electrical engineering<\/a>, Hernandez returned to UCF in 2024 to earn his doctoral degree in optics and photonics. Under the guidance of Assistant Professor Leland Nordin, he aims to design and develop single-photon detectors for advanced sensors that can be used in infrared imaging, telecommunications and quantum information science applications.<\/p>\nHernandez\u2019 goal is to work for a national government laboratory or major company within the semiconductor industry after graduation. He says the NDSEG fellowship and his doctoral degree will help him become a leader in the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe that my Ph.D. program, combined with a platform like NDSEG, will allow me to inspire future Ph.D. students while also helping to increase public understanding of photonics,\u201d Hernandez says. \u201cThe fellowship also provides mentorship and networking opportunities that can connect me with leaders in photonics, enabling me to adopt new approaches to solving complex challenges in both my research and professional growth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucas Pitts \u201924<\/h2>\n Ph.D. in aerospace engineering<\/p>\n
Like Duany, Pitts views the NDSEG fellowship as an opportunity to grow as a researcher. His career goal is to return to academia as an instructor and researcher, teaching and mentoring the next generation of engineers. He says this fellowship will help him build the technical expertise, research experience and professional network that will help him achieve his goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeyond honing my technical skills, I am excited to connect with other researchers at conferences to gain feedback on my work and learn about what others are doing,\u201d Pitts says. \u201cEngaging with the broader research community will help me better understand how my work fits into larger challenges and grow both professionally and personally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pitts will also continue working in Vasu\u2019s Lab, focusing on chemical kinetics in complex, real-world flow fields. The application is for advanced propulsion and missile defense capabilities for the U.S. He says he chose to enroll at UCF to work on research like this with world-renowned faculty like Vasu, and that his undergraduate program prepared him to become an NDESG fellow.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe CECS undergraduate program has prepared me by providing rigorous coursework that deepened my knowledge and research methods,\u201d Pitts says. \u201cThrough hands-on projects, collaborating with my peers and great mentorship from faculty like Dr. Subith Vasu, I have gained the knowledge and confidence to really make the most of the NDSEG fellowship and contribute meaningfully to my field.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The program provides tuition, fees, a monthly stipend and research opportunities for students pursuing doctoral degrees in areas of military importance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8692,"featured_media":143192,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[18104,973,981,18102,54368],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-148878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colleges","tag-academic-excellence","tag-college-of-engineering-and-computer-science","tag-college-of-optics-and-photonics","tag-student-success","tag-transformative-tech-security"],"yoast_head":"\n
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