Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Marisa Ramiccio
Researchers explore use of thermal energy storage for nuclear power plants
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Nuclear power plants are designed to produce electricity steadily for 24 hours a day. But now that nuclear power plants share the electric grid with renewable energy sources that fluctuate based on the weather and time of day, their design is mismatched with modern operational needs. Rather than running constantly, nuclear power plants need to have greater flexibility in when they produce energy and when they pause.
Molecular network resource identifies unknown compounds for biomarker discovery
Graphical abstract. Credit: Cell Reports Methods (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2026.101468 Medical researchers, clinicians and pharmaceutical scientists often study small molecules called metabolites, which are produced in living cells through a variety of processes, including the breakdown of food, chemicals or drugs.
Study shows coastal flooding occurs at predictable times
In a recent study published in Nature Communications , Haigh and a team of international researchers demonstrate that coastal flooding is prone to transpire at certain times of day, reflecting the timing of the tides. While previous research has largely focused on the seasonal timing of river and coastal flooding, this is the first study to show that impact-causing floods have predictable daily timing across regions.
Coastal flooding occurs at predictable times, research reveals
Spatial patterns in the intra-day timing and prominence of threshold exceedance peaks across the US and UK. Credit: Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75710-5 Coastal flooding may seem unpredictable, a natural disaster that occurs randomly. But UCF researcher Ivan Haigh has found that recurrent coastal floods occur at highly predictable times.
UCF researcher receives $3.8 million grant to develop a solar energy storage system
Solar energy may be abundant in the hot and muggy climate of Florida, but it can be intermittent during inclement weather and inconsistent during the night or peak usage. To keep the power grid reliable, UCF Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor Like Li is developing a novel energy storage system that can reserve solar energy for future use.
Study Shows Coastal Flooding Occurs at Predictable Times
Coastal flooding seems like an unpredictable event, a natural disaster that occurs randomly. But UCF researcher Ivan Haigh has found that recurrent coastal floods actually occur at highly predictable times. In a recent study published in Nature Communications, Haigh and a team of international researchers demonstrate that coastal flooding is prone to transpire at certain times of day, reflecting the timing of the tides.
Wing-shape tests could unlock smoother water-to-air drone launches
Aerospace engineering master's student Dominic Polidoro '25 observes a water tank experiment illuminated by a laser, which reveals how water flows around a 3D-printed wing as it exits the water. Credit: Antoine Hart A bird bursting from the ocean or a mobula ray launching skyward makes the transition from water to air look effortless. For unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, it's one of the hardest maneuvers to replicate.
Study shows land shifts, sea level rise occur more rapidly than previously thought
11 June 2026 Author(s): Marisa Ramiccio MainlanderNZ/Shutterstock Highlights Land in some coastal areas is sinking faster than scientists once thought. A research team that includes UCF Associate Professor Thomas Wahl found that sinking land and rising sea levels are occurring more rapidly, increasing the risk of flooding. Understanding these changes can help communities better prepare for flooding and protect infrastructure.
Coastal land shifts reveal faster local sea level rise than expected
Linear VLM from the CSL-TG and changes in linear estimates over time. Credit: Nature Geoscience (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-026-02005-1 For almost a century, researchers have known that vertical land motion—the lifting and sinking of the ground—affects sea level locally. As the ground sinks, the sea level rises relative to the land. Scientists also assumed this process generally occurred at a steady rate over time.
UCF Engineering Students Place 3rd in NASA Tech Challenge
A group of UCF Knights took home two awards from the NASA MINDS challenge, a collegiate-level competition that encourages students to create new technologies that could benefit future space missions. The UCF team, known as the Lunar Regolith Obliterators, won third place in the Championship Build, Design and Demonstration category and also finished third in the Systems Engineering Paper category. Both awards include a monetary prize totaling $1,500.
UCF researcher to develop hydrogen combustion engine for commercial vehicles
By Marisa Ramiccio, UCF News More than 70% of the nation’s freight is transported by large commercial trucks. While ground transportation may be a popular choice for delivery, it isn’t the cleanest. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles such as tractor-trailers, buses and vocational vehicles are the largest mobile source of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. NOx is known for creating air pollutants such as smog, carbon monoxide and other toxins.
UCF Researcher Is Developing Algorithms to Further Space, Sea Exploration
Cislunar space, which stretches from the Earth to just beyond the moon’s orbit, is about to become heavily trafficked over the next 10 years. With NASA’s planned Artemis missions and other countries joining in the cislunar space race, there’s an interest in observing, tracking and predicting the orbit of objects like asteroids and satellites so they don’t collide with spacecraft.
Gold may be key element for cleaner drinking water
Gold may be key element for cleaner drinking water by Marisa Ramiccio for UCF News Orlando FL (SPX) Apr 19, 2024 Gold may be a coveted precious metal, but it could also be the key to cleaner drinking water. A team of UCF researchers is exploring the use of the metal to develop a novel method to rid drinking water of harmful algal blooms, or HABs, which occur when colonies of algae grow out of control and produce toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, birds and other living creatures.
Gold may be key element for cleaner drinking water
Gold may be key element for cleaner drinking water by Marisa Ramiccio for UCF News Orlando FL (SPX) Apr 19, 2024 Gold may be a coveted precious metal, but it could also be the key to cleaner drinking water. A team of UCF researchers is exploring the use of the metal to develop a novel method to rid drinking water of harmful algal blooms, or HABs, which occur when colonies of algae grow out of control and produce toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, birds and other living creatures.
UCF researchers lead $1.5M project to improve efficiency of solar cells
By Marisa Ramiccio, UCF News A team of researchers from the University of Central Florida and the University of Delaware’s Institute of Energy Conversion has received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Technologies Office to develop a novel metallization process that could improve the efficiency and lower the cost of solar cells, making solar energy more accessible to consumers.
UCF Researchers Lead Project to Develop AI-driven Technologies for Agriculture
Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just used to power electronics, apps or self-driving cars — it’s also driving key innovations in agriculture. From sensors that can monitor soil and water to autonomous robots that can harvest crops, AI is making farming more efficient, sustainable and cost effective. In an effort to expand the use of AI in agriculture, several UCF researchers will work together to develop several AI-driven technologies that aim to improve the industry’s field operations.
UCF Researchers Lead $1.5M Project to Improve Efficiency of Solar Cells
A team of researchers from the University of Central Florida and the University of Delaware’s Institute of Energy Conversion has received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Technologies Office to develop a novel metallization process that could improve the efficiency and lower the cost of solar cells, making solar energy more accessible to consumers.
Aviation Week Network Selects UCF Student as 1 of 20 Who Will Shape the Industry
For aerospace engineering doctoral student Sydney Giannuzzi, 2023 turned out to be a stellar year. She not only completed a summer internship with Raytheon Technologies, but was recognized for her outstanding contributions with an Innovation Achievement Award. 2024 brings another cosmic leap in her career — a slot on the Aviation Week Network 20 Twenties list.
Targeted News Service
University of Central Florida Enters $6M Cooperative Agreement to Develop Research Commercialization Hub January 11, 2024 ORLANDO, Florida, Jan. 11 (TNSres) -- The University of Central Florida issued the following news: The National Science Foundation award will allow for the creation of a Venture Lab to connect UCF researchers with local industry, investors and entrepreneurs.
University of Central Florida Enters $6M Cooperative Agreement to Develop Research Commercialization Hub
The University of Central Florida has spawned some notable entrepreneurs over the years, from O’dang Hummus creator Jesse Wolfe ’15 to Luminar co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Jason Eichenholz ’95MS ’98 PhD and Kismet Technologies founder Christina Drake ‘07PhD. However, the vast majority of these savvy businesspeople are UCF graduates who have turned their ideas into impactful and innovative solutions on their own.
Kauffman Named Associate Fellow of AIAA
Associate Professor Jeffrey Kauffman has been selected for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) 2024 Class of Associate Fellows. This distinction is awarded to individuals who have contributed significant work of merit to the field. “It’s an honor to be selected as an Associate Fellow, and humbling, too — many collaborators and students have played key roles in advancing the research,” Kauffman says.
UCF receives $1.5M NSF grant to improve energy efficiency of wireless communications
By Marisa Ramiccio, UCF News Wireless devices consume more than just the hours users spend scrolling through social media, streaming podcasts and TV shows, and playing games. The networks used to connect these devices also consume a large amount of energy – up to a few thousand terawatt-hours annually worldwide, which is enough to power 70 million homes for one year.
UCF Receives 3 Minority Serving Institution Awards to Promote Collaborations with NASA
Three research projects from the University of Central Florida have been selected for NASA Minority University Research and Education Project Partnership Annual Notification (MPLAN) awards. The grants, worth up to $50,000 each, are designed to connect and promote research collaborations between Minority Serving Institutions and NASA Mission Directorates. A total of 18 projects received Phase I funding across 15 universities.
UCF Receives $1.5M NSF Grant to Improve Energy Efficiency of Wireless Communications
Wireless devices consume more than just the hours users spend scrolling through social media, streaming podcasts and TV shows, and playing games. The networks used to connect these devices also consume a large amount of energy – up to a few thousand terawatt-hours annually worldwide, which is enough to power 70,000,000 homes for one year.
UCF Aerospace Doctoral Student Recognized for Outstanding Work by Raytheon Technologies
Internships are a great way for students to put their knowledge into practice and to gain hands-on experience in the field. But interns aren’t the only ones who benefit from the experience — industry partners and organizations also receive valuable contributions and new insights into their work.
UCF Alumna Receives $1M NSF Grant to Further Development of Microbe-Killing Residual Disinfectant
The U.S. National Science Foundation has awarded a Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase II award for $1 million to Kismet Technologies to further its research and development of a broad-spectrum residual antimicrobial technology that eradicates COVID-19 among other bacteria and viruses.
To the Moon: UCF Engineering Alum Shares Experience With Artemis I Mission
When the Artemis 1 rocket launched into space, the world watched with wonder as NASA took the first giant step toward its goal of traveling back to the moon. The milestone was momentous and couldn’t have happened without the tireless work of UCF alumni, students, and faculty alongside NASA and other space experts. Brandon Kutchera ’18, who graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, was one of the many Knights who played a role in the Artemis 1 mission.
UCF Students Receive $25,000 EPA Grant to Develop Toxin Biosensor for Drinking Water
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $25,000 grant to a team of UCF engineering students for the development of a biosensor that can detect harmful algal toxins in drinking water sources.
UCF Engineering Alum Receives International Award for Expertise in Combustion
UCF mechanical engineering alumnus Raghu Kancherla ’19PhD has been named the 2023 recipient of the Dilip R. Ballal Early Career Engineering Award by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ (ASME) International Gas Turbine Institute. This award is given to early-career engineers with outstanding accomplishments who show dedication to the field or turbomachinery.
UCF Alumna, Student Selected for NASA Graduate Research Award
Marley Albright ’23 will take her college career to new heights this fall through the NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO) award. She is one of approximately 60 U.S. college students who have been selected for this honor, which covers the tuition and fees for a graduate-level program and includes a fellowship at a NASA facility.
UCF Joins $25M National Consortium on Nuclear Forensics
UCF is one of 16 universities in the U.S. that have formed a consortium on nuclear forensics. The association is supported by a $25 million cooperative agreement with the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The goal of the consortium is to engage in research that supports the NNSA’s nuclear security and nonproliferation missions while building a next-generation workforce of nuclear scientists, engineers and researchers.
UCF Researcher Studies Bird Wings to Improve Stability in Aerial Vehicles
Many airplane passengers grit their teeth, white-knuckle their armrests and say a silent prayer for their flight to go smoothly. They know that any sudden disturbance in airflow can cause turbulence — and in turn, a severe case of anxiety. But in smaller aircraft, such as unmanned aerial vehicles or micro air vehicles, turbulence is more than a bumpy ride. It can severely affect the stability of these vehicles and cause them to lose control.
UCF Researchers Receive Patent for COVID-Killing Nano-Coating
A team of UCF researchers, led by Materials Science and Engineering Professor Sudipta Seal, have been awarded a patent for their nanomaterial-based disinfectant that can kill several viruses, including COVID-19. This is the 86th patent that Seal has been awarded through the UCF Office of Technology Transfer.
UCF Researcher Receives $1.5M Award to Develop Health Monitoring Tool for Firefighters
Each time a firefighter puts their life on the line to save a member of the community, they may also put their health in jeopardy. Continuous exposure to extreme heat increases the core body temperature and causes a condition known as heat stress, which has been linked to serious medical conditions.
Artemis Engineer by Day, Launch Photographer by Night
When the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft finally launched from the Kennedy Space Center as part of the Artemis 1 mission, it will not only be a triumph for NASA, but for the UCF alumni who contributed to its development. More than 30 alumni work on the project, including Ben Bair ’19, a fluids design engineer for Jacobs, which is the largest contractor at KSC supporting NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems.
Aerospace Engineering Doctoral Student Selected for ISS National Laboratory Fellowship
A University of Central Florida aerospace engineering doctoral student is beginning a year-long project that could lead to a better design of space station systems, including Gateway, the planned lunar outpost that will serve as a vital component of the Artemis program. She joins the ranks of multiple UCF students and faculty who have been working on research projects that support the Artemis program. The student, Taylor Peterson, will complete her research through the James A.
Researchers create lunar regolith bricks that could be used to construct Artemis base camp
As part of NASA's Artemis program to establish a long-term presence on the moon, it aims to build an Artemis base camp that includes a modern lunar cabin, rover and mobile home. This fixed habitat could potentially be constructed with bricks made of lunar regolith and saltwater, thanks to a recent discovery from a team of UCF researchers.
UCF Student Receives Women in Aerospace Awards Scholarship
UCF mechanical engineering student Lauren Bansberg ’20 is one of four student from across the U.S. who have been selected for a Women in Aerospace (WIA) scholarship — making her the first student to be honored by organization. WIA is a Washington, D.C.-based organization dedicated to increasing the leadership capabilities and visibility of women in the aerospace community around the world.
Study proves efficacy of nanomaterial-based disinfectant developed to combat COVID-19 spread Original
A team of UCF researchers have proven the efficacy of a nanomaterial-based disinfectant they developed to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Through their experiments, they found that the disinfectant was able to kill several serious viruses including SARS and Zika. The results of their findings were recently published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.
3 UCF Students Support Military Through 2022 X-Force Fellowships Original
Three UCF students spent the summer engineering new ideas to support the military through the highly competitive National Security Innovation Network X-Force Fellowship. Through the fellowship, students are paired with a military sponsor to work on a mission-focused project that solves real-world national security issues.
UCF Researchers Prove that COVID Disinfectant Works in Latest Research Paper
A team of UCF researchers have proven the efficacy of a nanomaterial-based disinfectant they developed to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Through their experiments, they found that the disinfectant was able to kill several serious viruses including SARS and Zika. The results of their findings were recently published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.
Aerospace Engineering Student Aims to Improve Tracking of Space Debris with NASA Award
Just one small piece of space debris can damage or disable a satellite. Much of this debris, also known as space junk, is catalogued through space-based space surveillance, which uses optical sensors to track objects in orbit that could pose a risk for collision. However, some objects can be too small to track.
10 UCF Knights Supported Artemis Mission Through Summer Internships at NASA
UCF was one of seven universities to be awarded funding from NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project Space Technology Artemis Research, or M-STAR, initiative this past year. The program is designed for minority-serving institutions that develop innovative technologies to support the Artemis mission. As a result of this grant, 10 Knights had the opportunity to intern at NASA centers across the country for the summer.
UCF Mechanical Engineering Student Named Station1 Frontiers Fellow
Samir Ali considers himself a builder and fixer by nature. He believes those skills are what every person needs to not make their own lives better, but to help the world around them. With such a philosophy, it’s no wonder that the mechanical engineering major was chosen to participate in the 2022 Station1 Frontiers Fellowship, a fully funded summer research experience that focuses on socially directed science and technology.
Students Race to the Top in Rocketry Competition
On a warm Saturday morning, a group of UCF students set out on a mile-long walk across the Mojave Desert to retrieve the rocket they launched at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry 51025 Competition. For some, the walk would have been a tiring trek. But for the Knights, this was a victory lap. They just successfully launched the rocket that they built from scratch — with no prior experience — 10,750 feet in the air at 770 miles per second.
Aerodynamics of perching birds could inform aircraft design
If you have ever watched a bird land on a tree branch, you may have noticed that it rapidly pitches its wings upward at a high angle to execute a smooth landing. However, for some birds, they land by folding their wings as they perch instead, creating a sweeping motion as they decelerate.
Aerodynamics of Perching Birds Could Inform Aircraft Design
If you have ever watched a bird land on a tree branch, you may have noticed that it rapidly pitches its wings upward at a high angle to execute a smooth landing. However, for some birds, they land by folding their wings as they perch instead, creating a sweeping motion as they decelerate.
When a natural or humanitarian disaster occurs halfway around the world, the U.S. Space Force (USSF) aims to send a rocket filled with food, water and other essential supplies to the site in one hour. With the help of UCF researchers, they may be able to achieve this goal within the next decade.
Aerospace Engineering Student is UCF’s First Matthew Isakowitz Fellow
Aerospace engineering student Loubensky Baine is one of 30 students nationwide who have been selected to participate in the 2022 Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program. He is the first UCF student to receive this honor. Matthew Isakowitz Fellows receive a summer internship with a top commercial space company as well as an executive mentorship with a professional in the aerospace community.
UCF Researchers use Engineering Expertise to Solve Problems of the Heart
UCF’s engineers do more than develop innovative space technology or reimagine the next generation of wind turbines — they also solve matters of the heart. Several mechanical and aerospace engineers at UCF focus their expertise on finding creative solutions to various heart conditions. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States with one person dying every 36 seconds, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Marisa
Contact Marisa, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack