Dear Graduate Students, Faculty, and Staff, 

I hope you have had a great start to the Spring semester. The College of Sciences is already in full motion with a busy and exciting lineup of events and activities that showcase the breadth of our work and active engagement with the Central Florida community and beyond. As you read through this edition, you will find helpful resources, including upcoming events, key deadlines, commencement information, funding opportunities, career development programs, and more.  

On March 23, the new School of Data, Mathematical, and Statistical Sciences will launch its annual Big Data Analytics Symposium. The event will bring together faculty, students, and industry leaders to exchange ideas, explore emerging trends, and strengthen pathways between academic research and real-world applications. 

On April 9, we will come together for UCF Day of Giving, a university wide effort that unites Knight Nation in support of academic programs, research efforts, exciting initiatives and more. Stay tuned for updates and visit our page to get involved and make an impact. 

Over this past weekend, faculty, staff, and students represented the College at the Orlando Science Center’s Spark STEM Fest. Through interactive exhibits and hands-on experiences, our team exhibited science in action while making it accessible.

As you make your way through the semester, I encourage you to stay connected with the College of Sciences and take advantage of opportunities to engage, collaborate, and share your work. 

I look forward to celebrating your accomplishments this semester and thank you for your continued commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and creative work. 

Please join us in welcoming Crystel Velez, who recently joined the College of Sciences as the Graduate Admissions Coordinator II for the School of Data, Mathematical, and Statistical Sciences. We are excited to have her on the team and look forward to the support she will provide to our graduate students and programs. 

These awards honor all COS staff members who consistently go above and beyond to support the College of Sciences. They are known for taking the initiative, collaborating effectively with others, and driving positive changes in their areas. 

Congratulations to all the graduate staff members on well-deserved recognition and thank you for your continued dedication and support of our graduate students and programs.  

If you would like to nominate a graduate staff member to be considered for a COS Employee Award, click here. 

Please make sure to mark your calendars for the following important dates. Refer to the Academic Calendar  for more important dates and deadlines. 

The College of Sciences is excited to celebrate our Spring 2026 graduating master’s and doctoral students at our upcoming pre-commencement events. Nearing commencement, graduates will receive an official email invitation, so be on the lookout, and be sure to RSVP! 

We look forward to honoring your achievements! 

If you are interested in receiving updates on graduate policies under review and posted for public comment, you can subscribe here. 

UCF provides a range of resources available to graduate students. We encourage you to leverage the following, as applicable: 

As SpaceU, UCF is pushing the boundaries of exploration once again by launching a groundbreaking new doctoral program in the planetary and space sciences. Now, aspiring researchers can apply to the inaugural cohort of the program, which launches Fall 2026 and is offered through the College of Sciences’ Department of Physics.

A team of UCF researchers and students recently earned a second-place finish in the National Algorithms for Threat Detection (ATD) 2025 Challenge, a national data science competition sponsored by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and hosted by Penn State’s Applied Research Lab in connection with the National Science Foundation (NSF)-NGA ATD research program. The contest pushes participants to develop advanced algorithmic solutions for large-scale, complex and often incomplete spatiotemporal datasets related to national security.

Thanks to the work of UCF researchers, the field of forensic science around the world is receiving a massive boost of knowledge through the release of the “fantastic four” chemical standards; the four, hard biomaterials — nails, hair, bones and teeth — that provide a consistent and critical reference point for forensic anthropology and toxicology work.

What is the connection between comics and mental health? For UCF doctoral student Jaylen Christie, the relationship came naturally. A longtime fan of comic book hero, The Flash, Christie was naturally drawn to themes in popular culture while pursuing his PhD in sociology at UCF’s College of Sciences.

Now, a new study published in the American Ornithological Society’s Ornithological Applications journal details how researchers from UCF’s Department of Biology and colleagues analyzed the genetic variability, population structure and viable conservation strategies for Florida’s American flamingo.

Under twinkling lights and spirited applause, the College of Sciences Scholarship Dinner gathered students, faculty and donors to celebrate academic achievement and the transformative power of philanthropy. The evening was more than a formal event — it was a testament to how financial support unlocks opportunity, fuels ambition and shapes futures across the university.

Share your (or your student, colleague, or fellow alumni’s) research, achievements, and unique stories with our COS Marketing team by filling out the COS Submit News form on our website. We will review and consider possibilities for sharing news. Make sure to include any relevant links, files, and photos!

Thanks so much for engaging with COS Graduate Studies via this newsletter! We are proud 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 (cosgrad@ucf.edu) with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. Please also feel free to stop by my virtual office hours (dates and times announced via email).  

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. 

Have a great Spring semester!

Best wishes,