Graduate students Qing Cai and Yina Wu from China say they owe their meeting and eventual marriage to UCF Engineering Professor Mohamed Abdel-Aty.<\/p>\n
It was Abdel-Aty who convinced each stellar graduate student to attend UCF so they could contribute to cutting-edge transportation-engineering research being conducted in his lab. They arrived separately and when they met, they knew they were destined for a life together.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my first visit to UCF, she walked in the room with cookies from Beijing to share with our colleagues — that was the first time I laid eyes on my sunshine girl,\u201d said Cai, who came to the United States from the Jiangsu Province, about 125 miles from Beijing, three years ago. \u201cI knew she was the one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Colleagues in the room introduced the pair. Wu had already been working in Abdel- Aty\u2019s on-campus Advanced Transportation Systems Simulations Lab for eight months.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still remember what he was wearing: a polo shirt with a navy-blue coat,\u201d Wu said. \u201cI just met him but I remember feeling an instant connection to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
They ended up working together on projects in Abdel-Aty\u2019s lab and were married in March 2016.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my 22 years of teaching, I\u2019ve never had something like this happen,\u201d Abdely-Aty said. \u201cI\u2019d seen them holding hands around campus before, so when they came to tell me, I already knew there was some chemistry.\u201d<\/p>\n
A little less than a year after getting married, the couple welcomed a baby boy. They named him Atticus, in part, after Abdel-Aty.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really respect Dr. Aty and want to express our gratitude to him,\u201d Wu said. \u201cAlthough we (Cai and Wu) both came from China, our hometowns are far from each other, and we might never have met if it weren\u2019t for Dr. Aty.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abdel-Aty said he was surprised and honored that the 3-month-old was named after him. A picture of the baby and himself sits on his desk alongside one of Cai and Wu\u2019s wedding.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a bit of a father figure to them so to find out that they named Atticus after me is very special,\u201d Abdel-Aty said. \u201cI always tell them that in the absence of their parents, I\u2019m here for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the couple continues to focus on advancing transportation research.<\/p>\n
They conduct research about traffic safety specifically related to driving in foggy weather conditions. Wu said working with a spouse is beneficial to their academic and career-driven success.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe funny thing is that sometimes when we are taking care of the baby together, our topics can switch from the baby back to research,\u201d Wu said.<\/p>\n
The couple also is learning to balance studies with parenthood.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not easy to pursue a Ph.D. but they\u2019ve made it work,\u201d said Abdel-Aty, who asks Wu to bring Atticus in for a visit any time he comes to campus.<\/p>\n
Cai and Wu said they will be forever grateful that Aty gave them an opportunity to come to the United States to pursue their intellectual passion and that he has been such a great mentor and friend.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of us, and because of Dr. Aty, Atticus will have more chances to learn about engineering,\u201d Wu said. \u201cUltimately, we want him to grow up and become a brave, honest, and intelligent individual who pursues his own passions in life.\u201d<\/p>\n
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