Graduate Student Honors – CECS Office of Graduate Affairs

Annually, the College of Graduate Studies sponsors graduate student awards for excellence in research and teaching. Acknowledging graduate students for their accomplishments is an important part of providing a rewarding academic experience. The College of Graduate Studies offers these awards annually to recognize our outstanding graduate students in a variety of categories:

Outstanding Dissertation (completed dissertation in Spring 2023, Summer 2023, or Fall 2023)
Outstanding Master’s Thesis (completed thesis in Spring 2023, Summer 2023, or Fall 2023)
Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant (for GTAs who are not instructors of record, but provide teaching support under the direction of a lead teacher)
Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching (for instructors of record)
Outstanding Graduate Creative Work (Currently enrolled, degree-seeking, graduate students in good standing, or students who completed a UCF graduate program in 2023)

Information, such as eligibility and application requirements, for each award is located at the following site: https://graduate.ucf.edu/awards-and-recognition/. Winners of previous Graduate Awards of Excellence at the college level are listed here: https://grad.cecs.ucf.edu/awards-and-support/graduate-student-awards/.

Faculty should submit their nominations to their department’s Graduate Program Director by 5:00 PM on Thursday, January 4^th , 2024 or an earlier deadline set by the Graduate Program Director. Afterwards, each CECS department will advance up to one nomination per category to the CECS Academic Affairs Office no later than 12:00 PM on Tuesday, January 9^th, 2024. Only nominations from Graduate Program Directors will be considered.

It is up to each CECS department to best determine how to select its nominee for each category. The CECS Awards Committee will review the nominations from the departments and select the CECS nominee in each category. The applications for the CECS nominees will be forwarded to the College of Graduate Studies on Friday, January 19^th, 2024. At the university level, the Graduate Council will review the applications from the colleges and make recommendations to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, who will make the final selections and notify award winners. Each university-wide award winner will receive a certificate and a cash award of $1,500.

It is a pleasure to celebrate the success and excellence of our graduate students.

For each of the categories listed above (Outstanding Dissertation, Outstanding Master’s Thesis, GTA Award, Graduate Student Teaching), the list below archives the CECS nominees. For nominees that were selected as the university-wide winners, their names are highlighted by **.

Outstanding Dissertation

(Selected university wide winners are highlighted by **)

2023
**Ce Zheng, Computer Vision, PhD, Reconstructing 3D Humans From Visual Data
2022
Dr. Sijie Zhu, Computer Science PhD, Toward Real-World Cross-View Image Geo-Localization
2021
**Dr. Shraddha Nehate, Electrical Engineering PhD, Characterization of Hydrogenated Boron Carbide and Boron Carbon Nitride Thin Films and Applications
2020
**Dr. Lin Hu, Materials Science and Engineering PhD, Designing Metal Nanocatalysts and Tuning their Microenvironment for Gas-involving Electrocatalysis
2019
No Nominee
2018
**Dr. Jared Church, Environmental Engineering PhD, Electrochemical Microsensors for in Situ Monitoring of Chemical Compounds in Engineering and Natural Aquatic Systems
2017
Dr. Khurram Soomro, Computer Science PhD, Online, Supervised and Unsupervised action localization in videos
2016
**Dr. Afshin Dehghan, Computer Science PhD, Global Data Association for Multiple Pedestrian Tracking
2015
**Dr. Juneyoung Park, Civil Engineering PhD, Exploration and Development of Crash Modification Factors and Functions for Single and Multiple Treatments
2014
Dr. He Shen, Mechanical Engineering PhD, Bio-Inspired Attitude Control of Micro Air Vehicles using Rich Information from Airflow Sensors
2013
Dr. Cuncong Zhong, Computer Science PhD, Computational Methods for Comparative Non-Coding RNA Analysis: From Structural Motif Identification to Genome-Wide Functional Classification
2012
**Dr. Abhishek Saha, Mechanical Engineering PhD, Evaporation, Precipitation Dynamics and Instability of Acoustically Levitated Functional Droplets
2011
**Dr. Haitham Bahaitham, Industrial Engineering, PhD, A Framework for Quantifying Sustainability of Lean Implementation in Healthcare Organizations
2010
Dr. Ehsan Yakhshi-Tafti, Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering, PhD, Thermally-Induced Motion of Droplets on a Thin Liquid Layer and its Application to Droplet Manipulation Platforms

Outstanding Master’s Thesis

(Selected university wide winners are highlighted by **)

2023
**Tajnuba Hasan, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering MS, Control of the Spar-buoy Based Wind Turbine Floating Platform through Mooring Line Actuation
2022
Timothy Grondin, Aerospace Engineering MS, Design and Mechanical Characterization of Functionally Graded Sandwich Beams Fabricated via Additive Manufacturing
2021
**Shahzeb Mustafa, Computer Science MS, Optimizing Peer Selection among Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2020
**Daniela Diaz, Environmental Engineering MS, Emulsion Characterization Study for Improved Bilgewater Treatment and Management
2019
No Nominee
2018
**Kamol Chandra Roy, Civil Engineering MS, Understanding Crisis Communication and Mobility Resilience during Disasters from Social Media
2017
**Firat Irmak, Aerospace Engineering MSAE, A Flexible Physics-Based Lifing Method for Metals Under Creep and Thermomechanical Fatigue
2016
**Christian Garcia, Aerospace Engineering MSAE, Geolocation of Diseased Leaves in Strawberry Orchards for a Custom-Designed Octorotor
2015
**Jared Church, Environmental Engineering MS, Dishwashing Water Recycling System and Related Water Quality Standards for Military Use
2014
Erica R. LaBerge, Environmental Engineering MS, Study of The Formation and Control of Disinfection By-Products Originating from a Surface Water Supply on the Volcanic Island of Guam
2013
**Steven M. Kraft, Mechanical Engineering MS, The Characterization of the Effects of Stress Concentrations on the Mechanical Behavior of a Micronic Woven Wire Mesh
2012
**Ashley Ewh, Materials Science & Engineering MS, Effects of Allotropic Transformations on Interdiffusion Behavior in Binary Systems
2011
**Zhao Wang, Electrical Engineering MS, Nonlinear Estimation and Control for Assistive Robots
2010
Carson Slabaugh, Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering MS, Heat Transfer Augmentation in a Narrow Rectangular Duct with Dimples Applied to a Single Wall

Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant

(Selected university wide winners are highlighted by **)

2023

**Mousam Hossain, PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering
2022
Chien Hsuan Chen, Materials Science and Engineering PhD
2021

Timothy Copeland, Civil Engineering PhD
2020

**Brandy King, Computer Science MS
2019

No Nominee
2018

Burak Sen, Civil Engineering PhD
2017
Arup Kumar Ghosh, Computer Science PhD
2015

**Soheil Salehi Mobarakeh, Computer Engineering PhD
2014

Muamer Ali Abuzwidah, Civil Engineering PhD
2013

Wilawan Onkham, Industrial Engineering PhD
2012

Catherine Kammerer, Materials Science & Engineering PhD
2011

**Andrea Cumming, Environmental Engineering PhD
2010

Chowdhury K. A. Siddiqui, PhD, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering

Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching

(Selected university wide winners are highlighted by **)

2023
Jorge Sarmiento, Industrial Engineering and Management Systems Department PhD
2022

Alexis Benamira, Computer Science PhD
2021
Sreeram Sundaresh, Electrical Engineering PhD
2020

Sahar Hooshmand, Computer Science PhD
2019
No Nominee
2018
Pankaj Pramod Kulkarni, Mechanical Engineering PhD
2017
No Nominee
2016
No Nominee
2015

Mohamed Awwad, Industrial Engineering PhD
2014
Stephanie C. Bolyard, Environmental Engineering PhD
2013
Catherine Kammerer, Materials Science and Engineering PhD
2012
Saeed Hadian Niasar, Civil Engineering PhD
2011

Jonathan Cazalas, Computer Science PhD
2010
Mohamed Ahmed, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering PhD

Outstanding Creative Work

(Selected university wide winners are highlighted by **)

2023
Junayed Mahmud, Computer Science PhD

CECE PhD Admission Requirements

3.0 GPA – can submit 2 applicants with < 3.0 per program (domestic only). • 3.0 GPA – absolute for international applicants. • GRE required. • International transcripts evaluation by WES or Josef Silny required. • TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5, or via UCFs ELI for international students from non-English speaking countries. • Essay: 1.5 pages at most including why do you want to obtain the degree and what will it make you capable of that you can’t do with your current knowledge/credentials. • 3 Letters of Recommendation.

CECE PhD Admission Requirements

3.0 GPA – can submit 2 applicants with < 3.0 per program (domestic only) • 3.0 GPA – absolute for international applicants • No GRE required for admission; is required for some fellowships • Spring 2024 Admission: GRE will be required and the WES evaluation will not be required. • International transcripts evaluation by WES or Josef Silny required • TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5, or via UCFs ELI for international students from non-English speaking countries • Screening Process for International Students delays admission process weeks or, sometimes, a month or two • Essay: 1.5 pages at most including why do you want to obtain the degree and what will it make you capable of that you can’t do with your current knowledge/credentials • 3 Letters of reference

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Trasportation Engineering Admission Requirements

In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:

One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
A Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering or another closely related engineering degree.
Résumé.
Statement of educational, research, and professional career objectives.
Three letters of recommendation.
Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

The GRE is not required, however, taking the GRE is highly recommended for students wishing to pursue a thesis. In order to be considered for any fellowships, a GRE score is required.

For international students interested in UCF Global Pathway Program (immersive English-language learning), please contact Dr. Ali P. Gordon for guidance.

Guidance Control and Dynamics Admission Requirements

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:

One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related discipline with a minimum GPA 3.0
Résumé.
Statement of educational, research, and professional career objectives.
Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
No Letters of Recommendation Required.

For international students interested in UCF Global Pathway Program (immersive English-language learning), please contact Dr. Ali P. Gordon for guidance.

Travel Technology and Analytics Admission Requirements

The GRE/GMAT is required
A goal statement. This is your opportunity to outline in 500 words why you wish to join the program, what you think you will contribute to the program, and how you feel the program will enhance you both personally and professionally in the future.
Updated résumé.
Three letters of recommendation.
Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
A computer-based TOEFL score of 220 or 80 on the internet-based TOEFL is required if an applicant is from a country where English is not the official language, or if an applicant’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, or if an applicant did not earn a degree in a country where English is the official language or a university where English is the official language of instruction. Although we prefer the TOEFL, we will accept IELTS scores of 6.5.

Systems Engineering Admission Requirements

The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
Resume or Curriculum Vita
Goal statement
- The goal statement should discuss all relevant professional background and any previous research and/or teaching experience. The statement should explain the motivation behind the pursuit of an MSSE. Future educational and career goals after the completion of the applicant’s master study should be discussed.
- If the applicant is interested in completing a Master thesis, then the applicant must clearly describe the particular area of research interest. The applicant should identify at least one UCF faculty member who shares a similar research focus and is believed to be best suited to serve as a potential thesis advisor.
- The goal statement should between 500 and 1,000 words.
Two letters of recommendation
- The letters of recommendation should be from faculty members, university administrators, and employers with a supervisory role of the applicant. The letters, which must be current to the application and must not be for another degree program, should address the educational and career goals of the applicant. The letter writers should also know the applicant well enough to discuss the applicant’s capacity to perform, excel and succeed in a graduate program. Letters for Master’s thesis students must discuss the applicant’s ability to perform graduate-level research.
Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Master in FinTech Admission Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in a STEM-related discipline or business discipline from an accredited institution recognized by UCF. • The GRE is not required for admission to this program. • Completed coursework in statistics, econometrics, computer science (Artificial Intelligence) is preferable. • A goal statement. This is your opportunity to outline in 500 words why you wish to join the program, what you think you will contribute to the program, and how you feel the program will enhance you both personally and professionally in the future. • Updated résumé. • Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only. • Test of English as a Foreign Language for Non-U.S. Citizens: A TOEFL or IELTS is required of all applicants who do not have a degree from a U.S. institution or English instruction institution. A minimum score of 577 paper-based; 233 computer-based; 91 Internet-based; or 7.0 IELTS is required. For more information on exams and locations, go to www.ets.org/toefl. • No Letters of Recommendation Required.

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