Some of the nation鈥檚 most promising scientists can be found in Will Furiosi 鈥�13 鈥�14MAT鈥檚 Oviedo High School classroom.

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

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

With Oviedo鈥檚 proximity to main campus, the collaboration highlights 鲍颁贵鈥檚 steadfast commitment to supporting STEM education across Central Florida.

They went on to represent the county admirably at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, where they took home several prizes against more than 1,700 high schoolers from around the globe.

Most notably, Santra took home first place and $6,000 in the Plant Sciences category and received the EU Contest for Young Scientists Award. She will represent Regeneron ISEF at the EU Contest for Young Scientists to be held this September in Kiel, Germany.

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

A Will to Succeed

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

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

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

That experience fundamentally shaped how the 麻豆原创 grad runs his program today.

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

Infusing Life into Science

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

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

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

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

鈥淢y seventh grade science fair teacher knew Mr. Furiosi and spoke highly of him,鈥� says Calvo-Chumbimuni, who earned fourth place ISEF’s biochemistry category this year. 鈥淲hen I came to Oviedo High and met him, I immediately understood why. The research program stood out to me as a valuable opportunity.鈥�

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

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

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

鈥淢r. Furiosi really pushes you toward excellence,鈥� says Das, a sophomore building a tensegrity robot with shape memory alloys that he tested at 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Exolith Lab.

Supporting Excellence

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

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

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

鈥淚鈥檝e always appreciated her sense of humanity,鈥� Bridge says. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥業f you can foster someone who has this sort of compassion already, there are infinite possibilities for what they can do to benefit the community.鈥� 鈥�

The two have been dedicated, active participants in their labs, regularly conducting research multiple days per week during the school year and, at times, daily over the summer.

The faculty and their doctoral students have mentored the high schoolers through instrumentation methods, analyzing data, the literature review process and their presentations.

Both presented continuations of their projects at ISEF 鈥� Calvo-Chumbimuni for her second-straight year, Santra for her third 鈥� while Das made his first time at the competition memorable with his fourth-place finish in the engineering technology: statics and dynamics category.

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

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

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

Which, at the end of the day, has been Furiosi鈥檚 mission all along.

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

For 25 years, members of have shared a powerful belief: investing in 麻豆原创 is ultimately an investment in students and the lives they鈥檒l lead.

Through planned gifts such as bequests, estate plans and retirement assets, society members extend opportunity far beyond a single generation. Their support fuels scholarships, research and academic programs that prepare students to meet the evolving needs of industry and community.

In 2025 alone, planned gifts accounted for nearly one-third of all charitable support to 麻豆原创.

The society is named for 鲍颁贵鈥檚 founding president, Charles Millican, a visionary who built the university with the future firmly in mind. During his tenure, Millican transformed 1,227 acres of Central Florida scrubland into an institution designed to support the space race and prepare students for careers in engineering and computer science. He championed what would become the Central Florida Research Park and helped shape 鲍颁贵鈥檚 enduring ambition to reach for the stars.

Today, that vision lives on through more than 500 members of The Charles Millican Legacy Society 鈥� and through the students whose futures are shaped by their generosity.

A World of Possibility

Thiago Maillo鈥檚 path to a bachelor鈥檚 degree wasn鈥檛 linear 鈥� but it was driven by something unwavering: the pursuit of greater opportunity.

After his first year studying medicine at the Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Maillo realized he wanted a different future. He saw higher education in the United States as the place to build it. Just three months after applying to Valencia College, he moved to Florida and later .

“Scholarships have made all the difference. They鈥檝e made it possible for me to achieve my dreams.” 鈥� Thiago Maillo, biomedical sciences major

Today, he鈥檚 a Burnett Honors Scholar and biomedical sciences major on the neuroscience track, with a minor in psychology. He鈥檚 conducted research at the Applied Cognition and Technology Lab, completed an internship with ThinkNeuro and serves as an undergraduate teaching assistant in Genetics and Embryology. He鈥檚 also found community as president of the Argentinian Student Association.

鈥淏eing at 麻豆原创 was my goal from the start,鈥� says Maillo, who plans to pursue a doctoral degree in cognitive neuroscience. 鈥淚 love being a Knight. Scholarships have made all the difference. They鈥檝e made it possible for me to achieve my dreams 鈥� and pave the way for my two siblings to follow in my footsteps.鈥�

Reimagining What鈥檚 Possible

Shannon Hankinson didn鈥檛 follow the traditional path to 麻豆原创 鈥� she created her own.

A Tampa native and single mother of two, Hankinson spent years leading teams at Target before realizing that success and fulfillment aren鈥檛 always the same. Determined to change course, she saved money, left her job, earned an associate degree at Eastern Florida State College and transferred to 麻豆原创, becoming the first in her family to pursue a four-year degree.

“Donors made it possible for me to build a future that reflects my values and supports my family.” 鈥� Shannon Hankinson, electrical engineering major

Now a senior electrical engineering major, she has seized several opportunities at 麻豆原创. She completed two semesters in the , joined the Society of Women Engineers and works as a research assistant in 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Radiation Effects Exploration Laboratory. There, she studies semiconductor reliability, hardware design and embedded systems under Assistant Professor Enxia Zhang. Through the Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement program, she also gained hands-on experience with the U.S. defense sector.

This spring, Hankinson will graduate debt-free 鈥� supported by scholarships, research funding and a fellowship that鈥檒l carry her directly into a 麻豆原创 master鈥檚 program. A doctorate is next.

鈥淥ne of my goals was to show my children that it鈥檚 never too late to do what you want to do with your life,鈥� Hankinson says. 鈥淒onors made it possible for me to build a future that reflects my values and supports my family.鈥�

A Lasting Legacy

On May 2, 麻豆原创 celebrated the 25th anniversary of The Charles Millican Legacy Society. The milestone coincides with , which builds on the university鈥檚 commitment to accelerating student success, advancing research and driving societal impact.

“… support from … our Charles Millican Legacy Society members [continues] to power our innovators, educators and researchers …” 鈥� Rod Grabowski, senior vice president of Advancement and Partnerships

鈥淭his university was founded to serve the next great frontier 鈥� America鈥檚 space race 鈥� and it鈥檚 support from dedicated individuals like our Charles Millican Legacy Society members that continue to power our innovators, educators and researchers as they move that mission forward,鈥� says Rod Grabowski, senior vice president of Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the 麻豆原创 Foundation. 鈥淔rom driving the latest advances in AI to creating next-level immersive experiences and sparking breakthrough medical research, 麻豆原创 is building a future others have only imagined 鈥� one that this society鈥檚 namesake would be proud to see.鈥�

Maillo is forging new frontiers for his family. Hankinson is showing her children what鈥檚 possible when you start again.

They aren鈥檛 outliers. They鈥檙e what happens when students with extraordinary drive meet extraordinary support.

This is the true legacy of 麻豆原创, of Millican and of the society members: students with the confidence to go further, supported by those who believe they can.

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

The prestigious Goldwater Scholarship identifies and supports the nation鈥檚 best student researchers in the fields of engineering, mathematics and natural sciences.

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

Supporting Space Exploration

Goldwater Scholar: Keanu Brayman

Major: Mechanical engineering

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

Keanu Brayman鈥檚 passion for space began early.

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

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

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

Engineering the Brain

Goldwater Scholar: Kyle Coutray

Majors: Computer engineering and biomedical sciences

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

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

鈥淚鈥檓 interested in building systems that interact directly with the brain,鈥� Coutray says. 鈥淚n the lab, 鈥� [I鈥檓] blending [both majors] into one approach.鈥�

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

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

Advancing Patient Care

Goldwater Scholar: Varun Nannuri

Major: Molecular and cellular biology

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

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

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

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

鈥溌槎乖� has given me opportunities to grow as a student, researcher, leader and future physician,鈥� Nannuri says.

Restoring Human Senses

Goldwater Scholar: Trevor Overton

Majors: Electrical engineering and biomedical sciences

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

Burnett Honors Scholar Trevor Overton鈥檚 work centers on neuroengineering and next-generation prosthetics.

鈥淚鈥檝e always had a passion for building things, and I also love reading and watching sci-fi,鈥� Overton says. 鈥淲hen 麻豆原创 offered me the opportunity to join the MEDD [ 鈥� I knew I had to take it.鈥�

鲍颁贵鈥檚 MEDD program provides scientifically driven students like Overton with a unique opportunity to integrate engineering principles into medicine.

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

鈥淚 envision a future where robotic prostheses are so advanced that they could completely replace or enhance the abilities of humans,鈥� Overton says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not entirely impossible.鈥�

After earning a doctoral degree in electrical engineering with a focus on neuroengineering, he hopes to inspire the next generation 鈥� just as his professors inspired him 鈥� emphasizing that 鲍颁贵鈥檚 strength lies in professors who actively invest in their students.

A Growing Research Powerhouse

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

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

麻豆原创 is setting the standard, earning a 99% match placement rate, compared with a national average of 93.5%.

Knights matched into specialties that include internal and family medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, radiology, surgery, pathology and emergency medicine, with 46 of the 108 completing some or all their training in Florida.

Nationally, students are headed to programs that include Brown, Duke, Emory, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Stanford and Vanderbilt. In Florida, students are going to Orlando Health, Miami, University of Florida and University of South Florida. Nine will further strengthen their ties as Knights in 麻豆原创-HCA Healthcare residencies in Greater Orlando, Gainesville and Tallahassee.

Medical school students cannot practice medicine immediately after graduation but must do three to seven years of residency training, depending on their specialty. Match results are kept secret until noon on the third Friday in March.

鈥淎t noon, as you open your match envelope, you are opening the door to your future,鈥� Deborah German, vice president for health affairs and dean, said moments before the long-awaited unveiling.

A Match Day Tradition

Friday鈥檚 Match Day was particularly meaningful for German, who recently announced she is transitioning away from her role leading the medical school. During her 20 years as dean, German has conducted the first class of medical school for each new cohort. Called, 鈥淭he Good Doctor 鈥� A 麻豆原创 Tradition,鈥� she asks students to think of the person they love most in the world and describe the characteristics of the doctor they want treating their loved one.

She writes those traits on a blackboard, which stays in the College of Medicine lobby as a contract between students, their faculty, patients and community.

Class of 2026 students designed decorative boxes to hold their Match Day envelopes. The boxes contained their Good Doctor words from four years ago, including聽grateful, humble, compassionate and resourceful.

Finding Their Match

Ariana Johnson began to cry even before she opened her envelope and learned she will be doing her otolaryngology residency at Old Dominion University. A recipient of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 highest student honor, the Order of Pegasus, Johnson says the tears came as she realized she was finally achieving her dream after four years of hard work in medical school. As an ear, nose and throat specialist, she will be able to combine excellence in surgery with clinical patient care.

鈥淚鈥檒l be providing longitudinal care for patients,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ith this specialty, you get to know patients for their whole lives.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e wanted this since I was in middle school.鈥� 鈥� Brandon Molligoda

Brandon Molligoda matched into neurology at Duke. He says his match result 鈥渕eans everything to me. I鈥檝e wanted this since I was in middle school. I was always fascinated with how the brain works.鈥�

Holly Moots 鈥�17 鈥�24PhD is the third M.D./Ph.D. graduate in 鲍颁贵鈥檚 history. She researched pancreatic cancer during her joint degree and was thrilled to match into internal medicine at Lakeland Regional Hospital because of the residency鈥檚 focus on research and clinical trials.

鈥淲ith my background, I want to take what I鈥檝e learned in the labs and translate that into a clinical setting,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can finally use all of this knowledge I got here at 麻豆原创 and apply it to help patients.鈥�

Addressing Florida鈥檚 Physician Shortage

The 麻豆原创-HCA Graduate Medical Education Consortium is the fastest growing residency and fellowship program in Florida and by this summer will be training more than 800 physicians in Greater Orlando, Sanford, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Ocala, Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach. 麻豆原创-HCA filled all their residency programs during National Match Day, adding 310 new physicians.

鈥淎s the need for physicians grows in the state of Florida, with an estimated 18,000 physician shortage projected over the next decade, we are helping to meet those needs,鈥� says Stephen Cico, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 associate dean for graduate medical education and the 麻豆原创-HCA consortium鈥檚 designated institutional official. 鈥淲e are focused on medical specialties that are or are going to be in the highest demand.鈥�

Primary care is one of those specialties.

Victoria Millington 鈥�21, who earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in biomedical sciences before pursing her MD, is one of five Knights who will be staying in Orlando to serve their residences. She matched into her first-choice, internal medicine at the 麻豆原创-HCA Healthcare program in Greater Orlando.

Millington says she chose the specialty because it allows her to have long-term relationships with patients and coordinate with specialists to 鈥渂ring all of the pieces of care together.鈥�

鈥淲e are excited to welcome the next generation of physicians who will carry forward our mission 鈥� above all else, to care for and improve human life 鈥� and deliver compassionate, patient-centered care in the communities we are honored to serve,鈥� says Cheryll Albold, who serves as vice president of graduate medical education for HCA Healthcare鈥檚 North Florida Division.

鈥淚 watched my first patient evolve before my eyes from a shy girl to an outspoken, charismatic and funny individual,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat was always who she was, but the prosthesis gave her more confidence to speak up and make her voice heard. It is something that I will cherish forever.鈥�

Rivera鈥檚 journey at 麻豆原创, marked by interdisciplinary research and partnerships, allowed her to expand her education beyond the classroom. On Aug. 4, she began her third 麻豆原创 degree, donning a doctor鈥檚 white coat as part of the White Coat ceremony.

A 鈥渄ouble Knight鈥� is a term used amongst those at 麻豆原创 to describe students or alumni who have earned two degrees. The level of 鈥渒nighthood鈥� increases as the student earns more degrees, and in Rivera鈥檚 case, she is working her way toward becoming a triple Knight.

Rivera earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree followed by her master鈥檚 in biomedical sciences while helping to design prosthetic arms through Limbitless Solutions, a 麻豆原创-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people through accessible technologies.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so proud of all of Viviana鈥檚 successes and it鈥檚 been a real privilege to be part of her journey,鈥� says Limbitless Solutions Executive Director and Co-Founder Albert Manero 鈥�12 鈥�14MS 鈥�16PhD, who honored Rivera鈥檚 milestone by sponsoring her white coat. 鈥淭oday we鈥檙e proud to stand with her as she prepares to take her next steps and is on her way to becoming a really incredible doctor.鈥�

As she becomes part of the 121 students in the Class of 2029, Rivera says her time with Limbitless 鈥渨as life changing in every sense.鈥� She authored numerous publications, analyzed data from clinical trials and used airbrushes to customize arms for children.

鈥淚 am a strong believer that students can take charge in every academic institution to extract the most out of it and 麻豆原创 has made that easy,鈥� Rivera says. 鈥溌槎乖� gave me the tools early on in my academic career to set me up with multiple connections that have made me a stronger applicant and person alike.鈥�

Manero says about 500 students have participated in Limbitless since the partnership began 11 years ago. Rivera is only the second to go on to medical school at 麻豆原创.

Manero says students who work at the organization develop empathy through their intimate and sensitive patient interactions.

鈥淒emonstrating that care and compassion in every single instance is something that we really prioritize for all our team and seeing her take ownership of that as a graduate student and as staff has really helped move the whole program forward,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e can see the huge impact it has had on our bionic families.鈥�

As she begins medical school, Rivera says she鈥檚 looking forward to continuing to accumulate knowledge, grow her compassion for others and practice gratitude for all those who have helped her on her journey.

鈥淚n some ways, the white coat is not mine alone,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 never would have even believed that I could become a medical student without the massive support I鈥檝e had from everyone. Every time I put on the white coat, I will be reminded that it stands for something bigger than just me.鈥�

And that鈥檚 when he understood the promise of his medicine-engineering double degree (MEDD) from 麻豆原创.

The unique partnership between the College of Medicine and College of Engineering and Computer Science allows undergraduates to earn two baccalaureate degrees 鈥� one in mechanical engineering or any other engineering discipline 麻豆原创 offers 鈥� and one in biomedical sciences. The program recognizes that the future of healthcare is in technology and that the workforce needs trained professionals who can understand the biology of disease and the engineering principles to create new healthcare solutions.

MEDD is demanding, requiring 163 credit hours to earn the two degrees. To date, seven students have completed the program.

鈥淭he MEDD program is probably the most challenging undertaking at 麻豆原创 on the undergraduate level,鈥� says William Self, professor of medicine who leads undergraduate education at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences and helped create the medicine-engineering program. 鈥淭his small cohort of scholars are driven by their desire to help mankind in the areas of healthcare and medicine through the engineering principles they learn along the way. I am so proud of these students for their drive and perseverance to complete this path and look forward to seeing how they impact society in the future.鈥�

Senthil will graduate in August and hopes to work for a company that makes assistive devices or create his own start-up. Fellow Knight Michael Meyers ’25 graduated in the spring and will begin his master鈥檚 in electrical engineering this fall at 麻豆原创. He wants to develop better ways to diagnose diseases through enhanced imaging technologies, such as AI-assisted X-rays and non-invasive visual biopsies.

Limbitless Provides Inspiration for Medicine-Engineering Partnerships

Senthil always thought his future would include medical school. But while living in Texas during high school, he discovered how Texas A&M鈥檚 EnMED program encourages engineering majors to attend medical school and use their problem-solving skills to improve patient care. Senthil, a National Merit Scholar, received information from 麻豆原创 about the MEDD program and the Burnett Honors College. 麻豆原创 also offered a scholarship and a university visit. He liked 鲍颁贵鈥檚 campus life and met other students who had used their MEDD studies to achieve their dreams. He decided to become a Knight.

On campus, he became active in Limbitless Solutions, a 麻豆原创 organization that creates and provides 3D-printed, EMG-powered prosthetics for clinical trial participants. He started with technological development and then became part of the clinical research team, where he worked with patients and their families to understand how the prosthetic limbs worked and could increase independence.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 create this technology to fix someone,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he goal is to give them tools to express themselves.鈥�

The Limbitless experience also provided Senthil with research opportunities. He has published research in multiple journals and presented his scientific findings at 麻豆原创 and even nationally. One of those presentations was at RESNA, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. The non-profit professional organization is dedicated to maximizing 鈥渢he health and well-being of people with disabilities through technology.鈥�

Senthil was considering graduate and medical school when he saw the scope of assistive technologies on display at the conference. His new career goal 鈥� develop technology to help people.

鈥淚 want to create a device that fills a need, that enables others,鈥� he says. 鈥淢y passion is helping people improve their lives.鈥�

Improving Diagnostics Through Imaging

Meyers grew up in the Orlando area. His mother is a nurse, and he always expected to be a pre-med major. Then, like Senthil, he received communication from 麻豆原创 about the MEDD program and the Burnett Honors College. 鈥淭he dual degree broadens our experience,鈥� he says, 鈥渁nd gives you a big step up in applying what you鈥檝e learned in school.鈥�

He acknowledges the double degree courseload is tough, laughing as he discusses three lab courses each semester and having to train your brain to 鈥渇lip flop鈥� from memorizing microbiology terms to thinking about logical engineering processes. But he says his flip-flopping brain helped him better understand difficult subjects like immunology. 鈥淓ngineering helped me understand why and how processes are happening when the body is fighting a disease,鈥� he says.

At 麻豆原创, he used his dual training in research and in practice. He was an undergraduate research assistant in 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Nanobio Sensors Lab and did internships at Northrop Grumman and Mitsubishi Power Americas.

He credits a class with 麻豆原创 Professor of Electrical Engineering Wasfy Mikhael with inspiring him to understand how imaging and signal processing can create new systems to help physicians better see diseases like cancer in the body. That will be the focus of his masters training.

鈥淭he body in and of itself, is a well-oiled machine,鈥� Meyers says. 鈥淲ith my dual degree, I want to figure out a way moving forward to make it even better.鈥�

Student organizations like International Medical Outreach showcase the global collaboration and learning celebrated during International Education Week, Nov. 18-22.

Through IMO 鈥� a student-led nonprofit committed to transforming healthcare in underserved communities worldwide 鈥� Disney found a way to combine her love for healthcare and helping others with global service.

From organizing free health clinics and educational workshops in Haiti to constructing pharmacies in remote villages, IMO empowers students like Disney to educate others about healthcare disparities while gaining invaluable cultural and professional experience. Students of any major can become community volunteers, improving upon the sustainability and efficacy of medical care within all areas the organization serves.

For Disney, a second-year biomedical sciences student and IMO community relations officer, it鈥檚 not just about learning medicine 鈥� it鈥檚 about building bridges, fostering compassion and leaving a legacy of care.

Here she reflects on her beginnings in medicine, her transformative journey with IMO and the positive impact it鈥檚 had on her personal growth and her future in healthcare.

My grandfather鈥檚 brain tumor diagnosis sparked my passion for medicine.

My interest in medicine began when my grandfather was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of aggressive brain cancer. I vividly remember the shock and fear that took over our family when we first learned of his diagnosis. Over the following months, I watched my grandfather go through numerous treatments 鈥� chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries 鈥� which were both heartbreaking and inspiring. I was particularly struck by the doctors and nurses who managed his complex medical while also providing him and our family with unwavering emotional support. This experience made me aware of the gaps in access to healthcare, especially for patients facing serious illnesses who may not have strong health insurance or access to care. It inspired me to seek opportunities to learn more about global healthcare challenges, which is why joining IMO felt like the perfect next step.

My first service trip came with unexpected challenges.

Going into my first service trip to Piracicaba, Brazil, I expected to observe the challenges faced in underserved areas and hoped to make a positive impact on people鈥檚 lives through basic care and education. However, the reality of healthcare in Piracicaba was more complex than I had anticipated. While the community had some healthcare infrastructure, there were significant gaps in access to essential resources, medications and follow-up care. I quickly learned that the challenges weren鈥檛 just about treating illnesses, but also about education, prevention and long-term community health.

One of the unexpected challenges was language and cultural differences. In rural areas outside of the main city of Piracicaba, I struggled to communicate with citizens who spoke only Portuguese. I adapted by working closely with translators and bilingual members and using non-verbal communication, learning to be more patient and empathetic in those moments. A memorable moment occurred when we observed a physician treating a 20-year-old patient in the ICU who had been involved in a severe motorcycle accident. He had sustained multiple injuries and was in critical condition, with his girlfriend by his side, advocating for his care and providing emotional support despite the overwhelming stress of the situation. Watching the deep bond between them and the relief in her eyes as he made progress was incredibly moving. It underscored the critical role of immediate medical care, as well as the emotional strength that both patients and their families bring to the healing process. This experience highlighted how IMO鈥檚 work goes beyond just medical education 鈥� it鈥檚 about offering compassionate care that supports both the physical and emotional well-being of patients and their loved ones. This trip taught me the importance of cultural sensitivity, adaptability and the need for sustainable healthcare solutions.

Visiting India deepened my understanding of global health issues.

During our shadowing trip to Aurangabad, India, I was exposed to some of the most pressing global health issues, especially in impoverished areas. One of the most significant challenges I witnessed was the lack of access to basic healthcare services. In many rural communities, there were few medical facilities and even fewer trained healthcare providers. Common illnesses often went untreated, leading to preventable complications and deaths. Plus, the lack of health education left people unaware of how to prevent or manage basic conditions like infections or malnutrition. I saw how health disparities are often tied to broader systemic issues such as poverty, lack of education and poor infrastructure. I also gained insights into how cultural beliefs and local practices influence health behaviors, and how important it is to approach healthcare with cultural sensitivity and respect.

I鈥檓 grateful for the exposure to the global health landscape through IMO鈥檚 work. Students like me gain a deeper appreciation for the challenges people face when basic care isn鈥檛 readily available. These shadowing experiences inspire a broader understanding of how global health issues are interconnected, and how students can play a role in bridging gaps.

What I鈥檝e learned from service work: Healthcare is a human right.

If I could convey one message about global health disparities based on my experiences, it would be that healthcare access is a fundamental human right 鈥� not a privilege. Too many people around the world are suffering and dying from treatable conditions simply because they don鈥檛 have access to the basic medical care that many of us take for granted. By investing in both short-term medical relief and long-term health education, organizations like IMO are not only saving lives but also laying the groundwork for sustainable healthcare systems that empower entire communities.

Joining IMO has been an invaluable part of my healthcare education.

I鈥檝e studied diseases, treatments and medical principles in traditional classroom and clinical settings, but IMO鈥檚 service trips have allowed me to see how these concepts are applied in real-world, resource-limited environments. Working with IMO has deeply influenced my understanding of what it means to be a healthcare provider 鈥� someone who not only diagnoses and treats diseases but also fosters relationships, understands a patient鈥檚 environment, and tailors care to their specific needs and circumstances.

In countries like Brazil and India, I saw how essential it is to approach patients holistically 鈥� considering cultural factors, local health beliefs and the challenges of their daily lives. The healthcare providers I shadowed in these communities did more than treat patients 鈥� they became educators, counselors and advocates, guiding patients through complex and often inaccessible healthcare systems. IMO has given me the opportunity to be directly involved in healthcare delivery. I learned that as a student I鈥檓 more than a future healthcare provider 鈥� I鈥檓 an essential agent of change in global health today.

鈥淭here was a lot of uncertainty,鈥� says the Argentinian immigrant, 鈥淸which made it] kind of hard to focus on school.鈥�

But Lobos was determined to change his path.

He became the first male in his family to graduate from high school 鈥� and the first ever to attend college 鈥� earning a full-ride scholarship to 麻豆原创 in 2015.

鈥淚 had just got into 麻豆原创 [and] had no idea what to do,鈥� Lobos says. 鈥淚 met with one of the [admissions] counselors … [and] she led me to [PRIME STEM].鈥�

First-Generation Student Awareness Week聽is Nov. 4-8, celebrating the success and achievements of first-generation college students.

Housed on 鲍颁贵鈥檚 main campus, stands for Purpose + Reach = Individuals Measured for Excellence (PRIME). It supports first-generation in college students who demonstrate financial need and/or have a documented disability while pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) degrees. Program participants benefit from resources such as priority registration, one-on-one tutoring, peer mentoring, help with financial aid and scholarship applications, research opportunities and more.

鈥淲hen I didn’t know who to ask for a recommendation letter, I [turned] to PRIME STEM,鈥� Lobos says. 鈥淚t felt like home. It was somewhere I [could] go when I wanted to chat with my friends or needed some mentoring or tutoring. It was really a beautiful place to be.鈥�

PRIME STEM is one of five federally funded at 麻豆原创, each dedicated to educational opportunity and support. Its mission is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants/scholars by helping them transition from one level of higher education to the next.

PRIME STEM, 聽and the 鈥� housed under 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Academic Achievement Programs 鈥� are聽collegiate Student鈥疭upport聽Services聽programs. (through Project ACE and聽Project EDGE)聽are pre-collegiate programs that prepare聽small cohorts of students from Apopka and Edgewater high schools for college success.

鈥淏eing able to provide students with resources and connections they otherwise would not have access to is perhaps the single greatest benefit to working on the TRiO team,鈥� says Deborah Bowie, director of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 TRiO Programs. 鈥淭hese students are not only changing their own lives but, through their commitment to higher education and their future careers, they are also changing the trajectory for their families.鈥�

The term 鈥淭RIO鈥� was coined in the late 1960s to describe three federal education opportunity outreach programs launched as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson鈥檚 鈥淲ar on Poverty.鈥� Established in 1964, Upward Bound was the first TRiO program 鈥� and this year marks its 60th anniversary. 麻豆原创 launched its first TRiO program in 2010.

PRIME STEM paved the way for many firsts for Lobos. With the program鈥檚 support, the first-generation biomedical sciences major secured his first internship in cancer research at Boston University as a sophomore. He credits this transformative experience with early exposure to advanced technology and complex science, shaping the course of his college journey.

鈥淸It] was the first time I ever left Florida,鈥� Lobos says. 鈥淸This internship] was something I never really imagined I could do, but it turned out to be one of the most beautiful experiences of college.鈥�

鈥淢e and my folks came here with just suitcases. Now I’m going to be the first doctor in my family.” 鈥� Giuliano Lobos 鈥�19, biomedical sciences and PRIME STEM alum

Since earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree from 麻豆原创 in 2019, Lobos has set his sights on providing compassionate care to people in need. Now in his fourth year at Howard University鈥檚 College of Medicine, Lobos says he is grateful for the connections he made through PRIME STEM, which have helped him advance his education. His PRIME STEM tutor played a pivotal role in guiding him toward his purpose in psychiatry. After completing his clinical rotations, he says he realized that every doctor engages with psychiatry in some capacity, which inspired him to specialize in the field.

鈥淚 love the science and 鈥� how psychiatrists are able to care for 鈥� patients in a more holistic way. [ I find] a lot of joy in getting to know [my] patients [and] their stories,鈥� Lobos says.

Graduating med school is just the tip of the iceberg for this budding physician. Next up: positively changing lives and owning psychiatric clinics.

鈥淢e and my folks came here with just suitcases, heavy with dreams. I never thought I was going to graduate high school. Now I’m going to be the first doctor in my family,鈥� Lobos says. 鈥淚 hope that my journey shows that no matter how tough things are, 鈥� persistence always pays off.鈥�

The development could lead to advanced AI that can instantly recognize what it sees, like automatic descriptions of pictures taken by a camera or phone. The technology also has applications in self-driving vehicles and robotics.

The device, which is detailed in a new study in the journal ACS Nano, also outperforms the eye in the number of wavelengths it can see, from ultraviolet to visible light and on to the infrared spectrum.

Its uniqueness also comes from its ability to integrate three different operations into one. Current intelligent imaging technology, like what鈥檚 used in self-driving vehicles, requires separate sensing, memorization and processing of data.

By combining the three steps, the 麻豆原创-designed device is many times faster than current technology, the researchers say. The technology is also very small, with hundreds of the devices fitting on a one-inch-wide chip.

鈥淚t will change the way artificial intelligence is realized today,鈥� says study principal investigator Tania Roy, an assistant professor in 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Department of Materials Science and Engineering and NanoScience Technology Center. 鈥淭oday, everything is discrete components and running on conventional hardware. And here, we have the capacity to do in-sensor computing using a single device on one small platform.鈥�

The technology expands upon previous work by the research team that created brain-like devices that can enable AI to work in remote regions and space.

鈥淲e had devices, which behaved like the synapses of the human brain, but still, we were not feeding them the image directly,鈥� Roy says. 鈥淣ow, by adding image sensing ability to them, we have synapse-like devices that act like 鈥榮mart pixels鈥� in a camera by sensing, processing and recognizing images simultaneously.鈥�

For self-driving vehicles, the versality of the device will allow for safer driving in a range of conditions, including at night, says Molla Manjurul Islam 鈥�17MS, the study鈥檚 lead author and a doctoral student in 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Department of Physics.

鈥淚f you are in your autonomous vehicle at night and the imaging system of the car operates only at a particular wavelength, say the visible wavelength, it will not see what is in front of it,鈥� Islam says. 鈥淏ut in our case, with our device, it can actually see in the entire condition.鈥�

鈥淭here is no reported device like this, which can operate simultaneously in ultraviolet range and visible wavelength as well as infrared wavelength, so this is the most unique selling point for this device,鈥� he says.

Key to the technology is the engineering of nanoscale surfaces made of molybdenum disulfide and platinum ditelluride to allow for multi-wavelength sensing and memory. This work was performed in close collaboration with YeonWoong Jung, an assistant professor with joint appointments in 鲍颁贵鈥檚 NanoScience Technology Center and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, part of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The researchers tested the device鈥檚 accuracy by having it sense and recognize a mixed wavelength image 鈥� an ultraviolet number 鈥�3鈥� and an infrared part that is the mirror image of the digit that were placed together to form an 鈥�8.鈥� They demonstrated that the technology could discern the patterns and identify it both as a 鈥�3鈥� in ultraviolet and an 鈥�8鈥� in infrared.

鈥淲e got 70 to 80% accuracy, which means they have very good chances that they can be realized in hardware,鈥� says study co-author Adithi Krishnaprasad 鈥�18MS, a聽doctoral student聽in 鲍颁贵鈥檚聽Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The researchers say the technology could become available for use in the next five to 10 years.

Study co-authors also included Durjoy Dev 鈥�21, a graduate of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 doctoral program in electrical engineering; Ricardo Martinez-Martinez 鈥�19MS, a student in 鲍颁贵鈥檚 doctoral program in optics and photonics; Victor Okonkwo, a 麻豆原创 undergraduate student studying biomedical sciences and mechanical engineering; Benjamin Wu with Stony Brook University; Sang Sub Han, a postdoctoral associate in the Jung Research Group at 麻豆原创; Tae-Sung Bae and Hee-Suk Chung with the Korea Basic Science Institute; and Jimmy Touma, a research scientist at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.

The work was funded by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the U.S. National Science Foundation through its CAREER program.

Roy joined 麻豆原创 in 2016 and is a part of the NanoScience Technology Center with a joint appointment in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the聽Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering聽and the聽Department of Physics. Her National Science Foundation CAREER award聽focuses on the development of devices for artificial intelligence applications. Roy was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Berkeley prior to joining 麻豆原创. She received her doctorate in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Only 410 college students were selected after a rigorous screening process. Universities are only allowed to nominate four students, five if one of them is transfer student. According to the award website, the Goldwater Scholarship program 鈥渋s among the oldest and most prestigious national scholarships in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics and seeks to identify and support sophomores and juniors who demonstrate exceptional promise in becoming the next research leaders in these fields.鈥�

Harvard, MIT, Yale and Johns Hopkins had the same number of students awarded a Goldwater Scholarship.

The awards are not only coveted because of the money, but also because recipients are thought to have great promise. Many have gone onto receive additional prestigious awards such as Rhodes, Marshall, Churchill and Hertz scholarships as well as National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships to help them pay for graduate school.

Awardees receive a scholarship to cover tuition, fees, books and room and board costs for a maximum of two years at their home institution. All four of this year鈥檚 winners have worked with 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Academic Advancement Programs.

鲍颁贵鈥檚 winners are an impressive group, each already making an impact in the areas of health, math, chemistry and space. They have unique stories about what led them to research and their career goals.

Devin Burris

Major: Biomedical Sciences
University Involvement: Burnett Honors Scholar, RAMP scholar, EXCEL, GEMS, and National Institutes of Health sponsored BP-ENDURE
Career Aspiration: Gene therapy innovator at a private company
Mentors: Assistant Professor of Biology Charissa De Bekker and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences Alicia Hawthorne at 麻豆原创 and Harrison Gabel, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Washington University Saint Louis School of Medicine in Missouri.
Research: At 麻豆原创, Burris is working with Assistant Professor of Biology Charissa de Bekker looking at the genes in a fungus that infects 鈥榸ombie ants鈥� and how they change the ant behavior. At the Washington University School of Medicine, she is working with Assistant Professor Harrison Gabel looking at the genetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders. She is using computational modeling to understand how mutations in one gene (DNMT3A) can disrupt brain development and function.
Advice for Fellow Students: 鈥淏e proud of the work you have done. It is easy to fall victim to imposter syndrome in STEM, especially if you are an underrepresented minority. Once you become an academic, you realize how little you really know about the world. Once you become a researcher, you realize how little everyone else knows too, which in a way can be comforting as you pursue the edge of knowledge together.鈥�
The Importance of Mentors: All three of Burris鈥� mentors describe her as a rising star thanks to her intellect, hard work and grit, which explains how she鈥檚 not only conducting research at 麻豆原创, but also at a medical school in Missouri. Burris received the National Institutes of Health funded BP-ENDURE Neuroscience Summer Research Program and began working with Gabel last summer and she鈥檒l be headed there again this summer.

鈥淚 was lucky enough to recruit Devin to work in my lab at Washington University in St. Louis through our BP-ENDURE program,鈥� Gabel says. 鈥溾�� She has already made key insights into the genetics basis of this disorder, and I am looking forward to her continued work in the lab.鈥�

At 麻豆原创, Burris works with Bekker and Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences Alicia Hawthorne, who call her a delight.

鈥淒evin has been resilient and has maintained her passion and excellent work ethic,鈥� Hawthorne says. 鈥溾�� I look forward to seeing what she accomplishes in the future.鈥�

Burris says she is thrilled to be getting the scholarship because it means an opportunity to continue her research and achieve her ultimate goal. She says her mentors were critical to helping her find her way and supporting her. She also says each of the programs she was involved in at 麻豆原创 and Washington have taught her skills that have led to her success so far.

鈥淚 want to go into working on gene therapy in the industry because there are many opportunities to be at the front of medicine here,鈥� she says.

Spencer Tamagni

Majors: Mathematics
University Involvement: Burnett Honors Scholar, National Merit Scholar, member of the Research and Mentoring Program (RAMP)
Career Aspiration: Teaching and applying complex math problems to physics at a university.
Mentor: 麻豆原创 Associate Professor of Physics Costas Efthimiou
Research: Solving problems at the boundary of mathematics and physics.
Advice to Fellow Students: 鈥淓veryone should do research and 鈥榙rink from the fire hose,鈥� in other words consume as much content in the field as humanly possible鈥� Go as deep as possible with subjects that interest you and do not hesitate to discard things that bore you.鈥�
Take Control of Your Education: Tamagni always loved math and solving puzzles.

鈥淚t was the only thing I can see myself being able to get up and do every day without getting dreadfully bored,鈥� says the Tampa native. 鈥淪ometime in high school, I developed a bizarre obsession with learning as much math and physics as possible and picked up the habit of trying to solve hard math and physics problems in my free time with variable success.鈥�

At 麻豆原创, his mentor helped him realize he could make a career out of his 鈥渂izarre鈥� behavior. He says that while coursework is absolutely critical for knowledge acquisition, research is where a student can exert control over his or her education.

鈥淯nlike in coursework, where everything is manufactured and comes from a textbook, in research you get to have much more control over how you spend your time, what content you learn, and how you approach solving problems鈥t can be very empowering to take control of your learning.鈥�

He also urges his fellow students to recognize their weaknesses and find ways to improve. For him, the Research and Mentoring Program at 麻豆原创 was instrumental in helping him get organized.

鈥淩AMP has been very helpful in helping me untangle and map out the process of getting from where I am currently at 麻豆原创 to my desired graduate program,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey provide lots of support and assignments that help me plan my decisions 鈥� I am not a naturally skilled planner, so I benefit greatly from the extra support.鈥�

Oluwagbotemi Akinsoji

Major: Chemistry
University Involvement: McNair Scholar
Career Aspiration: To own her own company.
Mentors: 麻豆原创 Associate Professor of Chemistry Fernando Uribe-Romo, Georgia Southern Professor of Organic Chemistry Karelle Aiken, UF Assistant Professor of Microbiology Willm Martens-Habbena
Research: Conducting research with metal organic frameworks with a goal of creating rechargeable batteries, which will be a source of reliable electrochemical energy storage that emit less toxins into the environment.
Advice to Fellow Students: 鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to apply to these types of scholarships and opportunities. Even if you do not get it at the first, do not lose motivation. Participate and engage in multiple opportunities available on campus. Find things that interest you and make you happy and pursue the best you can.鈥�
Paying it Forward: Akinsoji grew up in Nigeria and moved to Maimi Lakes in 2015. She鈥檚 benefited from a good education, which is why she is keen on paying it forward.

鈥淢y career goal is to set up a company that will be able to provide everyday material at a minimal cost to people of third world countries, such as chemicals needed for the manufacturing of soaps, colognes, makeup, and toiletries,鈥� she says. 鈥淐oming from a country where everyday materials are not readily available even to the general public, I have made it my mission to make these materials accessible.鈥�

She knows it will take a lot of work to set up her own company, but that鈥檚 why she says it is important to take advantage of every opportunity. At 麻豆原创, she says the AAP office was a great resource that led her to other opportunities.

鈥淲ith this program, I was selected to participate in a National Science Foundation-funded research experience for undergraduate students at the Cornell Center for Material Science Research [at UF] this coming summer,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 have also conducted research at Georgia Southern University鈥� and am a STEM Transfers Opportunities for Nurtured Growth Scholar and an American Chemistry Society Scholar.鈥�

Riley Havel

Major: Physics
University Involvement: Burnett Honors Scholar and member of RAMP
Career Aspiration: Planetary Scientist, which could lead to becoming an astronaut, research scientist, a (NASA) mission leader or a professor.
Mentors: 麻豆原创 Assistant Professors of Physics Christopher Bennett and Adrienne Dove, and Research Associate Jose Aponte at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Research: Using simulation of the space environment to study organic material produced and preserved in different areas of space and how they contribute to the origin of life. She has also been involved in designing parts and machining them, conducted quantum mechanical calculations and worked with ultrahigh vacuum instrumentation. She also came up with her own research project to perform spectroscopic measurements studying the interaction of hydrated salts with simulated Martian regolith 聽(created at 麻豆原创) and presented the results at the 2020 Division for Planetary Sciences conference.
Advice to Fellow Students: 鈥淔ind a friend. My best friend Abigail Reynolds and I have always worked on applications together, discussed our aspirations in-depth, and challenged one another to be more intentional with our time as undergrads. I would recommend that everyone find a friend who has similar goals, but not necessarily similar interests and recognize the value that friendship can add in any endeavor.鈥�
Secret to Success: Havel says talking to people helped her chart her path and helped build her leadership skills, which have helped her land impressive opportunities.

鈥淚 spent a lot of time talking to upperclassmen in the Society of Physics Students about getting involved in research,鈥� she says. 鈥淓ventually, a few of them helped me draft an email to Dr. Bennett. Soon after, I started attending group meetings and training in the lab.鈥�

And that led to one huge opportunity. Last year she was selected as an Undergraduate Research Associate (URA) in Astrobiology under the advisement of Jose Aponte, an astrochemist and Research Associate at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. She was supposed to be working in the Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory, which is the same laboratory that will be primarily responsible for performing analysis of the OSIRIS-REx and Hyabusa-2 asteroid sample return missions. The lab is internationally recognized as the leader in the world for analyzing extraterrestrial samples. Because of COVID-19, she was unable to perform research at Goddard in person, but she still managed to perform a high-level of research, with limited guidance, Bennett says.

Dove hasn鈥檛 worked with Havel on any research, but says she stood out in classes and within the department. She often spoke to Dove after classes.

鈥淩iley is an amazing person, a stellar student, and invested in giving back to her communities,鈥� Dove says. 鈥淪he鈥檚 been actively involved in the physics department since she was a freshman through the Society of Physics Students and the Women in Physics groups. Her leadership and impact in those groups has been impressive. She has already made a lasting impact here at 麻豆原创 and will continue to do so as she advances to her PhD and beyond.鈥�

Students interested in applying for an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship or other major national awards should contact Morgan Bauer in the Office of Prestigious Awards at聽opa@ucf.edu.