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.

When his friends were getting their driver鈥檚 licenses and registering to vote, he couldn鈥檛. After living in South Florida since he was 5, the Honduras native began to realize what it meant to be an undocumented immigrant in the United States.

鈥淭here are times where you aren鈥檛 judged for your talents or abilities at first, instead you鈥檙e judged for your status,鈥� the 22-year-old says. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 control the challenges that come with your legal status, but you can try to find what opportunities are available to you.鈥�

Finding a Way

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an immigration policy that allows individuals who meet several key guidelines and were brought to the U.S. as children to avoid deportation, was created in 2012.

DACA students, 鈥� also known as DREAMers 鈥� like Mercado Santos, have no access to federal aid, limited access to state aid, and in some cases must pay out-of-state tuition for college. With the goal of becoming a physician one day, he knew that he had to find a way to pay for school without creating further financial burdens for his older sister and mother, who were already working hard to provide for his family.

鈥淭he degree may have my name, but in reality it is awarded to all three of us.鈥�

So he sought help from a high school advisor who encouraged him to apply for a scholarship from TheDream.US, the nation鈥檚 largest college access and success program for DREAMers. Through a partnership with 麻豆原创, the organization has provided funding for Mercado Santos鈥� tuition, along with a small stipend for books 鈥� and now he鈥檚 days away from earning his bachelor鈥檚 degree.

鈥淚 attended 麻豆原创s Grad Walk a few weeks ago, and when I walked across the stage 鈥� it was a culmination of all the sacrifices my mom and sister have made for me,鈥� the biomedical sciences major says. 鈥淭he degree may have my name, but in reality it is awarded to all three of us.鈥�

Building a New Life

The sacrifices became necessary when his estranged father, a businessman, began receiving death threats and eventually a murder attempt from local gangs back in his home country. His mother, who was working in a pharmacy, feared they may be next and decided to seek safety in the United States.

Although Mercado Santos says his family had a comfortable life in Honduras, he remembers feeling like anything was possible when they moved to South Florida. At first, family members who were already living here helped him, his mother and sister get by. Eventually the three of them were able to get their own place but it wasn鈥檛 until Mercado Santos鈥� arrival at 麻豆原创 that he had his own room for the first time in his life. Although it was difficult to be away from his family, he knew he was serving a greater purpose.

鈥淢y mom always wanted to pursue a career like being a doctor,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen we moved she said, 鈥業 brought you here so you can be what I wanted to be,鈥� and my sister told me she would make sure I have everything she didn鈥檛 鈥� and it鈥檚 true.鈥�

Now each of them has their own residence and car, and his 26-year-old sister, who put off college so he could pursue his dreams first, will be starting her own collegiate journey soon.

鈥淚 always thought America was a place of opportunity 鈥� if you work hard you get what you want and in many instances that鈥檚 true,鈥� Mercado Santos says.

Striving for His Best

Given the difficult circumstances he grew up with, the desire to help others is a major driving force in Mercado Santos鈥� life, from why he wants to be a doctor to why he鈥檚 spent hundreds of hours volunteering with Service and Love Together at 麻豆原创 and Hearts for the Homeless 鈥� two student organizations committed to serving underserved communities.

鈥淚 like helping homeless individuals because that could have easily been me when I moved here to the States 鈥� it was hard,鈥� he says.

He鈥檚 also a dedicated member of Pre-Med American Medical Student Association and has spent hundreds of hours shadowing local doctors and volunteering as a Spanish interpreter at a clinic.

鈥淚t hits home being in rooms with patients who don鈥檛 speak English, so to be able to communicate their needs and issues to healthcare providers is one way I鈥檓 proud to help others,鈥� Mercado Santos says.

He鈥檚 contributed to cancer research in assistant professor of medicine Wencai Zhang鈥檚 lab, gaining hands-on experience, knowledge and inspiration for his studies.

鈥淚t is pleasant working with Ruben and he really cares for others,鈥� Zhang says. 鈥淗is creativity in research surged when he published his second paper while volunteering in my lab. I expect great success for him in the future.鈥�

鈥淲hen I came to 麻豆原创 I didn鈥檛 have to worry about if I was welcomed or liked here 鈥� 麻豆原创 has never treated me differently in terms of status.鈥�

Although he isn鈥檛 sure about the specific field of medicine he wants to pursue, Mercado Santos knows the type of doctor he wants to be 鈥� kind, compassionate and willing to help those who may not have access to affordable healthcare, since he says he knows what it鈥檚 like to not be able to get medical care.

As he prepares for his next chapter, attending medical school, he is more grateful than ever for the support that got him this far.

鈥淲hen I came to 麻豆原创 I didn鈥檛 have to worry about if I was welcomed or liked here 鈥� 麻豆原创 has never treated me differently in terms of status,鈥� Mercado Santos says. 鈥淚鈥檝e had the same access to opportunities as any other student, which has allowed me to focus on being the best pre-med student now to later be the best physician in the future. I can just be who I want 鈥� the good person my mom tells me to be and the hardworking person my mom has inspired me to be.鈥�

Enrollment at 麻豆原创 in the offbeat summer of 2020 is up over the routine summer of 2019. There are 6.6 percent more students taking 11.4 percent more credit hours than a year ago.

Oh, and there鈥檚 this: 鈥淚鈥檓 taking more credit hours than usual this summer.鈥�

From her home in Kissimmee, Sabah Qureshi accepts a call on a Tuesday morning. Qureshi, a biomedical sciences major, has become remarkably productive from this very spot.

鈥淚 just finished a Zoom meeting 鈥� or class,鈥� says the pre-med student. Qureshi鈥檚 instructor, after polling students at the beginning of the term, decided to set aside three hours to meet with them virtually six days a week. Qureshi is in as many of those as possible.

Like Guerra, she鈥檚 taking a bigger load of summer credit hours 鈥� a total of 12 between Summer A and Summer B terms 鈥� than normal. The Organic Chemistry II class from which she鈥檚 just logged out? It鈥檚 being offered as a summer class for the first time ever.

Qureshi and Guerra are part of a rising trend that鈥檚 also raising eyebrows: Enrollment at 麻豆原创 in the offbeat summer of 2020 is up over the routine summer of 2019. There are 6.6 percent more students taking 11.4 percent more credit hours than a year ago. The increase spawns from a convergence of factors, including, of all things, the campus going quiet for the past three months.

鈥淲hen we abruptly had to transition to remote instruction in mid-March, we were heading into uncharted waters. One concern that was top of mind was future enrollment,鈥� says Theodorea Regina Berry, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 vice provost of Student Learning and Academic Success and dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies. 鈥淲e learned that the 麻豆原创 community is resilient. We banded together to create an environment focused on student success. Our approach worked; enrollment for Summer 2020 is up.鈥�

***

Guerra envisions himself being a human resources specialist for a resort in Florida sometime in the year 2022. You could say he鈥檚 wired for details. On March 10, hours after ending his shift at Publix, he was using online to update his academic route toward 鈥渟ometime in the year 2022鈥� when he received a text from a friend. Then another. 鈥淒id you hear? 麻豆原创 is closing campus.鈥�

鈥淢y first thought was, 鈥極h no. This will set my plans back 鈥� maybe way 产补肠办.鈥欌赌�

Qureshi heard the news while working in the office she uses as a teacher鈥檚 assistant in the biology department. 鈥淚 figured the closure will be just a week, right? So I left a lot of my belongings in my cubicle.鈥�

Those belongings are still there.

Berry was barely two months into her new position at 麻豆原创. 聽During initial meetings with stakeholders across 麻豆原创, a topic of conversation was how to transform education by 鈥渟upporting initiatives to take learning outside the classroom.鈥�

鈥淲e learned that the 麻豆原创 community is resilient. We banded together to create an environment focused on student success. Our approach worked; enrollment for Summer 2020 is up.鈥�

鈥� Theodorea Regina Berry

Reminded of this in early June while the classrooms remain empty, she laughs easily and says, 鈥淭his is not what I had in mind.鈥�

During the early days of responding to COVID-19, Berry dealt with the urgent tasks of getting students who were studying abroad home and determining how undergraduates would continue internships and co-ops.

鈥淲e realized that we were changing students鈥� learning plans and began to contemplate what that would mean for future enrollment,鈥� says Berry. 鈥淲e asked ourselves, 鈥榃ould students return to 麻豆原创 or transition to colleges closer to home?鈥� 鈥�

Normally, Admissions, Enrollment Services, Institutional Knowledge Management, and the Registrar鈥檚 Office can predict shifts in advance. 鈥淚n the midst of the pandemic, predicting was difficult,鈥� Berry says.

麻豆原创 was ahead of the curve. It has more than 20 years of experience providing online courses. The university also made sure that students and faculty felt heard and supported.

Through conversations, common messages arose: Make classwork more flexible. Use simulcasts, webcams and livestreams. Make lessons available on dedicated YouTube channels. And, while you鈥檙e at it, why not offer more summer classes?

鈥淓verything has led to creating more platforms for learning, so we are able to raise the bar to yet another level,鈥� says Berry. 鈥淭hat does not mean we鈥檒l stop doing what works for certain students. Some of them need the interaction in person. We happen to be working right now on ways to meet the needs of all students. We鈥檙e learning a lot and making adjustments to teaching and learning, and if we鈥檙e creating a better student experience, they鈥檒l be permanent.鈥�

***

Three months after wondering how deep into the 2020s he might be finishing his required classes, Guerra has a very different outlook: 鈥淚鈥檓 actually ahead of schedule.鈥� Until this summer, two of his classes weren鈥檛 available online: Quantitative Business Tools II and Accounting for Decision Makers. 鈥淚鈥檓 working more hours. I don鈥檛 have to worry about rent. And I have more control of my time and my own path.鈥�

鈥淚t can be challenging, but I have to look at it this way: By taking more classes now, I鈥檒l have more time to focus on my internships and volunteer work after things open back up.鈥�
鈥� Sabah Qureshi

Qureshi is also using the availability of summer classes to expedite her track to medical school 鈥� and, eventually, to opening her own family clinic.

鈥淚t can be challenging,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut I have to look at it this way: By taking more classes now, I鈥檒l have more time to focus on my internships and volunteer work after things open back up.鈥�

The progressive actions taken as a result of conversations point to the factor that provides momentum in the flexibility-plus-availability equation. Berry noticed it when she came to visit 麻豆原创 during a house-hunting trip in November 2019.

鈥淚 was struck by the relationships between the colleges and divisions and the dedication to student success,鈥� Berry says.

When one instructor initially struggled to set up her remote lessons, Qureshi helped the instructor figure it out. Guerra鈥檚 professors, knowing he relies on his own electronic notes, are providing pdfs so he can mark them up and fully comprehend the material.

Enrollment is up. In the days after March 10, who would have thought?

鈥淚n hindsight, I think about the devotion of these students to 麻豆原创 and vice versa,鈥� says Berry. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 clear to me that no one wants to give that up. Perhaps we never should have doubted.鈥�

So Vulpe, a junior health sciences student, and Orindas, a junior biomedical student, decided to start Orlando Against Coronavirus, a local extension of a British organization called Students Against Coronavirus.

The purpose of the organization is to provide supplemental support to organizations and facilities impacted by social distancing guidelines in response to COVID-19. This includes senior-living facilities, schools, nonprofit organizations and others that serve the elderly, children and the homeless.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very delicate situation right now with everything going on,鈥� Vulpe says. 鈥淪o we decided to be the ones to actually reach out and offer ourselves to help out.鈥�

With a team of a dozen volunteers, Vulpe and Orindas have implemented several projects to help the community, such as creating and distributing masks, personalized cards, food packages for the homeless, book drives and online tutoring.

The group hopes to not only help neighbors in need, but also foster a sense of connection, to make sure everyone knows they are not alone.

The group hopes to not only help neighbors in need, but also foster a sense of connection, to make sure everyone knows they are not alone.

In the past month, Orlando Against Coronavirus has made and distributed more than 100 masks to Orlando Health and written more than 50 鈥渟tay-positive鈥� cards for seniors in assisted living facilities.

鈥淲e feel good about taking the initiative to help out instead of binge-watching Netflix,鈥� says Orindas.

Orindas and Vulpe hope to encourage fellow Knights and Central Florida residents to find ways to support communities that are most vulnerable. These communities appreciate the extra support during this time, Vulpe says.

鈥淲e are happy to support them during this quarantine time, it means so much to them, and to us too,鈥� she says.