UCF Professors Receive 2024 Rising Stars Awards From Florida Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine

Three UCF faculty members have been recognized by the Florida Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (ASEMFL) for the impact they have had on their fields of study. Associate professors Ranajay Ghosh and Chen Chen of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and Associate Professor Lindsay Taliaferro of the College of Medicine have been named 2024 Rising Star recipients and will be recognized at ASEMFL’s annual meeting in Nov. 1.

Rising Stars are selected based on their academic and scientific contributions to the field as well as their potential as future ASEMFL inductees. This year, a total of 19 Rising Star awards will be given to mid-career academics from the state’s public and private universities.

“ASEMFL recognizes the importance of young researchers whose work shows great promise in solving important problems to ensure growth and success in its work,” says Angela Laird, secretary of ASEMFL and distinguished professor at Florida International University. University. “Through the Rising Stars program, ASEMFL hopes to actively engage with mid-career researchers throughout the State of Florida, with the expectation that these individuals will provide valuable insight to grow the community and ensure their value. which continues for present and future generations.”

Ranajay Ghosh

Description: For pioneering research on metamaterials and unusual metasurfaces, it develops an understanding of their unstable quality, strength and nonlinear behavior with applications in aerospace and robotics.

Over the past few years, Ghosh, an assistant professor of aeronautical engineering, has garnered media attention and industry support for his research, which combines engineering fundamentals with modern technology to create devices and systems. advanced for space applications. His work on 3D printed bricks made from lunar regolith was presented at Normal Science in 2022 and his research on exoskeletons is funded by the US National Science Foundation CAREER award in 2020.

Despite all the accolades and milestones he has achieved, Ghosh was surprised but delighted to be named the 2024 ASEMFL Rising Star.

“I am truly honored to be recognized as a Rising Star by the Florida College of Science, Engineering and Medicine,” says Ghosh. he fits well with my work on advanced materials for aircraft and robotics. This recognition motivates me not only to push the boundaries of technology but also to teach my students to be problem solvers who can tackle the complex problems that the school aims to solve.”

Chen Chen

Description: For the development of real-time, confidential video analyzes and contributions that have an impact on public safety and health engineering.

Chen, an assistant professor of computer science, is widely cited and recognized worldwide for his work in computer vision. His work on deep learning algorithms for edge computing was supported by organizations such as Intel and the National Science Foundation. Over the past decade, he has published more than 80 journal articles, and has served as editor of numerous research journals. He holds two patents for the development of depth sensors for motion detection and for a wearable medication adherence device.

Lindsay Taliaferro

Description: To address social inequities and health disparities among LGBTQ+ youth by identifying modifiable factors that protect against suicide and facilitate health care utilization.

Taliaferro is an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences. Her research focuses on the delivery of quality care to LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, with an emphasis on mental health outcomes, suicide prevention and health care utilization. His work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Mental Health and the American Association for Suicide Prevention.

She is a past recipient of the UCF Research for the Stars Award, the UCF Women of Distinction Award and the UCF College of Medicine Early Career Investigator Award for Achievement in Research, but she says she is just as honored to be nominated for the ASEMFL Rising Stars Award. .

“I feel honored and very grateful for this recognition of my research with LGBTQ+ youth,” Taliaferro says.

Founded at UCF, ASEMFL is a nonprofit organization for Florida academics and researchers committed to finding solutions to global and national challenges. To view the full list of Rising Stars, ASEMFL’s 2024 inductees or to learn more about the organization, visit the ASEMFL website.