and team settings. UCF and Limbitless’s commitment to promoting undergraduate research has been very impactful in helping me grow towards continuing research postgraduation.

Who is your mentor? Who inspires you and how?
My mentor is Dr. Albert Manero ’12 ’14MS ’16PhD, co-founder and executive director at Limbitless Solution and the head of its research team. Dr. Manero has shaped my undergraduate research journey by aligning it with my career interests while pushing me to expand my capabilities as a researcher. Under his mentorship, I have found a role model who inspires those around him through his passion for accessibility technology research and his commitment to the team’s growth and success.

At Limbitless, I continue to be motivated by our highly interdisciplinary undergraduate team, from pre-medical researchers to engineers to video game developers. Our expertise and ability to collaborate is what makes our projects possible. Through this experience, I’ve met a community of talented and hardworking people who have always extended their support and resources to help me overcome both personal and professional hurdles.

How does UCF empower you to do your research?
UCF’s Office of Undergraduate Research has been an invaluable resource for empowering my research at Limbitless. OUR incentivizes research through various programs, including the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Student Scholar Symposium and funding for research conferences alongside Student Government. Additionally, OUR helps new researchers build their skills through workshops on poster development, academic writing, applying for research grants, etc. My involvement with these programs has significantly boosted my confidence in my research abilities and allowed me to network with other like-minded individuals on campus. The support and resources provided by UCF through OUR have been instrumental in advancing my research journey at Limbitless.

Why is this research important?
Individuals with low or no mobility often depend on a caretaker to perform basic tasks. People with neurodegenerative conditions, specifically those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), can regain a sense of autonomy by having personalized tools like the control system our team developed. Project Xavier aims to improve the quality of life for these individuals by providing them with an alternative wheelchair control method.

To help users practice the facial muscle-controlled method of operating the wheelchair, Limbitless’ games team, led by Associate Professors Peter Smith ’05 ’12PhD and Matt Dombrowski ’05 ’08 MFA, has developed a video game training method in collaboration with the Nicholson School of Communication and Media, and the School of Visual Arts and Design. The video game, titled Limbitless Journey, offers a low-stress training environment that supplements their daily use of a wheelchair while promoting user autonomy through eye-tracking-based menu navigation. The use of video games as effective tools for rehabilitation is a large part of the research at Limbitless, and the training efforts with Project Xavier aim to explore the efficacy of Limbitless Journey in clinical applications.

Research for the creation and implementation of accessibility technology as a whole is critical for promoting quality of life and equal opportunities in our communities. By designing for inclusivity, people who may have previously been excluded are empowered to contribute their perspectives to the conversation on accessibility. Their insights allow for more accessible solutions to ensure that technology aims to meet the needs of all users.