Dr. Aman Behal, associate professor of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has been featured in Orlando Health for he and his Assistive Robotics Laboratory team's research work on a robotic arm for spinal cord injured patients. The UCF-MANUS robotic arm has been tested in a month-long clinical trial with 10 patients at Orlando Health Rehabilitation Institute.

Dr. Mubarak Shah, UCF’s Agere Chair professor of Computer Science and one of the world’s most eminent researchers in the rapidly developing field of computer imaging, has received $400,000 from the National Institutes of Health to develop a computer program to analyze brain scans produced by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI.) Read More...

Ronald Phillips was named Professor Emeritus at the UCF Founders' Day ceremony on April 1, 2009. Dr. Phillips is a retired Professor of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and he was the first engineering director for CREOL, which was then known as the Center for Electro Optics and Lasers when it was formed in 1984. He pursued funding from the Legislature, raising more than $1.5 million and securing 15 faculty positions for the center. Additionally, Dr. Phillips was recognized by Gov. Lawton Chiles for his work to develop space education at UCF’s Florida Space Institute at Kennedy Space Center. After four research books and more than 130 research papers, he is now retired, but he continues to collaborate with faculty and students and remains active in research.

Joseph J. LaViola Jr., School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Assistant Professor, is a 2009 recipient of the National Science Foundation's Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award. He is the third EECS associate professor in two years to earn this NSF distinction, and LaViola's research award will focus on "Mathematical Sketching: Pen-Based Tools for Conceptual Understanding in Mathematics and Physics".

Issa Batarseh, Professor and Director of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has been honored as a Fellow of the American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS).  Batarseh was recognized for his work in the area of power electronics and solar energy conversion and for his advancement of science and its applications in service to society. The distinction of AAAS Fellow is one of the most revered recognitions for scientists. “This is an honor not only for Dr. Batarseh ... but also for the entire UCF community,” said Marwan Simaan, interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

UCF's EXCEL program students get the feeling of a small college campus while pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This dynamic, two-year program aims to help incoming freshmen increase their success in science and math classes by creating connections with other students, faculty and disciplines. The EXCEL program is led by Program Director Dr. Michael Georgiopoulos of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Program Director Dr. Cynthia Young of the Department of Mathematics.
 

Lockeed Martin Corp. received the Industry Research Sponsor Award from the School of EECS during the 2008 EECS Industry Day. Lockheed Martin Vice President Jeffrey S. Pridmore stated, "Together Lockheed Martin and UCF form a key part of Central Florida's technology base, and as you may already know, we are working with EECS to seek new research and development opportunities."

Dr. Zhihua Qu received UCF's Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award in 2007.

Ravi M. Todi earned the CSCS Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching Aware in 2007.

Dr. Ken Stanley received the DARPA-Computer Science Study Group grant, which was quoted as being selected "…from among a large class of highly qualified and impressive applicants." The grant focuses on computer science technology as applied to DoD objectives.

Dr. Ken Stanley was the recipient of a $45,000 gift from Toyota Motor Corp.'s Toyota Info Technology Center U.S.A. in recognition of Dr. Stanley's collaboration with the company.

Dr. Niels da Vitoria Lobo won at $1.2M highly visible NSF Grant titled "PROFIT."

Everglades Ecology Exploration
Dr. Charles Hughes won an impressive $1.1M share of a $2.8M NSF grant for a project using Mixed Reality to explore the ecology of the Everglades. Visitors to the Museum of Discovery and Science in Ft. Lauderdale see large displays and simulators from the project.

EECS Professor Dr. Michael Georgiopoulos and Dr. Cynthia Young of UCF received an additional three years of funding (2008-2010) for their EXCEL Program, funded by NSF. The mission of the EXCEL program is to increase student success in the first two years of their college career in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) discipline.

Dr. Charlie Hughes, Professor of EECS and Director of the UCF Media Convergence Lab, recently tested a mixed-reality concept at the Orlando Science Center's dinosaur exhibit, along with project manager Eileen Smith. The project results will be used by the Museum of Science and Discovery in Ft. Lauderdale, FL to enhance exhibits.