Dear Graduate Students,

To our upcoming graduates, with the end of the spring semester fast approaching, we would like to congratulate you on your outstanding achievements! Graduate school is an impressive endeavor, filled with both challenges and opportunities.

You have persevered to unleash your full potential. We cannot wait to see the profound impact that you'll have on your communities and areas of study.

To our continuing students, congratulations on completing another semester. That is a significant step toward completing your goals and something to be very proud of!

Sincerely,

College of Sciences Dean Maggy Tomova invites you to attend two celebrations honoring the Spring 2024 masters' graduates and doctoral graduates. Light refreshments will be served and business casual attire is suggested. Please be sure to RSVP if you plan to attend by emailing COSGrad@ucf.edu.

COS Master's Students Graduation Celebration

Master's Students Only

When: Monday, April 29th, 10 - 11:30 AM

Where: Garden Key Room 221, Student Union

RSVP: By April 15th (max 2 guests)

PhD Pre-Commencement Celebration

PhD Students Only

When: Friday, May 3rd, 3 - 4:30 PM

Where: Live Oak Ballroom

RSVP: By April 29th (max 3 guests)

Chemistry PhD Major Lucy Hunley talks about her passion for investigating nuclear waste in our environment and how the UCF College of Sciences is paving the way to a successful career in the sciences.  

Chemistry PhD candidate Kristen Livingston explains how her childhood dream of working as a scientist to help improve the criminal justice system is coming true right here at the UCF College of Sciences.

The College of Sciences Dean’s PhD/MFA Student Conference Travel Award is a new initiative to support PhD and MFA students to present their research and creative works at professional conferences. Travel awards are allocated on a rolling basis and applications are currently accepted. You can find details and the application form here.

Graduate students are also encouraged to apply for conference travel funding to the College of Graduate Studies Presentation Fellowship and the Student Government Association’s conference funding.

FACULTY

Dr. Thomas Dolan, SPSIA, COS Excellence in Graduate Teaching

Dr. Robert Dvorak, Psychology, College of Graduate Studies – Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students

 

STUDENTS

Katherine Harris, Integrative and Conservation Biology: COS Excellence by Graduate Teaching Assistant & University Honorable Mention

Hannah Bevan, Integrative and Conservation Biology: COS & University Excellence by Graduate Teaching Assistant

Swarnadeep Seth, Physics: COS Outstanding Dissertation & University Honorable Mention

ACE Award November 2023:

Mikala Armioia, Graduate Admissions Specialist, Department of Psychology, Human Factors and Cognitive Psychology graduate programs

Congratulations to all students, faculty and staff who were recognized for their accomplishments during the UCF Founders' Day awards ceremony including Dr. Vasileios Anagnostopoulos, our 'Reach for the Stars' awardee who received one of UCF's highest faculty honors! Read the full recap here.

College of Sciences graduate students contribute important scholarship and research that is crucial to the future of their various disciplines, from the natural sciences to communication studies.  

This year, four outstanding COS doctoral students, representing three disciplines, were selected for the prestigious Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship. “The Dissertation Completion Fellowship provides a unique opportunity to some of our doctoral students to focus on their research as they are finishing up their dissertation. This support is particularly helpful during this crucial time when students also apply for jobs. We’re proud of our outstanding doctoral students,” said Pegasus Professor and Associate Dean Kerstin Hamann. 

The full list of recipients is below: 

Stephanie Fuehr – Integrative Anthropological Sciences PhD 

Ann Schlotzhauer – Industrial and Organizational Psychology PhD 

Karla Cardona – Integrative Anthropological Sciences PhD 

Rui Yang – Big Data Analytics PhD

What led you to choose UCF?  

The courses offered by my department, access to an isotope preparation lab, the ability to assist with forensic casework and a funding offer led me to choose UCF.  

What does this fellowship mean to you?  

This Fellowship means a lot to me and is enabling me to finish my dissertation in a timely manner.  The off-campus job I had last semester significantly slowed down my progress for data analysis and writing.  Within a few weeks of receiving the Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship I was in a much better head space and had made significant progress on my dissertation. This fellowship now allows me to write every day.

What are your post-graduation plans?  

After graduation I plan to apply for jobs and submit three of my dissertation chapters to journals for publication. 

What led you to choose UCF? 

I was initially impressed by the resources that a large, highly research-productive university like UCF could offer to graduate students, but it was the dedicated I/O Psychology faculty and friendly students that really sold me. 

What does this fellowship mean to you? 

The Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship is a huge help, allowing me to commit my full attention to my dissertation and do my best work. It is one example of the resources that first drew me to UCF and that have enabled me to thrive here.

What are your post-graduation plans? 

I will be starting as an Assistant Professor in Psychological Science at Missouri University of Science and Technology in the fall.

What led you to choose UCF? 

Well, in my case the decision was not too complicated. I have been working with my advisors for more than 10 years in archaeological projects in Guatemala. When Dr. Callaghan and Dr. Kovacevich told me that there was a strong possibility for the Department of Anthropology to open a PhD, I got really interested. Then, the PhD at the Department became a reality, so I talked with Drs. Callaghan and Kovacevich and other colleagues about the opportunity and the pros / cons of returning to school. Of course, I also checked UCF, the courses, the living conditions and accessibility. So, after a long consideration, I decided to pursue the PhD and began the application process.

What does this fellowship mean to you? 

Obtaining the fellowship has been such wonderful news. I was worried about how this Spring semester would go, because I needed to get a job and try to finish the dissertation and 

knew it would be difficult, demanding and that my dissertation writing would be affected. So, by mid-November 2023, I got an email saying I was among the candidates considered for the fellowship, and the possibility was extremely comforting. Then the following week (the day before my birthday) I got the email saying I had been selected for the award; it was great news and an even better birthday present!

I was so humbled to be selected and appreciate the opportunity so much. At that moment, my obvious anxiety went away (a bit) because with the fellowship I had the financial stability needed to finish and graduate from the PhD! 

What are your post-graduation plans? 

Very simple, continue working to preserve cultural heritage in Guatemala! My main aim of studying for the PhD was to obtain the skills that would allow me to be a better archaeologist to work for the preservation of cultural heritage in my home country. I plan to continue directing archaeological projects and working with the communities that surround archaeological sites. Also, if the opportunity comes along, I would like to obtain a post-doctorate here at UCF. I do have the interest in teaching at local Guatemalan universities, be able to propose cultural projects and be an active participant in the proposal of inclusive cultural policies in Guatemala. 

Time Limitation and Continuous Enrollment

Transfer of Credit

Certificate Program Admission Requirements

Continuous Enrollment

Thesis Requirements

Enrollment

Student Intellectual Property

Candidacy

Graduate Faculty and Graduate Faculty Scholars

Spring 2024

Spring 2024

Fall 2023

Spring 2024

Spring 2024

Spring 2024

Fall 2023

Spring 2024

Spring 2024