As we continue into the fall, finish Homecoming, and welcome cooler temperatures, it’s a celebratory mood in the College of Sciences.

A number of graduate students will be graduating soon and enjoying their final classes, and others may be completing their first semester in their graduate studies. Wherever you are in your learning journey, I hope that you take time to connect with fellow students, talk with your instructors, leverage the opportunities available to you, and look for ways to be more engaged in your College community.

I am incredibly grateful to the faculty and staff who support our impactful graduate programs, and am inspired by the work of our graduates. From innovative research you are a part of, to the creative work you share, to the wonderful culture you contribute to—thank you for your commitment.

The College of Sciences is proud to be a part of your story, and I hope you enjoy reading some of the stories in this edition of the Grad Gazette. I look forward to the rest of the semester with you!

Sincerely,

Dean Maggy Tomova

The College of Sciences is delighted to invite Master’s and doctoral students graduating in Fall 2024 to a college-wide pre-commencement celebration. Please look out for an email to RSVP and additional information. We hope to see our graduating students there!

Masters pre-commencement: December 13, 2024, 10 a.m. in the Magnolia Room (Live Oak Event Center)

Doctoral pre-commencement: December 13, 2024, 3 p.m. in the Live Oak Ballroom (Live Oak Event Center)

College of Sciences Commencement Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024, 9 a.m.

Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Defense Deadline: Friday, November 8

Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Final Submission Deadline: Friday, November 22

Veteran's Day: November 11, 2024 - No Classes

Thanksgiving Break: November 27 to November 30, 2024 - No Classes

Winter Break: December 16, 2024 to January 3, 2025 - No Classes

Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Conference Presentation Awards

Jenna Palmisano, a doctoral Biology student, was awarded multiple research grants to expand her research on parasites affecting pygmy rattlesnakes. She says that her research will have a positive impact on Florida ecosystems as well.

"The lung parasite has been associated with mortality events and population declines in pygmy rattlesnakes. These declines can disrupt ecological balance, highlighting the necessity of maintaining biodiversity and understanding species interdependence," Palmisano says. 

A total of 62 PhD students from 24 states were recently selected for the prestigious Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research program. Chemistry doctoral student Alec DeCecco says that the fellowship will open new doors for him.

“I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and the chance to perform experiments that will complement the work I am doing here at UCF,” DeCecco says. “It will allow me to learn from and work with experts in the field to answer important scientific questions regarding the fate of CIs.”

UCF scientists, working with students—including recent doctoral graduate (and graduate research assistant) Jorge Pereira—are harnessing nanoscience to concoct a special nutritional formula to fight a potentially lethal disease that is increasingly threatening mangroves in Florida and across the world.

The researchers are treating the mangroves by soaking them in a nutrient solution called “Mag Sun” (MgSuN), which is comprised of magnesium and sulfur nanoparticles. The mixture is a refinement of a previous graduate student’s formula that destroyed bacteria on tomatoes, Pereira says.

Dr. Erin Saitta, Assistant Professor in the UCF Department of Chemistry, and doctoral student (Chemistry), Kathleen Lugo Charriez, have recognized the array of difficulties that undergraduate chemistry and other STEM students encounter as they work toward achieving their educational goals. They are working together on a research project, as part of a National Science Foundation Improving Undergraduate Stem Education grant, to remove barriers to the learning experience for students. 

“I believe in the transformative power of education to create equitable opportunities for all students,” Charriez says. “This project highlights the importance of accessible learning environments while fostering a sense of belonging for all learners. It’s a fulfilling opportunity for me to contribute in this way and honor my Hispanic heritage.”

Planetary Scientist Phil Metzger ’00MS ’05PhD and doctoral candidate Brandon Dotson analyzed samples and data from the first SpaceX Starship launchpad blast to determine methods of improving lunar launches.

“It looked like raindrops on the windshield,” Metzger says. “We realized this dust and the sand must be mixed in rain. Rocket exhaust is mostly water and carbon dioxide from the Starship, and so it was literally a cloud of water droplets made by the rocket and so the sand that was under the launchpad was shot up into the cloud. Because it was a hot cloud, it had circulation in it, and it was the circulation that kept the sand from falling out.”

Bridgett Burk, UCF Alumna, is the Manager of Graduate Academic Advising in the College of Sciences. She has worked in higher education since 2011 in various roles, including finance, admissions, student support, and institutional research. She holds a BGS in Integrative General Studies from UCF, and is currently pursuing her Educational Leadership M.A., with plans to graduate this upcoming spring semester. She has been working at UCF for the past seven years; in her current position she is dedicated to helping students, staff, and faculty navigate graduate education in the College of Sciences.

Thanks so much for engaging with COS Graduate Studies via this newsletter! We are glad to support a world-class graduate education and you are each a part of that. You can visit our website for additional information and you are always welcome to reach out to me (Kerstin.Hamann@ucf.edu) or Bridgett Burk with any questions or concerns you may have.

I hope you found something in this edition that inspired you. Please reach out and share your stories about research, creative work, awards, or other interesting updates with us by sending an email to cosmarketing@ucf.edu. 

Regards,