Research, Partnerships and Innovation
At UCF, research drives progress. Our faculty and students work together to develop solutions that address the challenges facing our communities, industries and the world.
As a metropolitan research university, UCF connects innovation with opportunity — advancing technologies, strengthening the economy and improving quality of life. From space systems and simulation to sustainable energy, health and national security, UCF’s collaborative approach turns discovery into lasting impact.
Bold Space Research
Daniel Britt
Pegasus Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences
Replicating Regolith: Planetary scientist Daniel Britt founded the Exolith Lab — a world-class facility for space hardware testing and regolith simulant research. His team partners with NASA and other agencies to study how lunar, Martian and asteroid materials can support sustained missions and life beyond Earth.
Enabling Safer, Smarter Space Missions: Exolith’s test bin hosts the world’s largest simulated lunar surface, replicating the moon’s South Pole region — the next target for human exploration through NASA’s Artemis program. The lab’s work helps mission teams test, plan and design technologies critical to humanity’s long-term presence in space.
Emmanuel Urquieta
Vice Chair of Aerospace Medicine and Associate Professor of Medicine
Collaborative Curriculum: Emmanuel Urquieta, an expert in human spaceflight health, is developing the nation’s first aerospace medicine degree and residency program. His work connects medicine, engineering and space science to address the biological challenges of life beyond Earth.
Improving Health in Space and on Earth: Understanding how space affects the human body is essential to sustaining life beyond Earth. The discoveries made through UCF’s aerospace medicine program will improve astronaut health and lead to medical innovations that strengthen care for people everywhere.
Kerri Donaldson Hanna
Planetary Geologist and Associate Professor
Adrienne Dove
Department Chair of Physics and Professor
Unlocking the Moon’s Untapped Potential: Planetary scientists Kerri Donaldson Hanna and Adrienne Dove are leading NASA’s Lunar-VISE mission, which will send a robotic lander and rover to the moon’s unexplored Gruithuisen Domes. Donaldson Hanna also contributes to NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission, mapping water ice to support sustainable lunar exploration.
Sustaining Human Presence Beyond Earth: Their work reveals how the moon formed and evolved — and uncovers resources that could sustain human presence and fuel exploration deeper into space. These missions position UCF as a critical partner in NASA’s effort to establish lasting activity on the moon and beyond.
Melanie Coathup
Director of UCF’s Biionix Cluster and Professor of Internal Medicine
Bolstering Bone Density: Biomedical engineer Melanie Coathup develops advanced technologies and therapies to protect, repair and rebuild bone. As part of a UCF-led study aboard Blue Origin’s NS-24 mission, she investigates how microgravity accelerates bone loss and impacts long-term astronaut health.
Safeguarding Human Health in Space: Extended missions can lead to radiation- and microgravity-induced bone loss, weakening the body over time. Coathup’s research develops strategies to counteract these risks and protect astronauts on future missions.
As America’s Space University, UCF advances ideas into impact — accelerating the breakthroughs that move our world beyond Earth.
University Research Impact
UCF researchers are committed to discovery and innovation. Each year, our researchers attract more than $200 million in grants, gifts and sponsored awards. But a dollar figure doesn’t tell the whole story. Research and scholarship are about the impact our work is having on our students, community, nation and around the globe. It’s about helping solve real-world problems that make a difference in people’s lives. In addition to supporting innovative research, we’re driving economic growth and opportunity across the state.
Sponsored research funding in 2024.
Public university in the nation for producing patents.
U.S. patents issued in FY 2024.
Licenses and options executed in 2024.
New products based on UCF technology entered the market in FY 2024.
New Fulbright Scholars from around the world choose UCF graduate programs to do their research.
Show The World What You’re Working On
Are you a faculty member or student conducting research at UCF? We want to hear from you!
Multidisciplinary Research Clusters
UCF’s Faculty Cluster Initiative leverages our talent, facilities, location and industry partnerships to foster the development of strong, interdisciplinary teams focused on solving today’s toughest scientific and societal challenges through teaching and research. Bringing together some of the brightest minds creates synergies among various disciplines to help generate research breakthroughs.
Among the groups making the biggest gains are the Center for Research in Computer Vision, Florida Space Institute and Faculty Research Clusters. Comprised of faculty across disciplines, the nine clusters are focused on tackling thematic, global issues, including cybersecurity, coastal sustainability, and disability and aging.
Explore Further
Innovation in Action
When research yields a discovery, what happens next? At the Office of Technology Transfer, our team helps UCF discoveries go public through intellectual property protection, marketing and licensing processes. The office connects UCF researchers with companies and entrepreneurs to take technology to market. By working together, we are able to make the greatest impact.
In addition to collaborating on research and commercialization, we are focused on unprecedented results. UCF professors have been recognized for their innovation and invention by being selected to become fellows of the National Academy of Inventors.
Research News
Serving our Faculty and Students
UCF offers a host of resources that our faculty and student investigators can tap into. These include training and workshops, funding opportunities, and help in complying with federal and state regulations pertaining to research.
Faculty
Faculty are at the heart of any research institution. That’s why the UCF Office of Research offers several services to help support faculty. For example, the Office of Research works with faculty to submit sponsored-research proposals to federal and private agencies, provides workshops, seminars, and training opportunities to help enhance grant success and administers research awards and oversees research integrity and compliance.
Graduate Research
Graduate students at UCF have access to renowned professors, talented mentors and state-of-the-art technology, and can take advantage of resources such as research seminars, discussion groups, professional development workshops and social events that support them as they progress through their studies.
Undergraduate Research
UCF professors engage students in their projects, giving them invaluable experience in the laboratory and in their chosen fields. The Office of Undergraduate Research and the Venture Accelerator create ideal environments for students, faculty and entrepreneurs to collaborate on research and provide business solutions.
Local Research, Global Impact
Strong relationships and a shared vision lead to successful partnerships right here in Central Florida. One such partner, the Florida High Tech Corridor, spans 23 counties and serves to attract and retain technology industries and a talented workforce in our area. UCF has solid relationships throughout the region that are built on mutual respect and common goals, and it’s clear that together we are making an impact.
In nearby Central Florida Research Park, many of the 12,300+ employees work with UCF researchers and students on projects in the sciences, engineering, photonics and optics, modeling and simulation and health-related fields. And our Business Incubation Program, which provides startup companies with the incubator tools and support they need to become stable and high-growth enterprises, has helped create and sustain more than 6,200 local jobs and have had an impact of $2.48 billion on regional economic output.
Research Centers and Initiatives
UCF is a Cybersecurity Leader
By developing high-tech security solutions that identify risks and safeguard data, UCF scholars are conducting advanced research to defend against cyber attacks — keeping us all safer.
