Now a global project manager for wire technology at Alleima Advanced Materials, the materials science and engineering alum has earned the company鈥檚 2026 Innovation Prize for her work advancing wires used in critical medical devices such as continuous glucose monitors, hearing implants and pacemakers. The annual award recognizes excellence in product development.

鈥淭he work I do is very rewarding. Every day, I get to contribute to advancing medical care and treatment,鈥� McDorman says. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 a medical device and it has a wire, Alleima is likely contributing to it somehow.鈥�

McDorman earned her doctoral degree from 麻豆原创 under Associate Professor Swaminathan Rajaraman, who directs the , where researchers develop micro- and nanoscale solutions spanning biotechnology, pharmacology, plant sciences and medical devices.

鈥淚 chose 麻豆原创 because the [materials science and engineering] program was highly rated … and had a wide variety of research areas …鈥�

Before coming to 麻豆原创, McDorman earned her master鈥檚 and bachelor鈥檚 degrees in physics, but discovered a passion for applied research that required a deeper focus on materials.

鈥淲hen I decided to pursue a Ph.D., materials science and engineering was a natural choice,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 chose 麻豆原创 because the program was highly rated, small and had a wide variety of research areas that I was interested in.鈥�

Through her doctoral studies, McDorman found a more biology-focused side of materials science. Her work with biosensors in Rajaraman鈥檚 lab ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in the medical device industry.

She credits her research experience at 麻豆原创 with preparing her for work at Alleima, where 90% of her unit鈥檚 business supports medical device manufacturing.

鈥淭he company has a rich history of materials innovation in steel and nickel-based alloys,鈥� McDorman says. 鈥淪ince we produce wire, I am constantly using base materials science knowledge to process the material in a way that achieves a specific set of properties in the end product.鈥�

She says she has always aimed for a position that would allow her to make a positive contribution to society, an opportunity she is grateful to have at Alleima.

For new graduates considering a similar path, McDorman encourages them to connect with 麻豆原创 alumni on LinkedIn and to explore job opportunities in Florida鈥檚 growing manufacturing industry, particularly in Volusia and Flagler counties.

鈥淲e put a lot into our work every day because we truly care about ensuring the best possible patient outcomes,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t is great that our efforts have been recognized by the business.鈥�

The same curiosity that once led Jeonghyun Song to shape clay with his hands now drives him to engineer materials at an atomic level, combining chemistry and creativity.

He began his college journey in the arts, drawn to pottery. But as he worked with ceramics, his attention shifted beneath the surface 鈥� to the chemistry of the materials and the possibilities within them. That shift in perspective pushed him from the art studio into the lab 鈥� and now to a national fellowship.

A materials science and engineering major, Song will join the University of Notre Dame this summer as a recipient of its Nanoscience and Technology Undergraduate Research Fellowship, hosted from May 18 through July 24.

“I chose to attend 麻豆原创 because of the opportunities it offers 鈥� especially in research 鈥� along with its strong engineering program.”

The opportunity marks a turning point in his journey from an arts major to an engineering major, which he began when he transferred to 麻豆原创 in Fall 2025.

鈥淚 chose to attend 麻豆原创 because of the opportunities it offers 鈥� especially in research 鈥� along with its strong engineering program,鈥� Song says. 鈥淭he MSE (Materials Science and Engineering) Program is relatively new and rapidly growing, which gives students more chances to get involved and grow.鈥�

He didn鈥檛 waste time getting started.

As a new Knight and burgeoning materials researcher, Song set his sights on working with Assistant Professor Kausik Mukhopadhyay, whose research bridges materials, chemistry, biology and engineering to develop solutions for surfaces, coatings, electrochemistry and more.

Now in Mukhopadhyay鈥檚 , Song studies clay-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

鈥淎s a student who comes from a ceramics background, Dr. Mukhopadhyay鈥檚 research was the most interesting to me,鈥� Song says. 鈥淏ased on his work in chemistry and materials science, I knew his lab would be a place where I could grow and actively engage in research.鈥�

The lab quickly became more than a workspace 鈥� it became a launchpad, which Song says he鈥檚 grateful for.

鈥淚 would like to thank Dr. Mukhopadhyay and the people in our group for their support,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for them, I would have had a hard time blending into the 麻豆原创 community.鈥�

His perspective as a researcher is evolving, too.

“I find it more interesting to study how common … materials can be engineered to achieve similar or even more useful properties.”

Once drawn to examining rare and expensive materials for their unique characteristics, Song is now focused on factors in materials costs and environmental impact.

鈥淲hile studying rare materials is interesting due to their distinct properties, I find it more interesting to study how common and inexpensive materials can be engineered to achieve similar or even more useful properties,鈥� he says.

That mindset will guide his work at Notre Dame.

His project, 鈥淧rototyping High-speed Synthesis of Gold Microplates,鈥� tackles a key challenge in nanotechnology: efficiently producing ultrathin gold coatings. These coatings are useful in technology like biosensors and electronics, but current synthesis methods are slow, and controlling their size, shape and placement is challenging.

Song will help explore faster synthesis methods using a reaction chamber to study the process through three activation approaches: light, temperature and merging chemical streams.

As he prepares to spend the summer in Indiana, Song acknowledges some anxiety 鈥� the kind that comes with stepping into something bigger 鈥� as he looks ahead to what could be a pivotal moment in his journey as a researcher.

鈥淚 would like to meet new people, learn from them and also expand my vision for research,鈥� Song says. 鈥淚 think this summer will be the most important for me in terms of deciding my future.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聽opa@ucf.edu.

Justin Press 鈥�24, a 麻豆原创 photonic science and engineering major, may have developed a solution that benefits both employers and applicants. His brainchild, Hire Match AI, is an analytics layer that integrates with existing applicant tracking systems to better analyze and interpret hiring data.

鈥淲e reparse resumes, structure candidate data more accurately and use statistics to identify which combinations of skills and experiences tend to stay longer and perform better in a company over time,鈥� Press says. 鈥淭hat helps teams look past what I call 鈥榗hecklist champion鈥� resumes, where a candidate appears perfect on paper but is really just optimized for a filter.鈥�

Press says what sets his digital tool apart is its focus on analytics, fit and compliance.

From Frustration to Framework

He developed the idea as head of professional development for the Engineering Leadership and Innovation Institute 鈥� part of 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Engineering and Computer Science 鈥� where students develop professional skills through a certificate program, specialized courses, maker spaces and mentorship. In that role, he helped students optimize their resumes for job listings and quickly realized the process wasn鈥檛 as straightforward as it seemed.

鈥淎t 麻豆原创, I was going through hundreds of applications and postings each year, and it became obvious how much of the process was turning into a game,鈥� Press says. 鈥淭hat gave me a firsthand look at how inefficient and frustrating the process was for both applicants and the people trying to help them.鈥�

Launching What Hiring Lacks

From that frustration came Hire Match AI. Press brought the idea to the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, where he received guidance on turning the concept into a business. Now, as he prepares for launch, several businesses have already expressed interest in using the platform to analyze their hiring data more deeply. Press says the goal is to make data analytics more accessible, no matter which ATS a company uses.

“The bigger vision is to make hiring more data-driven, more transparent and less dependent on surface-level filtering.”

鈥淲e want Hire Match AI to plug into every major ATS so companies can get better visibility into candidate fit, hiring patterns and compliance risk without having to switch the systems they already rely on,鈥� he says. 鈥淒own the line, that means expanding into larger platforms like Workday and other major enterprise systems. The bigger vision is to make hiring more data-driven, more transparent and less dependent on surface-level filtering.鈥�

Engineering with Purpose

Press says he was drawn to the field of photonic science and engineering by a desire to create technology that improves people鈥檚 lives. His advice to students with similar ambitions: focus on what makes their idea unique.

鈥淔or engineering students especially, having a wide range of experiences is a huge advantage,鈥� Press says. 鈥淎 lot of the best ideas come from [understanding] how technical problems connect to business problems, user behavior or broken systems in the real world. That matters even more now, with tools like large language models making it easier to build quickly.鈥�

Companies interested in using Hire Match AI can or sign up for early access.

AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation Gregory Welch has made countless contributions to the fields of virtual, augmented and mixed reality as an inventor and researcher, but some of the ones he鈥檚 most proud of aren鈥檛 documented in patent applications or peer-reviewed publications.

For more than two decades, Welch has extended his passion into purposeful action within and beyond the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Visualization and Graphics Technical Community (VGTC) to empower future generations, foster collaboration and growth, and advance the fields of visualization, computer graphics, and virtual/augmented reality. Through his dedication and leadership, he has made a sustained impact on the global community.

His service includes volunteering at dozens of IEEE VGTC conferences since 2000 and serving as general chair for three international events, each drawing hundreds of attendees.

“… I had the idea to bring VR demonstrations from Florida universities to the conference site, making it a fun evening where [attendees] … could experience VR technology.”

One of the most memorable was the 2013 Virtual Reality Conference in Orlando, which he co-chaired and where he created the Florida Academic VR Showcase (FLAVRS).

鈥淐onferences typically bus attendees to the host institution for demonstrations, but nobody enjoys long bus rides late at night,鈥� Welch says. 鈥淲ith FLAVRS, I had the idea to bring VR demonstrations from Florida universities to the conference site, making it a fun evening where [attendees] could bring their families and experience VR technology.鈥�

Welch, IEEE VR 2013 co-chair, joined University of Florida Professor Benjamin Lok and a group of student volunteers to transform the event ballroom into the makeup of Florida, complete with cities, lakes and well-known landmarks. Twenty-two demonstrations from researchers across the state were arranged by their institutions鈥� geographic locations.

Attendees received 鈥減assports鈥� to collect stamps at each demonstration and earn prizes.

鈥淚 still have people tell me that it was the best VR conference event they have ever attended,鈥� Welch says.

Mentoring the VR Researchers of Tomorrow

To further advance the field, Welch serves as an associate editor for two journals and has organized several professional development opportunities for students, researchers and developers, including international research retreats focused on specific topics.

He has also focused on inspiring future generations of virtual reality researchers. One of the contributions he鈥檚 most proud of is the creation of the XR Future Faculty Forum, or F3.

“It鈥檚 been so rewarding to see the knowledge sharing between generations … and to build a community among future faculty.”

Launched in 2023 with 麻豆原创 computer science doctoral student Matthew Gottsacker, F3 connects faculty volunteers with graduate students through panels, talks and one-on-one mentoring to prepare future scholars for careers in academia. What began as an idea has grown into an annual event supporting hundreds of participants, with plans to continue expanding. F3 will take place again at the 2026 IEEE VR Conference in Daegu, Korea, where Welch will be honored for his service.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been so rewarding to see the knowledge sharing between generations, to help reduce fears about research funding and tenure, and to build a community among future faculty,鈥� Welch says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been so gratifying to see this idea impact real people and expand to other conferences.鈥�

His impact on future generations extends to his work at 麻豆原创, where he has advised and mentored dozens of students from undergraduates to postdoctoral scholars.

Driving Discovery in Simulation and Technology

Welch has made sustained contributions to the field through innovative research in virtual/augmented reality, virtual beings, motion tracking display and healthcare technology.

He currently leads the development of the , supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation. VERA, which is the first large-scale system for extended reality research, aims to create a powerful platform for human subjects research and behavioral data collection in VR. IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Lifetime Achievement awardee and Agere Chair Professor of Computer Science, Carolina Cruz-Neira, is also working on the project, which is a collaboration across multiple universities.

To date, Welch has authored more than 150 publications and his work has contributed to 25 patents. His 1995 Introduction to the Kalman Filter has been cited more than 12,500 times. His patented innovations span a wide range of applications, from projection mapping 鈥� like what鈥檚 used on Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort鈥檚 Magic Kingdom 鈥� to physical-virtual patient simulators, 鈥渟mart鈥� wound simulators, sterile field detection mechanisms, directional electrodes for deep brain stimulation, tactile telepresence for isolated patients and spatially explicit auditory cues for enhanced situational awareness.

A Legacy of Service

For his outstanding contributions and career achievements, Welch has earned numerous honors, including being named to the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida. He鈥檚 also a fellow of IEEE, a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and a Pegasus Professor 鈥� 麻豆原创鈥檚 highest faculty honor.

“[My] unique blend of analytical and creative thinking [inspires] my work to … create interactive experiences that … solve challenges and help people.”

Welch sees value in real-life events that bring people together. He attributes his dedication to service and success as an innovator to his family and upbringing.

鈥淢y mother was a mathematician and computer programmer, and my father was a musician, so I have this unique blend of analytical and creative thinking,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat has inspired my work to use computer science to create interactive experiences that feel like the real world to solve challenges and help people.鈥�

Welch鈥檚 commitment to helping others began long before his noteworthy career, with involvement in service organizations dating back to high school. For him, service is a way of life 鈥� not an obligation, but an opportunity to make an impact.

鈥淭here is so much that we can and should do to help our communities,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t takes people to step up, commit and invest time to make things happen. I hope my service and leadership inspire others.鈥�

Interim (IST) Director Carolina Cruz-Neira鈥檚 career in virtual reality (VR) began as a backup plan.

She spent her childhood training as a ballet dancer. When a knee injury at 21 ended her professional dance aspirations, she leaned on the engineering degree her father had encouraged her to pursue.

While earning her doctoral degree in electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Illinois Chicago, she discovered the Electronic Visualization Laboratory 鈥� and with it, a way to merge art and technology.

“My philosophy as a researcher has always been to take on projects that are a little risky.”

In 1992, she unveiled the Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE), an immersive VR system that transforms a room-sized cube into an interactive 3D digital world. Unlike early VR headsets that isolated users, the CAVE allows multiple people to step inside the same digital environment, fostering shared exploration and real-time collaboration.

Today, CAVE systems are used worldwide, from gaming and art installations to military training and automotive design, helping industries visualize complex problems, improve safety and refine products before building them in the real world.

Powering the Future of Simulation

Over nearly four decades, Cruz-Neira has made significant contributions to the fields of VR, interactive visualization, high-performance computing and digital twins, which are dynamic virtual replicas of real-world objects used for simulation and testing across industries. Her innovations have influenced training and research for NASA, the U.S. military and U.S. National Laboratories.

By the Numbers: A Lasting Impact

• Secured more than $200 million in research funding
• Authored more than 100 publications
• Elected to the National Academy of Engineering 鈥� one of the highest professional distinctions for engineers in the U.S.
• Named an IEEE fellow and Forbes鈥� 50 Over 50 honoree for innovation
• Inducted into the inaugural Augmented World Expo XR Hall of Fame and the Orlando Tech Community Hall of Fame for her contributions to Central Florida鈥檚 tech ecosystem
• Recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record for the national impact of her work

鈥淢y philosophy as a researcher has always been to take on projects that are a little risky,鈥� says Cruz-Neira, 麻豆原创鈥檚 Agere Chair Professor of computer science. 鈥淚 tell my students that we do research with a purpose. And yes, it’s challenging. But if we have that vision of where this thing is going, our talent and creativity have a terrific playground.鈥�

That bold spirit of exploration drew her to 麻豆原创 in 2020 鈥� a university recognized for its strength in computer science and deep partnerships and collaborators across several sectors, including space, defense, entertainment and healthcare.

“There鈥檚 a whole community of researchers, faculty and students here who are passionate about this kind of work.”

Since arriving, she says she has found something even more powerful: a culture that pairs high-level excellence with a nurturing environment 鈥� where ambitious ideas are energized, challenged and brought to life through collaboration.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a whole community of researchers, faculty and students here who are passionate about this kind of work. That has allowed us to expand our ideas tremendously,鈥� Cruz-Neira says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e now collaborating with teams across the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Medicine, the College of Arts and Humanities and the , which broadens what we鈥檙e able to do. It鈥檚 nice to have a tribe around you, where everyone helps each other and works together.鈥�

Among those collaborators is longtime colleague and IEEE VGTC Virtual Reality Service awardee, Gregory Welch. Cruz-Neira says they first met as 鈥淧h.D. babies,鈥� beginning a collaboration that has now spanned nearly 38 years. Since joining 麻豆原创, she has continued working closely with Welch and his team on several joint research projects and publications.

What’s Next: Blending Physical and Virtual Worlds

As IST director, Cruz-Neira is helping broaden 麻豆原创鈥檚 modeling and simulation legacy while leading several cutting-edge research projects in collaboration with talented students and faculty. One such project explores humanoid robots as extensions of the human body, allowing a person to navigate remote or inaccessible locations in real time. Using artificial intelligence, the robot captures its surroundings and transmits a live digital replica into the CAVE, where a human operator鈥檚 movements control the robot, creating a seamless exchange between physical and virtual worlds.

鈥淭his project opens a lot of possibilities and aligns with where we want to go at IST and 麻豆原创,鈥� Cruz-Neira says. 鈥淲e do a lot of work with defense, first responders and healthcare professionals, and in many cases, we see the need for a human [presence in locations] that aren鈥檛 feasible. By combining mature technologies available in the commercial world with some of our more advanced algorithms and system designs at 麻豆原创, we鈥檝e finally been able to come together to make this prototype and showcase it in December 2025 at [the Interservice/Industry Training Simulation and Education Conference], a major defense training environment.鈥�

Cruz-Neira continues to push boundaries, bringing people together and asking questions like, 鈥淲hat can we create next?鈥� and 鈥淗ow far can we take this?鈥�

And despite a lifetime achievement award, she鈥檚 clear about one thing: 鈥淚鈥檓 not done yet.鈥�

For computer engineering major Kamalakkannan Ravi 鈥�20MSCpE 鈥�25PhD, the goal was never to just earn a doctorate 鈥� it was to build artificial intelligence (AI) systems people could trust in the moments that matter most.

That bold vision found its momentum at 麻豆原创. As a student, Ravi was drawn to a university that encouraged big questions and interdisciplinary thinking, along with strong engineering fundamentals 鈥� the kind 麻豆原创 is rapidly becoming known for as a rising force in engineering and technology. The university鈥檚 dynamic research environment gave him the freedom to explore where machine learning, biomedical applications and human-centered AI converge, while mentorship in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering helped sharpen his purpose.

Now, he鈥檚 carrying that 麻豆原创-driven determination to Harvard Medical School and Boston Children鈥檚 Hospital, where he鈥檒l begin a research fellowship with the Division of Genetics and Genomics to advance trustworthy AI for clinical decision-making in healthcare.

At Harvard, Ravi will work on a project that aims to help physicians identify rare diseases earlier and respond more quickly. His research focuses on developing and evaluating clinical decision support tools that analyze electronic health record data and natural language processing to detect patterns that may signal a rare condition. These tools are designed to support clinicians in identifying patients who may benefit from further genetic evaluation, testing or a specialist referral. Ravi鈥檚 role centers on creating trustworthy, transparent AI methods that align with clinical systems, helping ensure these technologies are used responsibly in real-world healthcare.

Overcoming Obstacles Without a Blueprint

Ravi鈥檚 path to this opportunity was shaped by his persistence and commitment to making an impact long before he arrived at 麻豆原创.

Originally from Chennai, India, he鈥檚 a first-generation college student who entered higher education without a family blueprint to guide him. That experience influenced how he navigated graduate school and advanced research environments, reinforcing the importance of mentorship, community and resilience.

After earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biomedical engineering from Anna University, Ravi worked as a research assistant at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. There, he gained early exposure to data-driven modeling and applied systems research at the intersection of engineering and medicine 鈥� experiences that shaped his interest in applying computational methods to biomedical and societal challenges. He鈥檇 take this interest on his pursuit of graduate education abroad.

Finding Interdisciplinary Opportunity at 麻豆原创

Ravi chose 麻豆原创 specifically for its strength in engineering combined with opportunities for interdisciplinary, human-centered research.

Within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, he found an environment that encouraged him to explore machine learning, biomedical applications and ethical AI.

Under the mentorship of Pegasus Professor Jiann-Shiun Yuan, who oversees the NSF-sponsored Multi-functional Integrated System Technology Center聽and specializes in developing the next generation of smart systems, Ravi refined his research, which bridges technical innovation with societal impact.

At 麻豆原创, Ravi鈥檚 research focused on trustworthy and comprehensible AI in critical settings, including healthcare and public safety. His dissertation, 鈥淎rtificial Intelligence for Social Wellness: Threats and Ideology Detection in Online Texts,鈥� examined how scalable and ethically grounded AI systems can be designed for real-world applications. His work emphasized interpretability, reliability and evaluation with human decision-makers in mind.

His doctoral work led to the development of several datasets and frameworks, including:

• RICo, a large-scale dataset analyzing ideological discourse in online communities
• ALERT, a threat detection framework that combines active learning with AI to support transparency and reduce labeling burden
• TRuST-M, a human-subject study exploring how explanation quality affects user trust in AI-assisted moderation systems.

Portions of this work were supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 鈥� a testament to its national relevance and real-world value.

Growing Through Leadership, Mentorship and Community

Beyond his studies, Ravi immersed himself in the 麻豆原创 graduate community, taking on leadership roles that reflected his commitment to service and mentorship.

He served as senator for the in student government, director of professional development for the Graduate Student Association and president of the . He also led Alpha Alpha Alpha, the national honor society for first-generation college students, advocating for the success of first-generation graduate students.

Mentorship remained central to his experience through his involvement in the NSF-funded L.E.A.R.N. (Learning Environment and Academic Research Network) program, a STEM-focused living-learning community for first-year and transfer college students, and his service as a senior design project judge.

Ravi鈥檚 academic excellence, leadership and mentorship at 麻豆原创 were recognized through multiple awards, including the ORCGS Doctoral Fellowship, the Graduate Presentation Fellowship, the Graduate Research Mentor Award, the 麻豆原创 Alumni Fellows Leadership Scholarship and the Reuel Buchanan Aspire to Inspire Scholarship. These honors provided valuable support and enabled him to focus on research throughout his doctoral studies.

Advancing Impact Beyond 麻豆原创

As Ravi prepares to begin his fellowship at Harvard Medical School, he credits 麻豆原创 with shaping both his research approach and his sense of responsibility as a scholar. He hopes his journey encourages other students, especially first-generation scholars, to pursue ambitious, interdisciplinary work while remaining grounded in mentorship, ethics and service to the broader community.

Founded to reach the moon, we鈥檙e already on our way to the next frontier. Built for liftoff, America鈥檚 Space University celebrates 麻豆原创 Space Week Nov. 3-7.

Where Global Leaders Unite to Boldly Forge the Future of Space

When humans return to the moon, they won鈥檛 be alone. NASA will send robotic machines with them, and like all relationships, trust will be critical.

Through a partnership with Cislune Inc., 麻豆原创 is using immersive technologies to improve trust between humans and artificial intelligence for decision-making in space when circumstances are changing and data remains uncertain 鈥� ultimately ensuring astronaut safety and mission success.

Led by 麻豆原创 Associate Professor Gerd Bruder as principal investigator, Phase I of the project was funded through a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant in which 麻豆原创 collaborated with Cislune to design and build a moon mission simulator. The system was used to refine human decision-making behavior and optimize interactions between astronauts and autonomous systems across the mission timeline.

The project aims to help reduce cognitive workload for astronauts while enhancing critical data, such as breathable oxygen levels, propellant stores and rover range. It鈥檚 also an example of how Knights are developing tech solutions that will propel humanity鈥檚 possibilities in space, which 麻豆原创 was founded to fuel.

鈥淚n future lunar missions, humans will be working in concert with highly autonomous machines 鈥� and both will be making decisions while inundated with data from an ever-growing network of sensors and computers,鈥� says Hiroshi Furuya, a 麻豆原创 computer science doctoral student and graduate research assistant who worked on the project.

Cislune provided insights into space mission operations from previous work with space robotics and rovers, while experts from 麻豆原创鈥檚 supplied expertise in using virtual reality (VR) to create immersive simulations. The collaboration highlights how 麻豆原创 often works with industry to generate collective impact.

麻豆原创鈥檚 team leveraged interdisciplinary knowledge from computer science, engineering and human factors in healthcare 鈥� examining decision support systems designed for nurses and medical professionals.

鈥淭he healthcare research gave us an insightful window into how practitioners evaluate systems when risk and time pressure are critical features of the workplace, which has important connections for space health and missions,鈥� says Furuya, who was previously awarded a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship for his graduate studies.

AdventHealth Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation , co-director of SREAL, provided insights into factors that influence trust and the design of human subject experiments.

鈥淚 find it fascinating how seemingly subtle changes in how relevant information is conveyed can impact trust and decision making,鈥� says Welch, a computer scientist and engineer in 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Nursing.

The team studied how human-machine trust, uncertainty and decision-making intersect by using VR simulations. The resulting simulator prototype immerses users in a realistic, mission-relevant environment.

The simulator could be crucial not only for the Artemis program, but also for future lunar and deep space exploration missions.

Cislune and 麻豆原创 have submitted a proposal for Phase II of the project, which will expand the simulator and conduct research studies to improve the way machine assistants can help astronauts make decisions under stress and uncertainty.

Editing videos with those same AI commands isn鈥檛 quite as simple, however, 麻豆原创 researchers in the College of Engineering and Computer Science aim to change that.

Professor Nazanin Rahnavard, Associate Professor Chen Chen, and 麻豆原创 alumni Nazmul Karim 鈥�20MS 鈥�23PhD and Umar Khalid 鈥�20MS 鈥�23PhD have developed novel text-to-video AI technology that can dramatically change videos in minutes.

鈥淥ur system takes the 鈥榖rain鈥� of an AI that鈥檚 already skilled at generating images from text and adapts it for video, without losing the creative power that makes it effective in the first place,鈥� Rahnavard says. 鈥淥ur breakthrough came from recognizing a fundamental inefficiency in existing text-to-video editing approaches. Current systems either require massive text-to-video datasets for training or rely on computationally expensive, per-video adaptations of text-to-image models. We believed there had to be a more efficient and elegant solution.鈥�

With Rahnavard鈥檚 background in electrical engineering and Chen鈥檚 background in computer science, the team used linear algebra techniques to examine the numerical parameters of an AI model that are optimized and adjusted while learning a new task. They realized that instead of fine-tuning the entire parameter set, they could update only the singular values, preserving the AI model鈥檚 ability to generalize while speeding up its adaptation time.

鈥淭he key was learning which parts of the AI鈥檚 鈥榤emory鈥� to adjust, and which to preserve,鈥� Rahnavard says. 鈥淏y focusing only on the most essential elements and leaving the rest untouched, we created a method that adapts much faster and more efficiently while still producing high-quality, expressive results.鈥�

The AI model works best on existing video clips and can edit them in minutes. It can change the colors of clothing, swap a cat for a dog or transform the clip into a cartoon. The more complex the commands, the longer the editing time. But Rahnavard says the process can still be completed in minutes, not hours.

The university was recently awarded a patent for the technology, which movie studios and social media companies could use.

鈥淭his technology has the potential to revolutionize video editing across a wide range of industries,鈥� Rahnavard says. 鈥淢ovie studios could use it for rapid scene modifications without the need for costly reshoots, while social media platforms could offer their users instant, highly sophisticated video filters far beyond what鈥檚 available today.鈥�

Students who enroll in 麻豆原创鈥檚 new graduate certificate in digital twins can explore the answers to these questions and a whole lot more. The 12-credit-hour program, launching this fall in the School of Modeling, Simulation and Training (SMST), will teach students to design, implement and analyze advanced digital twin systems that can mimic the behavior and performance of their physical counterparts.

鈥淭he program emphasizes innovation and hands-on learning, preparing students to apply cutting-edge digital twin technologies to real-world challenges across sectors such as smart cities, healthcare, aerospace, manufacturing and defense,鈥� SMST Interim Director and Program Coordinator Ghaith Rabadi says. 鈥淭he program is strategically designed to strengthen Central Florida鈥檚 digital twin talent pipeline and offers students access to industry-aligned training and career-ready skills. Graduates will emerge equipped to drive transformative digital solutions in high-demand fields.鈥�

Various industries already utilize digital twins to test and analyze products or environments before they are created. For example, NASA uses digital twins to predict the behavior of spacecraft and increase the success of future missions. Siemens Healthcare employs digital twins of organs to help doctors better understand their physiology and to develop more targeted treatments.

Industry professionals who want to develop skills in this type of digital modeling are welcome to apply to the program. A background in engineering or computer science is not required, although an undergraduate degree from a STEM-related discipline and some experience with programming are preferred.

Assistant Professor Soheil Sabri says that graduates of the program may be better positioned to pursue job titles such as digital twin engineer, simulation analyst, systems integration specialist, smart infrastructure developer or digital transformation consultant across a wide range of industries.

鈥淲ith the growing adoption of digital twin technologies in industries such as aerospace, healthcare, manufacturing, energy, transportation and national defense, graduates will be equipped to lead efforts in optimizing operations, enhancing predictive maintenance and driving innovation in complex systems,鈥� Sabri says. 鈥淭he program’s strong emphasis on real-world applications and industry collaboration further enhances graduates鈥� readiness for impactful, future-forward careers.鈥�

The SMST faculty aims to enroll 10 to 15 students in the first year of the program and already have strong interest from students enrolled in the school鈥檚 graduate degrees. The program can be completed online, offering convenience to students who need to balance coursework with a full-time job.

鈥淭he program is designed to be accessible to working professionals and students from diverse STEM backgrounds, providing flexible pathways to deepen understanding into emerging fields such as machine learning and artificial intelligence,鈥� Assistant Professor Sean Modesire says. 鈥淎s digital twins continue to revolutionize sectors from healthcare to aerospace, this program positions 麻豆原创 at the forefront of preparing the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.鈥�

Other collaborators on the project include Roger Azevedo, Vishnu Prabhu and Bulent Soykan.