Joshua Taggart knew he wanted to work for the space industry the day he experienced his first launch while attending a camp at Kennedy Space Center, seeing the space shuttle Endeavour soar into the sky. He鈥檚 now closer to making that dream a reality after being recognized with one of the industry鈥檚 most distinguished awards.

Taggart is the latest Knight to receive the coveted Astronaut Foundation Scholarship, a national award that provides more than 70 scholarships of up to $15,000 each for some of the nation鈥檚 very best STEM students. He will be recognized with the 2026 class of scholars at the foundation鈥檚 gala, to be held next month in Houston.

Taggart says he chose 麻豆原创 for its reputation in engineering as the No. 1 supplier of talent to the nation鈥檚 aerospace and defense industries (Aviation Week Network). He is in good company as part of a trio of Astronaut Scholars this year from the College of Engineering and Computer Science, joining mechanical engineering student Keanu Brayman and computer engineering student Kyle Coutray (a biomedical sciences double major), who have received the scholarship for second consecutive year.

As Taggart works to complete his final year at 麻豆原创, his latest accomplishment fuels his path to make an impact as a future space researcher.

Future Focused

Driven to contribute to humanity鈥檚 exploration of our universe, Taggart is already working on future-focused innovations that can benefit the space industry.

Through NASA Office of STEM Engagement, he interned at the Johnson Space Center working on communications, avionics, propulsion and flight software for CubeSat subsystems.

This summer at NASA鈥檚 Glenn Research Center, he is researching packaging materials for silicon carbide pressure sensors, working to make sure they perform reliably above 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit), and on integrating thermocouple sensors for temperature compensation.

鈥淚 chose this field of research because I want to be involved in next-generation electronics that can withstand the extreme nature of outer space.鈥� 鈥� Joshua Taggart

鈥淲ith the harsh environment that outer space is and planet surfaces like Venus, electronics must survive very high temperatures and radiation effects,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 chose this field of research because I want to be involved in next-generation electronics that can withstand the extreme nature of outer space.鈥�

His work as an undergraduate researcher for the Q-Sim Lab, directed by Assistant Professor Jaesung Lee, also centers around developing technology designed to operate in outer space. Taggart is working on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonators designed to perform under extreme conditions, such as elevated temperatures and increased exposure to radiation.

He recently won a Judge鈥檚 Choice Award at 麻豆原创 Student Research Week for his Honors Undergraduate Thesis, 鈥淩obust AlN MEMS Resonators for High Temperature Space Environments.鈥�

His passion for space has only grown over the years, reflected by his ongoing research at 麻豆原创 and for NASA. As an Astronaut Scholar, Taggart is launching into a future full of possibilities.

鈥淎side from the financial support that this scholarship will provide me as I complete my undergraduate program, I am very eager for all of the networking opportunities I will have,鈥� Taggart says. 鈥淚 look forward to networking with other students and industry leaders to learn and grow as much as I can thanks to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.鈥�

Those interested in the Astronaut Scholarship and other opportunities should reach out to the Office of Prestigious Awards at听OPA@ucf.edu.

Students in the , with support from the American Association of Venezuelan Engineers (AAVE), are producing 3D-printed orthopedic devices 鈥� including splints, neck braces and animal immobilizers 鈥� for people and pets injured in the disaster.

The initiative, called Bracing Venezuela, began after BMES leaders contacted Greco Pinz贸n, president of AAVE. Pinzon鈥檚 dad, who has been volunteering in Caracas, Venezuela鈥檚 capital, connected the students with physicians on the ground who identified the types of orthopedic devices most urgently needed.

“… before we knew it, we had a campuswide humanitarian project taking shape.”

鈥淔rom there, everything snowballed,鈥� says Jannah Barakat, a mechanical engineering major and president of BMES. 鈥淲e started test printing, organizing volunteers, building a print tracker, reaching out to other student organizations, and before we knew it, we had a campuswide humanitarian project taking shape.鈥�

Since launching the effort, BMES has produced more than 350 devices that have been shipped to clinicians in Venezuela. Smaller items, such as finger and wrist splints, take only a few hours to print and are manufactured flat so they can be easily transported. Once they arrive, clinicians soften the material with hot water and mold each device to fit each patient. Larger devices, such as neck braces and animal leg braces, are printed in multiple sizes and can take up to 10 hours to complete. With volunteers printing from across 麻豆原创 and beyond, multiple devices can be produced simultaneously.

Bracing Venezuela has received support from Mohsen Rakhshan, an assistant professor in and BMES faculty advisor, who opened his lab鈥檚 3D printer for the project. While many volunteers are engineering students, faculty members, 麻豆原创 alumni and 3D-printing hobbyists have also come forward to help.

鈥淥ne of the coolest things about this project has been watching people from so many different backgrounds come together around one goal,鈥� Barakat says. 鈥淲hether you’re printing a brace, packing a box, donating supplies or simply helping us spread the word, every contribution helps get these devices into the hands of the people and animals who need them.鈥�

“I hope this initiative becomes a model for how engineering students can quickly mobilize to respond to humanitarian needs.”

Those interested in joining the initiative don鈥檛 need to own a 3D printer. BMES supplies filament to volunteers who have printers, while others can still make an impact by donating materials, connecting the organization with additional volunteers or helping spread the word.

For Barakat, Bracing Venezuela demonstrates what鈥檚 possible when engineering students come together for a greater good.

鈥淚 hope this initiative becomes a model for how engineering students can quickly mobilize to respond to humanitarian needs,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hether it’s supporting communities after natural disasters, helping [less fortunate] populations locally or partnering with organizations in other countries, I’d love to continue using engineering as a way to make healthcare more [widely available] wherever it’s needed.鈥�

To join the Bracing Venezuela initiative, email Jannah.barakat@ucf.edu.

A bird bursting from the ocean or a mobula ray launching skyward makes the transition from water to air look effortless. For unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, it鈥檚 one of the hardest maneuvers to replicate.

Now, 麻豆原创 researchers are studying how wing shape and motion affect that split-second transition 鈥� work that could help improve future amphibious UAVs.

Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering Samik Bhattacharya and aerospace engineering master鈥檚 student Dominic Polidoro 鈥�25 are investigating the physical forces that interact as a wing exits the water and enters the air, a process known as egress. Supported by a grant from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM Army Research Office, the nine-month project aims to develop mathematical models to improve the technology used in military amphibious vehicles.

“This technology can 鈥� enable seamless air-water operations without the need for separate vehicles.”

The research could also expand the use of amphibious UAVs in civilian scenarios such as search-and-rescue missions in coastal areas, ocean monitoring and disaster response.

鈥淭his technology can 鈥� enable seamless air-water operations without the need for separate vehicles,鈥� Bhattacharya says. 鈥淚n 10 years, amphibious UAVs could perform reliable and stable dives and exits with better payload capacity and autonomous control in complex environments, far beyond today鈥檚 unreliable transitions.鈥�

While researchers have extensively studied how drones enter water, far less is understood about how they exit it. Previous studies show that as a wing rises from the water, the lift generated by it will increase until it suddenly reverses direction before stabilizing. Why this occurs is not yet known, but the answer is crucial to understanding UAV performance.

鈥淚n general, when a UAV egresses, it causes lift overshoot followed by a sharp drop,鈥� Bhattacharya says. 鈥淪uch rapid changes in lift forces can create instability, leading to loss of control. Understanding this transition will not only improve our knowledge of creatures in nature but also allow for drone designs that can use or mitigate the lift increase and decrease that occurs.鈥�

Inside the in , Bhattacharya and Polidoro use a water tank and 3D-printed wings to study how surface deformation, waves and vortex shedding interact during egress. They aim to better understand the physical forces that drive this transition.

鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult to disentangle the effects of surface deformation, waves and vortex shedding because they occur simultaneously on very short timescales and strongly influence each other,鈥� Bhattacharya says.

The duo presented earlier findings from their research at the 2026 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics SciTech Forum in January.

Faculty Background

Bhattacharya joined 麻豆原创 in 2016. He earned his doctoral degree in aerospace engineering from The Ohio State University, his master鈥檚 degree in aerospace engineering from Auburn University and his bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering from the National Institute of Technology Warangal, located in India.

Fueled by engineering ingenuity and months of testing, a team of 麻豆原创 mechanical engineering students raced its human-powered vehicle past competitors from across the country to claim a national championship.

What began as a Spring 2026 Senior Design project ended with the e-HPVC Senior Design team earning three first-place trophies at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) e-Human Powered Vehicle (e-HPVC) Challenge.

Hosted on 麻豆原创鈥檚 main campus, the annual competition challenges university teams to design, fabricate and race human-powered vehicles, testing everything from vehicle design and safety to endurance and speed.

麻豆原创鈥檚 team took first place in both the endurance and drag race events, second place in design and first place overall, earning four trophies and $2,500 in prize money.

鈥淏ecoming national champions while representing 麻豆原创 feels surreal, says Estefano Cicci, a mechanical engineering major and member of the e-HPVC team. 鈥淚 hope these trophies remind future students that the goals that feel out of reach are exactly the ones worth chasing, and that a small, dedicated team from 麻豆原创 can prove itself on a national stage.鈥�

Building a Better Ride

In previous years, 麻豆原创鈥檚 e-HPVC teams have placed well in the competition with recumbent tricycles, but each new group strives to improve upon the last. Eric Cruz-Hernandez, a mechanical engineering student and member of this year鈥檚 team, says the group closely studied past designs to determine what worked and what needed improvement.

This year鈥檚 vehicle featured a mid-drive motor with electronic shifting to improve speed and battery endurance. The team also redesigned the frame to make it lighter and more accessible for riders of varying heights.

Engineering Excellence Across the Board

The e-HPVC team wasn鈥檛 the only group of Knights to win their competition.

A second 麻豆原创 team placed second in the ASME Innovative Additive Manufacturing 3D Challenge, which asks students to re-engineer an existing product or create a new design. Teams were judged on ingenuity, engineering design principles and their use of additive manufacturing.

A third 麻豆原创 team also showcased a fully functioning robot in the Student Design Competition, but didn鈥檛 place.

The Teamwork Behind the Trophies

For Bryce Ballard, a mechanical engineering student and external outreach chair for ASME at 麻豆原创, hosting the 2026 EFx event on campus was just as meaningful as competing in it. It not only gave students the chance to represent the university, but also to create a welcoming and supportive environment for teams traveling from across the country.

鈥淥ne of the most impactful parts of hosting was being able to support other teams when they encountered issues with their trikes,鈥� Ballard says. 鈥淲hether it was lending tools, helping troubleshoot problems or offering guidance, those interactions stood out the most. It reinforced that the competition is not only about performance, but also about collaboration, sportsmanship and building connections within the engineering community.鈥�

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�

麻豆原创鈥檚 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 麻豆原创鈥檚 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听opa@ucf.edu.

麻豆原创鈥檚 leading space medicine experts, valued strategic partners and an astronaut who holds NASA鈥檚 record for spacewalks will gather April 10 in Lake Nona鈥檚 Medical City to discuss how they can work together to keep space travelers healthy and use that research to create groundbreaking clinical innovations on Earth.

The 鈥淪tar Nona 2026鈥� event is led by the Lake Nona Research Council, which is focused on encouraging interdisciplinary scientific partnerships between industry, academia and healthcare.

The council includes physicians and researchers from 麻豆原创, Orlando Health, AdventHealth, the , the Orlando VA Medical Center, Nemours Children鈥檚 Health, business and industry.

Star Nona 2026 Event Details

鈥淥ur goal is to bring together space medicine leaders and experts from academia, medicine and the space industry to find more ways we can work together to research the health impacts of space flight and how our discoveries can also improve healthcare on Earth,鈥� says Michal Masternak, 麻豆原创 professor of medicine.

An anti-aging and cancer researcher, Masternak leads the Lake Nona Research Council鈥檚 space medicine research group. He also leads the College of Medicine鈥檚 program that processes astronaut samples so physicians and scientists can analyze the immediate impact of space travel on astronauts鈥� bodies.

Sessions will include presentations on:

• Microgravity and radiation exposure and their impact on human physical and mental health
• How space travel affects muscles, bones, cells, vision and the brain
• Protecting muscles in space (led by AdventHealth researchers)
• Next generation of the space station
• New technologies for diagnosing how space travel impacts human cells.

These presentations will feature 麻豆原创 researchers from medicine, , and . 麻豆原创 graduate students and post-doctoral scientists will also present research posters on space medicine.

The plenary speaker is NASA astronaut Robert Curbeam, a U.S. Navy captain who completed four spacewalks during space shuttle Discovery鈥檚 2006 mission to the International Space Station.

The Space Coast鈥檚 College of Medicine

Located 45 miles west of the Space Coast and Kennedy Space Center, 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Medicine is the perfect partner to chart a new frontier in healthcare as humans prepare for longer missions to the moon and Mars, and commercial space flights take more civilians into space.

The goal: explore how factors such as microgravity, radiation and isolation impact the human body in space and how that knowledge can drive innovation into diagnostics, treatment and disease prevention on Earth.

To further those efforts, 麻豆原创 has created a new Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine (CASEEM), which includes 麻豆原创 faculty experts in medicine, engineering, computer science, psychology, arts and educational leadership. This interdisciplinary group will work together to research and develop new technologies for keeping space travelers healthy, as well as soldiers on military missions, deep sea explorers and mountain climbers.

About the Lake Nona Research Council

Edward Ross, the College of Medicine鈥檚 chair of medicine and assistant dean for research, leads the Lake Nona Research Council.

Ross says Star Nona and the partnerships it creates will help solidify 麻豆原创 and Medical City鈥檚 reputation as a premier center for space medicine.

鈥淲hen people think of keeping space visitors healthy, we want them to immediately think 麻豆原创.鈥� 鈥� Edward Ross, College of Medicine鈥檚 chair of medicine

鈥淎s a university, 麻豆原创 was born to create the workforce to send humans to the moon,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e continuing that legacy with space medicine. When people think of keeping space visitors healthy, we want them to immediately think 麻豆原创.鈥�

Event Registration

Star Nona 2026 will be held at the 麻豆原创 Lake Nona Cancer Center, with registration beginning at 8:15 a.m. Star Nona is made possible by support and sponsorships from Dr. Jogi Pattisapu and the Hydrocephalus and Neuroscience Institute, Tavistock Development Company and the Florida Space Institute. To sign up to attend the event, please visit .

Although Royal knew since high school that he wanted to be an engineer, he didn鈥檛 know these courses were essential to succeeding in his studies. He enjoyed working with his hands, solving practical problems, and was interested in science, math, and technology. Mechanical engineering felt like the perfect intersection of all his interests.

What he didn鈥檛 have was guidance.

Starting Behind 鈥� and Pushing Forward

Royal didn鈥檛 know anyone in engineering or have access to mentors who could advise him on the classes a university engineering program required. When he later reconnected with two friends from high school 鈥� Kent Huerta and Isaac Washington, both civil engineering majors at the University of South Florida 鈥� he quickly discovered they faced many of the same challenges navigating STEM pathways without early guidance.

鈥淚 would’ve still been a year behind graduating if I [hadn鈥檛 taken] an accelerated courseload,鈥� says Royal, who鈥檚 now a mechanical engineering graduate student on track to become a double Knight. 鈥淲e realized that 鈥� if we had some prior knowledge or someone to talk to us about STEM before we got to this level, or before we tried to enter STEM, we could have avoided those pitfalls.鈥�

That realization helped turn his personal ambitions into action that benefits others.

In 2024, Royal, Huerta and Washington co-founded STEM Mentorship Matters, an outreach program that connects students at their high school, Q. I. Roberts Junior-Senior High School, with professionals in STEM fields and equips them with the knowledge to successfully pursue their careers.

鈥淲e 鈥� didn’t have that many opportunities or much education related to STEM when we were in high school,鈥� Royal says. 鈥淭hat made it a lot more difficult compared to our peers who did. So we thought, 鈥業s there any way to give something to students who were like us, who could use opportunities in STEM?鈥欌��

Giving Students a Head Start

What began as a grassroots effort serving just 30 students at Q. I. Roberts has since grown into a network of 10 high schools across Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, reaching hundreds of junior and senior high school students. The organization now includes 30 volunteer mentors who lead monthly workshops that connect professionals with students.

STEM Mentorship Matters also offers a range of resources, including guidance on applying to universities through the Common App, explanations of different engineering disciplines and advice on getting involved on campus. Monthly discussions focus on preparing for careers in STEM, with topics shaped by student interest and shared through the organization鈥檚 Discord server.

From navigating the college application process and building strong resumes to learning how to network and apply for internships, volunteer mentors guide students to success in the classroom and beyond graduation.

鈥淚t helps students think, 鈥榃hat would I want to do beyond middle and high school? Am I even interested in STEM?鈥欌�� Royal says. 鈥淸And] it’s OK if they’re not. We’re just trying to provide them with some insight. It also provides some insight into what they may want to do in STEM if they are interested.鈥�

Royal adds that these interactions help students narrow their interests, explore future career possibilities and feel more confident entering their chosen field. Just as important, it gives them something Royal says he and his co-founders lacked early on: encouragement.

鈥淛ust someone saying, 鈥榊ou can do this if you set your mind to it,鈥� is very important because we didn’t have a lot of that pursuing STEM,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd I feel it’s important to have because it makes it easier to accomplish whatever you set out to do.鈥�

Unlike a typical scholarship that only covers the cost of tuition and fees, the SMART scholarship also provides an annual stipend, a summer internship, an experienced mentor and guaranteed employment with the DOD after graduation.

The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing STEM degrees who can commit to one year of employment with the DOD upon graduation. The goal is to develop a talent pipeline of technically proficient professionals who can meet the nation鈥檚 security needs.

Carlos Arteaga

M.S. in civil engineering

For Arteaga, applying for the DOD SMART Scholarship program was a no-brainer. He already works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a geotechnical engineer and plans to use his time in the program to develop as a professional within that agency. He says this program stood out because it aligned perfectly with his values of technical excellence, service to country and long-term impact.

鈥淚 was drawn to the program鈥檚 integration of academic advancement with real-world application, especially within the DOD鈥檚 infrastructure and research divisions,鈥� Arteaga says. 鈥淭he opportunity to contribute to national security while deepening my expertise in structural and geotechnical engineering made it an ideal fit.鈥�

As a master鈥檚 student on the non-thesis track, Arteaga plans to take a more practical approach to the internship. He hopes to gain a better understanding of how engineering decisions are made in defense and looks forward to collaborating with experts across the DOD.

Balancing coursework with a job and the responsibilities of the DOD program is no easy feat, but Arteaga says that the flexibility and technical rigor are what drew him to 麻豆原创鈥檚 graduate programs.

鈥淭he curriculum has strengthened my foundation in structural and geotechnical principle while also enhancing my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively,鈥� Arteaga says. 鈥淐ombined with my experience at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, my time at 麻豆原创 has prepared me to contribute confidently and competently to the DOD鈥檚 mission.鈥�

Chance Brewer 鈥�20

Ph.D. in mechanical engineering

Through his work in the Putnam Lab, managed by Shawn Putnam, mechanical engineering associate professor, Brewer has had the chance to collaborate on research projects sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). As a DOD SMART scholar, Brewer will rejoin the AFRL team to work on research related to his expertise.

鈥淢y academic research on multifunctional materials in thermal management systems is already closely tied with the work I will be doing with AFRL, but the challenges and applications I am targeting will shift to focus on thermal control for space vehicles,鈥� Brewer says. 鈥淥ver the past two summers I have worked with the same team that I will be working with for SMART, so I am already very familiar with the community that I will be joining after I graduate, and I feel very fortunate to be joining such a great team.鈥�

Brewer thanks Putnam as well as the 麻豆原创 Office of Undergraduate Research and the 麻豆原创 Academic Advancement Programs office for their support and encouragement to get involved with research as an undergraduate student. He credits their guidance and sense of community with shaping his graduate experience and, ultimately, a career with the DOD.

鈥淢y ultimate goal from this experience is to establish a career within AFRL leading research on coupled thermal and optical materials for thermal monitoring and control systems,鈥� Brewer says. 鈥淭hrough these efforts, I also hope to learn how we can leverage thermal solutions being developed for space applications to help support missions across the DOD and to help advance thermal management systems for commercial technologies.鈥�

Jean-Philippe Perrault 鈥�06 鈥�14MBA

Ph.D. in industrial engineering

Like Arteaga, Perrault is already employed with the DOD. He works as an engineering supervisor for the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD). He鈥檚 also a father of five, a chess coach an active community volunteer and a doctoral student. With a very full schedule, the DOD SMART Scholarship was a practical choice because it designates study time during work hours, alleviating the pressure of pursuing a Ph.D.

After earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering and a master鈥檚 degree in business administration, Perrault returned to 麻豆原创 in Fall 2024 to continue his studies. He also serves on the advisory board for the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems and with the encouragement of Professor Luis Rabelo, joined the industrial engineering doctoral program鈥檚 systems engineering track.

Perrault鈥檚 research focuses on the development of a theoretical framework to adopt AI technology in military training systems. He says the SMART scholarship program will help him deepen his technical knowledge and in turn, inform his research.

鈥淏eyond technical skills, I aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of how research translates into real-world applications within the DOD, including navigating the complexities of defense innovation and collaboration,鈥� Perrault says. 鈥淚 also look forward to developing leadership, project management and interdisciplinary collaboration skills that will enable me to contribute effectively to the defense community both during and after my scholarship.鈥�

Perrault plans to continue working for the NAWCTSD but hopes to strengthen the collaborative relationship the agency has with 麻豆原创. As a three-time alum, he says that some of his most cherished memories were formed at 麻豆原创 鈥� memories of friendship, hard work and achievements.

鈥淎s a continually growing university located close to home, 麻豆原创 has played a significant role in shaping my professional journey,鈥� Perrault says. 鈥淢y success is largely attributed to the comprehensive education and experiences I gained here 鈥� the coursework, laboratories, professors and student support services all contributed to my development as a leader within our local community.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 麻豆原创鈥檚 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 麻豆原创鈥檚 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�

Over its 40-year history, the ASF has awarded scholarships totaling over $9 million to more than 850 students. This year, 71 undergraduate students from 48 U.S. colleges and universities were named Astronaut Scholars, including three exceptional leaders from 麻豆原创.

Abigail Glover

To Abigail Glover, a Burnett Honors Scholar and mechanical engineering student at 麻豆原创, earning a prestigious award like the Astronaut Scholarship represents far more than just financial support. For her, it鈥檚 entry into a network of ambitious individuals sharing her passion for space, engineering and scientific discovery. Glover describes the Astronaut community as 鈥渁 family of like-minded individuals who will always support you.鈥�

Much of Glover鈥檚 research has focused on planetary science. Some of her undergraduate research initiatives include studying the influence of humidity on simulated lunar highlands regolith properties and terra mechanics. Currently, her Honors Undergraduate Thesis is on 鈥淨uantifying the Performance of the SPARTA Toolkit for use in Planetary Regolith Characterization Missions.鈥�

Glover is a project manager with the Regolith Interactions for the Development of Extraterrestrial Rovers (RIDER) program at 麻豆原创鈥檚 , where she coordinates with industry experts and leads a team focused on enhancing technologies for lunar regolith and rover wheel interaction. She has also worked with NASA鈥檚 Exploration Ground Systems 鈥� assisting the Human Systems Integration team in preparing for Artemis II. Beyond her professional experiences, she founded the Lake-Sumter State College Astronomical Society in 2016. She also served as the social media and marketing chair for the 麻豆原创 chapter of the American Society for Mechanical Engineers and is the creative chair for Students for the Exploration and Development of Space at 麻豆原创.

Glover came to STEM from a background in art and theater, which initially left her feeling like an outsider in the world of engineering and research. In her first semester, she had difficulty adjusting to the demanding load of her STEM classes. With some encouragement from her mother, she returned to 麻豆原创 for her second semester with renewed determination.

鈥淚t has been a long journey of discovering my capabilities and limits, but I wouldn鈥檛 trade it for anything,鈥� she says.

Glover鈥檚 courage in asking questions and seeking new opportunities has been a powerful force in her development. A conversation with a professor led her to 麻豆原创鈥檚 Exolith Lab, and a class interview connected her to the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program, which set off a chain of experiences she says 鈥渙pened doors to opportunities I would never have thought possible.鈥� Glover has received multiple scholarships and awards throughout her academic career such as the Office of Undergraduate Research Grant, the Pell Grant, and the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.

Looking ahead, Glover hopes to contribute to long-term lunar habitation. She envisions herself continuing with lunar regolith research and building systems for sustainable human presence beyond Earth鈥檚 atmosphere. However, Glover鈥檚 past experiences have inspired her to remain adaptable, confident that 鈥渓ife has a funny way of working out.鈥�

Charlotte Moore

With a passion for astronomy and a double major in and physics, Burnett Honors Scholar Charlotte Moore sees research as a way to learn more about the universe. Her research journey began in her first year and has transformed her academic experience, allowing her to build meaningful relationships and discover the collaborative spirit of the STEM community.

With her sights set on a doctoral degree in astronomy, Moore plans to focus on galaxy mergers, especially in tidal features at higher redshifts. 鈥淥nce I finish my Ph.D., I hope to work at a university or other research institution to continue my research,鈥� she says. Currently, Moore is an undergraduate student researcher with Eric Bell from the University of Michigan working on the time constraints of the merger of Centaurus A from the Stellar Halo. She is also an undergraduate researcher with Theodora Karalidi, associate professor of physics at 麻豆原创, working on the impact of optical thickness on the polarization of the light of Jupiter.

Despite her accomplishments, Moore candidly acknowledges the challenge of imposter syndrome.

鈥淭here are very few moments where I haven鈥檛 had doubts about what I鈥檓 doing,鈥� she says.

However, by immersing herself in new topics and projects, she has cultivated a sense of belonging in astronomy. Her hard work was marked by her first official publication, a moment that reinforced that she could make waves in the field of astronomy.

Moore credits her success to the incredible mentors she has encountered along her journey.

鈥淒r. Karalidi has always pushed me to pursue outside opportunities that will help me towards my goal of graduate school,鈥� she says.

Additionally, she has benefited from the experiences of peers who have previously received the Astronaut Scholarship, utilizing their insights as she navigated her application process.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Moore is committed to helping others find their footing in research. As the secretary of the Society of Physics Students, she mentors fellow students, sharing her knowledge and experiences to guide them. Additionally, Moore has received multiple honors and awards, such as the Order of Pegasus in 2024, the Knights Achievement Scholarship, and the Allyn M. Stearman Scholarship. Moore embodies the academic excellence, commitment to community, and passion for discovery that the Astronaut Scholarship seeks to promote.

Luis Santori

As a second-time recipient of the Astronaut Scholarship Luis Santori, a Burnett Honors Scholar and mathematics major, also appreciates the opportunities the ASF community will offer for his growth as a researcher.

鈥淭he doors that the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation opens will be crucial to my career,鈥� he says.

For Santori, the ASF community provides opportunities to collaborate, learn and grow as a researcher.

Santori is an undergraduate research assistant involved in multiple projects, including two with Kerri Donaldson Hanna and Adrienne Dove, associate professors in 麻豆原创’s Department of Physics, focusing on lunar craters and lunar regolith. He describes his mentors 鈥� Hanna, Dove, and Professor Eduardo Teixeira from the 麻豆原创 Department of Mathematics 鈥� as instrumental in his growth and development as a researcher.

Santori鈥檚 research journey has been transformative for both his academic and personal development.

鈥淩esearch has fostered personal growth by keeping me curious and introducing me to subjects beyond my curriculum,鈥� he says.

His research experiences have improved his communication skills, something that will be a necessity for him as he continues to promote his work.

Santori has also had to deal with the challenges that come with imposter syndrome, common in research where the uncertainty of discovery can lead to self-doubt. However, he reflects that by recognizing that it鈥檚 not productive to compare his path to the path of others, he has moved beyond this challenge. He also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a good work-life balance in sustaining a research career. His ability to work through these challenges and his dedication to his academic career have earned him the Allyn M. Stearman Research Fellowship, the Summer@ICERM 2023 Fellowship, and the 2024 NASA Exploration Science Forum Student Travel Grant.

Looking ahead, Santori plans to apply to doctoral programs in applied mathematics and planetary science, aiming to contribute to advancements in these fields. He is considering a career in academia, national labs or industry. With his passion and resilience, Santori is ready to make meaningful contributions to planetary science and mathematics as he continues on his academic journey as an Astronaut Scholar.

Those interested in the Astronaut Scholarship and other opportunities should reach out to the Office of Prestigious Awards at听OPA@ucf.edu.