University of Central Florida faculty members are the foundation of the university. They energize students, academic programs, research and service through academic excellence and innovation.
Wed Feb 24
The helicopter that arrived on the Red Planet on Feb. 18 as part of the Mars 2020/Perseverance mission is not the only rotorcraft NASA is sending into space. A team of scientists, including a University of Central Florida researcher, is working to help NASA design a rotorcraft to explore Saturn’s moon, Titan. The mission and…
Wed Feb 24
Class NameLAH 3470 – History of the Caribbean InstructorLuis MartÃnez-Fernández, Pegasus Professor of history and member of the Puerto Rico Research Hub When is it offered?Spring, summer and fall semesters How many students are in a class?About 35 PrerequisitesEUH 2000 and EUH 2001 From the Professor How would you describe this course?This course is a multidisciplinary introduction to the historical trajectory of…
Thu Feb 18
When Peter Delfyett first fell in love with science during elementary school, he imagined he would grow up to be a paleontologist. Instead, the Pegasus Professor of optics and photonics has spent his career developing futuristic technology. From lasers that are used to cut Gorilla Glass for Samsung phones to fiber-optic cable technology that allows…
Fri Feb 12
The American Association for the Advancement of Science will induct Pegasus Professor Talat Rahman, Ph.D., as a fellow in an official ceremony this weekend. The storied society traces its history back to the mid-19th century; Rahman shares her fellow status with scientists as varied as Thomas Edison, sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois and anthropologist Margaret Mead.…
Thu Feb 11
The depth of UCF’s research expertise is on full display in a recent compilation of the world’s top scholars — including 20 from CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics. The list in the journal PLOS Biology used a composite indicator, based on six citation metrics, to rank the top 2% scientists from a variety of disciplines…
Wed Feb 10
Nominations are open for UCF Trustee Chair Professorships that recognize and celebrate outstanding performance. The appointments are for five years with an annual stipend of $50,000, of which $25,000 can be used as a salary supplement. The appointment is awarded to eligible faculty members with an extraordinary record of accomplishment in three primary areas: teaching,…
Fri Jan 29
Keith Brazendale, assistant professor in Health Sciences, studies obesity in children, particularly how daily “routine” and “structure” can impact healthy weight in kids. It’s a passion he always had but took time to realize. He started college as a finance and accounting major. Although he found success in his studies, he was left questioning how he was going to balance this type of work with finding fulfillment and meaning in everyday life. “I love numbers,” Brazendale…
Wed Jan 27
This year has started with glass ceilings shattered in the highest offices of the country. You cannot hide the powerful feeling that rises from the pit of your stomach and overtakes your entire being as you watch historic “firsts” unfold if you are underrepresented in some way — a woman, person of color, LGBTQ or…
Tue Jan 26
This is the fourth consecutive year that UCF’s online bachelor’s programs have ranked among the top 20 in the nation. Last year, UCF tied at No. 16. “Our high rankings are a testament to the terrific work of our talented faculty and instructional designers who produce engaging, high-quality courses that support our students’ success while also providing…
Fri Jan 22
UCF will soon administer the COACHE faculty job satisfaction survey – and we want you to know that your responses will be used to improve faculty life. In the two surveys since 2015, we listened to your feedback and worked with faculty to implement parental leave, award $1 million to mid-career faculty to enhance their…
Wed Jan 20
A few years ago my Aunt Vickey called me, and I answered. The answering part is important to the story because I have a reputation for sending calls to voicemail. But it was Aunt Vickey, and I have learned that when your aunt calls, you answer. So, I answered, and after exchanging pleasantries, our conversation…
Tue Jan 19
University of Central Florida planetary science continues its ascent as a leader in space research with another high-profile flight, this time aboard Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne, which was blasted into orbit Sunday from the company’s 747 carrier aircraft, Cosmic Girl. The launch took place at 10:50 a.m. at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California.…
Thu Jan 14
The residency faculty of UCF and Orlando Health Neurologic Residency received multiple awards at the state and national level this award season. Kristen Cezat, PT, DPT, NCS was recognized by the Florida Physical Therapy Association as part of the Outstanding PT/PTA Team Award for the state of Florida. Cezat is the lead residency mentor in the…
Mon Jan 11
Textbooks and other required course materials can add significantly to the cost of a college degree, and UCF faculty are doing what they can to help. During the Fall 2020 semester, at least 31 faculty members provided their required course materials at no cost to students through the use of open educational resources (OER). These…
Mon Jan 11
By Megan Pabian Matt S. Stock, an associate professor of physical therapy, has been named as the director of the UCF Institute of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science. The institute is the research enterprise of the School of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy and supports the mechanistic and translational research by faculty and students in the…
Thu Jan 7
The founding director of UCF CREOL Townes Laser Institute, Martin Richardson, Ph.D, was recently named a fellow in the National Academy of Inventors in recognition of his innovative work in the field of optics. An expert in lasers and their accompanying applications, Richardson has patented over 31 inventions in his time as a physicist. “There…
Wed Jan 6
During our recent holiday break, my childhood friend Jeff Pecot gave me a cherished gift that we both grew up with, an Odyssey video game console. Jeff and I had a routine during our middle school days in the early 80s. After we raced to the crib on our Schwinn bicycles, we did our homework…
Wed Dec 16
Three University of Central Florida researchers are among the world’s top 25 scholars in their field, and 100 are in the top 2%, according to a new study ranking career-long scientific impact of researchers from around the globe. The study, which appeared recently in the journal PLOS Biology, used a composite indicator based on six citation…
Wed Dec 16
Agreat professor really can change a student’s life. Lain Graham, who will be graduating with her doctoral degree in sociology on Dec. 19, can attest to the power a knowledgeable and caring faculty member can have on a life — and in her case on a whole family. “I first met Dr. Tim Hawthorne as an anthropology…
Mon Dec 14
Despite the dynamic challenges of 2020, students, faculty, staff and alumni pursued excellence and earned notable achievements. In recognition of those efforts, here are some of this year’s major accomplishments recognizing the academic and inclusive excellence. Awards, Grants and Rankings The Aerospace Human Factors Association’s presented Professor of Psychology Peter Hancock with its 2020 William Collins…