Six alumni from the University of Central Florida (UCF) have been recognized as recipients of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship, one of the most competitive honors for students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM fields across the United States. This year, 1,500 out of 13,000 applicants were awarded the fellowship, providing financial support and a stipend to further their advanced studies.
Alejandro Aparcedo Gonzalez ’24, a computer science graduate now pursuing his master’s in computer vision at UCF, aims to improve video understanding through multimodal artificial intelligence. He explained, “In professional terms, I’m finding ways for computer vision to improve human understanding of the real world. In practical terms, the end goal is to give humans time for leisure activities. The way I see it, that’s essentially the goal of AI research.” Gonzalez credits his early exposure to technology through his family’s computer shop and his introduction to computer vision at UCF’s Center for Research in Computer Vision as key influences.
Madisyn Brooks ’23, who studied physics at UCF and is now a doctoral student at the University of Connecticut, uses the James Webb Space Telescope to study early galaxies and black holes. Brooks said, “I study the earliest observable galaxies and black holes (BHs) to find out how they grow and evolve, and how they differ from those in closer galaxies like the Milky Way — always asking why.” She attributed her interest in observational astronomy to experiences gained working with Dr. Joshua Colwell at UCF.
Katia Destine ’25 recently began her doctoral studies in sociology at the University of Maryland. Her work focuses on working-class artists and power structures within media and technology. Destine shared her motivation: “My mother immigrated from Haiti and raised me on housekeeper wages. I realized higher education would be the best way to improve our social mobility and socioeconomic reality. Those experiences ignited my interest in researching social [dynamics] in media.” She highlighted support from campus organizations and mentorship opportunities as crucial steps along her academic journey.
Darrel Nieves Lugo ’24 completed an aerospace engineering degree at UCF before continuing into graduate school through a B.S.-to-M.S. program focused on rotorcraft research using computational fluid dynamics and machine learning. He reflected on his inspiration: “As kid from Puerto Rico, I visited KSC with my family in 2015. That experience filled me with awe and instilled a desire to be an aerospace engineer.”
Chris Sarkis ’22 remains at UCF for doctoral studies in integrative and conservation biology after earning a biology degree there. Her research explores population genomics among fish and rays with an aim toward improved species management: “By using DNA, we can better understand how populations are related, how they move and how they adapt to their environment.”
Connor Shrader ’23 has taken his NSF Fellowship to the University of Utah as a mathematics doctoral student specializing in mathematical biology: “I use math tools, such as probability and calculus, to model and simulate biological processes. These models can then be used to test theories against data, or to predict what will happen if we alter a biological system.”
Students interested in applying for similar national awards are encouraged by UCF officials to contact its Office of Prestigious Awards for guidance.
