UCF Office of Research

Researchers Identify 6 Challenges Humans Face with Artificial Intelligence

Thu Mar 30

University of Central Florida professor and 26 other researchers have published a study identifying the challenges humans must overcome to ensure that artificial intelligence is reliable, safe, trustworthy and compatible with human values. The study, “Six Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Grand Challenges,” was published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. Ozlem Garibay ’01MS ’08PhD, an assistant professor…

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UCF Student Research Week 2023 Kicks Off with the Academic Exhibition of the Year

Thu Mar 30

UCF students will share their findings with the university community during Student Research Week, March 27-31. Compiling and condensing all their work on one poster each, students will present their work in Pegasus Ballroom and enlighten others about their unique areas of expertise. Within five poster sessions, more than 500 students from all colleges will present their projects…

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7 Unique Funds to Support on UCF Day of Giving

Thu Mar 30

We’ll bounce, stomp and celebrate UCF Day of Giving on April 13 this year. With this celebration of all things Black & Gold, we wanted to highlight a few unique funds for those who are looking for the right area to support. Girls EXCELing in Math and Science (GEMS)  The GEMS program is dedicated to…

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UCF Joins $25M National Consortium on Nuclear Forensics

Mon Mar 27

UCF is one of 16 universities in the U.S. that have formed a consortium on nuclear forensics. The association is supported by a $25 million cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The goal of the consortium is to engage in research that supports the NNSA’s nuclear security and nonproliferation…

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Research in 60 Seconds: How Fungus Turns Ants Into Zombies

Mon Mar 27

Whether it’s solving the world’s biggest problems or investigating the potential of novel discoveries, researchers at UCF are on the edge scientific breakthroughs that aim to make an impact. Through the Research in 60 Seconds series, student and faculty researchers condense their complex studies into bite-sized summaries so you can know how and why Knights plan…

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UCF Uses 6-Foot ‘Test Tubes’ to Study Red Tide

Thu Mar 16

potential treatment for Florida’s devastating red tides took another step toward widespread deployment after successful testing in Sarasota Bay. Additional detailed data analysis is required to confirm results, but UCF Assistant Professor of Biology Kristy Lewis is encouraged by the large-scale test of a red tide mitigation technology called clay flocculation that was performed in partnership with…

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UCF Researcher Creates World’s First Energy-saving Paint – Inspired by Butterflies

Thu Mar 16

University of Central Florida researcher Debashis Chanda, a professor in UCF’s NanoScience Technology Center, has drawn inspiration from butterflies to create the first environmentally friendly, large-scale and multicolor alternative to pigment-based colorants, which can contribute to energy-saving efforts and help reduce global warming. The development was published today in Science Advances as a featured article. “The range of…

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Advanced Air Mobility Conference Takes Flight at UCF

Thu Mar 16

Imagine being able to take your commute from the highways to the skies by hailing your own flying taxi. It’s a possibility that could become reality as researchers and stakeholders invest in transformative airborne technologies known as advanced air mobility (AAM). This technology includes the concept of aerial ridesharing, and is defined as the local, on-demand…

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‘They deserve to have their names back’: Researcher uncovers lost Native American history

Mon Mar 6

St. Augustine, Florida, the United States’ oldest city, holds some of the deepest parts of the nation’s history. One UCF researcher is helping to uncover some of the lost histories within its borders. Dr. Amy Larner Giroux is a UCF researcher who works with the National Cemetery Administration. Giroux said she specializes in digitizing the physical space…

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UCF Researcher Receives DOE Funding to Advance Human Understanding of AI Reasoning

Mon Mar 6

A University of Central Florida researcher has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to enhance the current understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) reasoning. The project focuses on developing algorithms to create robust multi-modal explanations for foundation, or large, AI models through the exploration of several novel explainable AI methods. The DOE recently…

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FIRE Conference Showcases Passion for Research

Wed Mar 1

Growing up, Parag Vyas’ room was filled with toy space shuttles and astronaut posters. His mother worked on shuttles with NASA in Houston and so he quickly developed an obsession with all things intergalactic.   Today as a second-year  UCF medical student, he is channeling that passion into medical research, examining the use of handheld…

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UCF Research in 60 Seconds: Studying Culture Through Food

Wed Mar 1

Whether it’s solving the world’s biggest problems or investigating the potential of novel discoveries, researchers at UCF are on the edge scientific breakthroughs that aim to make an impact. Through the Research in 60 Seconds series, student and faculty researchers condense their complex studies into bite-sized summaries so you can know how and why Knights…

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Creating a Path to Success for Black Male Scholars

Wed Mar 1

Historically, Black researchers were not given a platform to discuss topics of importance. This is problematic because there are several economic, political and social issues that require examination. Throughout my career, I have chosen to challenge the systems that limit opportunities for members of the Black community. My passion is centered in my lived experiences…

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Young inventor founds startup company while at UCF

Tue Feb 28

Kelly Shea is a junior elementary education major who turned her passion for inventing into founding her own company.  Shea said she founded her startup company DripLock while a student at UCF. The first of these products shipped out in July 2022, in between her sophomore and junior year, according to her updates on Kickstarter. DripLock is…

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UCF Researchers Receive Patent for COVID-Killing Nano-Coating  

Tue Feb 28

A team of UCF researchers, led by Materials Science and Engineering Professor Sudipta Seal, have been awarded a patent for their nanomaterial-based disinfectant that can kill several viruses, including COVID-19. This is the 85th  patent that Seal has been awarded through the UCF  Office of Technology Transfer. The Pegasus Professor and chair of the Department of…

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UCF Researcher Studies Bird Wings to Improve Stability in Aerial Vehicles

Tue Feb 28

Many airplane passengers grit their teeth, white-knuckle their armrests and say a silent prayer for their flight to go smoothly. They know that any sudden disturbance in airflow can cause turbulence — and in turn, a severe case of anxiety. But in smaller aircraft, such as unmanned aerial vehicles or micro air vehicles, turbulence is…

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Innovative VR Therapy Helps Patients Overcome PTSD Caused by Hospital Stays

Fri Feb 17

Exceptional medical care from first responders, nurses and doctors routinely saves the lives of patients with critical illnesses. But many of those patients will suffer from anxiety, depression and PTSD after they return home. A team of UCF researchers is confident that exposure therapy featuring virtual reality with real sounds and smells, all mimicking the…

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UCF’s New Biomedical Engineering Doctoral Degree Will Advance Research Careers

Fri Feb 17

As a child, Madisyn Messmore ’22 was fascinated by the human body and how it worked. She planned to become a neurosurgeon, but her career path shifted directions in college when an internship with the UCF-based nonprofit Limbitless Solutions piqued her interest in engineering. After she started the internship, she learned that a family member was dealing…

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2 UCF Professors Honored as Fellows in the World’s Largest Scientific Society

Fri Feb 17

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its Science family of journals. Election as a fellow is a lifetime honor and considered one of the most distinguished recognitions within the scientific community. UCF professors Peter Delfyett and Ronald DeMara are…

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New Green Storage System Offers Renewable Energy On-Demand

Wed Feb 8

Back to the Future movie fans may remember the term “flux capacitor” as a fictional device that allows for time travel. That device still doesn’t exist, but a University of Central Florida storage technology does use a different type of flux capacitor developed by NASA. While trying to find a way to store renewable energy…

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