Ross Newton and Research at UCF: A Multifaceted Approach to Innovation

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a hub of research activity, spanning diverse fields from medicine to cybersecurity and advanced materials. This article explores the breadth of research endeavors at UCF, highlighting specific projects and initiatives that showcase the university's commitment to innovation and its impact on various sectors.

Patient-Centered Cancer Research

UCF is dedicated to providing patient-focused, personalized, multi-disciplinary care for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Specialized providers in Medical Oncology (chemotherapy and targeted therapies), Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Pathology, Molecular Pathology, Radiology, Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Gastroenterology (both Hepatology and Interventional Endoscopy), Nutrition, and Integrative Medicine work together to achieve the best outcomes for patients. UCF faculty members participate in grant, abstract, and manuscript reviews in their field and give GI cancer lectures at national meetings (ASCO, AACR) and at community cancer centers across the US and Europe.

Navigating Research During Uncertain Times

In times of uncertainty, such as during a pandemic, UCF has established guidelines for researchers to ensure safety and continuity. When UCF followed the directive to go remote, many resources on campus, including the Office of Research, were affected. Supply delivery may fluctuate as vendors implemented their own procedures and may not be making deliveries.

Individual investigators make decisions about pausing or continuing research, with considerations for time-sensitive lab operations and the safety of faculty, staff, and students. The Office of Research created an authorization list and limited access to labs until further notice. The university implemented social distancing measures, and safety remained the number one priority.

Strategic Investments in Research Infrastructure

UCF has made significant strategic investments to bolster its research infrastructure across various disciplines. These investments aim to modernize facilities, enhance capabilities, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

Enhancing Performing Arts Through Technology

Recognizing the industry-wide shift toward digital audition materials, demo reels, and scene work, UCF allocated funds to create mobile professional studios. These studios equip students with the technology to film, edit, and musically underscore audition material, providing them with relevant career preparation and equitable opportunities. The investment also includes film-appropriate aluminum armory and foundational scenic training material.

Strengthening Cybersecurity and Privacy Research

UCF is a leader in cybersecurity and privacy research and education. To address the increasing threats to individuals and national security, UCF is renovating a computer lab into a first-of-its-kind space. This interdisciplinary approach will facilitate advanced solutions and is expected to translate into more research funding, a better-prepared workforce, and holistic solutions for problems that could potentially cripple our national economy and security. Also, UCF will launch a new online Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Privacy (MSCP) to meet the exceedingly growing demands. The main goal of this proposal is to aid in the development of high-quality online course content that would not be possible with the currently available resources.

Modernizing Micro- and Nanofabrication Facilities

UCF invested in a state-of-the-art Direct-Write Photolithography System to modernize on-campus micro-nanofabrication facilities. This system eliminates the time-consuming and expensive photomask making process and enables instant modification of designs. It is expected to advance research on technologies such as next-generation electronics, micro-sensors, and optical microsystems.

Advancing Materials Science with Atomic Layer Deposition

To enhance material synthesis at the nanoscale, UCF is building a fully custom atomic layer deposition system for coating powders. This system will allow researchers to work with larger batches of powder while maintaining atomic-scale precision. The new system will be significant to the research conducted by the interdepartmental REACT cluster (which optimizes materials for use in renewable energy production) and the Optical Materials Laboratory.

Optimizing Nanoparticles for Energy and Medical Applications

UCF acquired a particle analyzer system and a thermography system for use in observing and optimizing nanoparticles. This equipment will be applied to solar energy cell development and virology. In solar energy, there is a need for nanomaterial fabrication to improve the efficiency of cells’ electrical contacts. In medical research, engineered nanoparticles have shown a unique capability to tackle the complex mechanical properties of viruses like SARS-CoV-2.

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Propelling Hypersonic and Space Propulsion Research

UCF is home to the world-class Propulsion and Energy Research Lab. To enhance its capabilities, the university invested in covering the outdoor space and upgrading some of the equipment. This investment should result in propelling research forward.

Upgrading Computational Science Research

To keep up with age and demand, UCF is updating access to computational science research on campus. The money will purchase modern equipment that will add 60 nodes to replace aging nodes used now. Stokes supports computational research across UCF with users coming from almost every college.

Enhancing Biomedical Imaging Capabilities

The money will be used to purchase a High Imaging Platform for UCF researchers in the biomedical sciences. The platform will provide researchers with an ultra-high resolution imaging system, which is intended to help researchers advance the understanding of cancer, neuroscience and infectious diseases.

Advancing Atmospheric Sensing Technologies

Two groups of experts at UCF are collaborating under this grant to create a world-class virtual facility focused on atmospheric-sensing technologies. UCF is already known for its expertise in photonics through the College of Optics and Photonics.

Revolutionizing Space-Based Imaging

The money will be used to build a test bed for sparse aperture array imaging that will serve as a cornerstone of next generation, space-based imaging modalities. The approach aims to exploit the revolution in optical laser technology, positioning UCF to create a system of mini-satellites with optical technology that would allow a viewer to read 10-point font text on a page from 600 miles away, such as reading text on a cell phone from low Earth orbit.

Enhancing Chemical Analysis Capabilities

The funds will be used to purchase a state-of-the-art liquid chromatography mass spectrometer for departmental use. In addition to improving the research capabilities of the chemistry faculty, the new instrument will enhance interdisciplinary interactions across the college and throughout campus with research faculty in need of chemical analysis. Immediate impact is expected on a variety of research areas within the Chemistry Department. These include environmental contamination, atmospheric chemistry, green approaches to biodiesel production, development of new catalysts for precise selectivity control, synthesis of plasmonic-catalytic hybrid nanomaterials for biomedical sensing, discovery of bacterial compounds with antibiotic activity, diagnostics of disease biomarkers and new and better approaches for AIDs treatment.

Creating a Unique Facility for Attosecond Soft X-Rays and Terahertz

Fang is leading a team that will create a new facility at UCF by renovating a clean room laboratory and purchasing the necessary components for secondary light sources and vacuum beam lines. When complete, UCF will have a one-of-a-kind user facility for attosecond soft X-rays and terahertz.

Expanding Capabilities at the Townes Institute

The strategic investment money allows for expanded capabilities to the user base at the Townes Institute for Science, Technology, and Experimentation (TISTEF) Facility. UCF manages the federal facility, located on the Space Coast at Kennedy Space Center. The added capabilities are expected to benefit UCF researchers, private and public agencies already using the facility and attract new users and open new areas of investigations at UCF in the engineering, optics and other sciences areas.

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