Outstanding Dissertation
The Award for the Outstanding Dissertation recognizes doctoral students for excellence in the dissertation. The focus of this award is on the quality and contribution of the student’s dissertation. The excellence of the dissertation may be demonstrated by evidence such as, but not limited to publications in refereed journals, awards and recognition from professional organizations, and praise from faculty members and other colleagues in the field.
Eligibility
- Graduated from a UCF doctoral program in the immediate past spring, summer, or fall term
- Completed the dissertation within the past year (i.e., spring 2024, summer 2024, or fall 2024)
- Selected as the 2024-2025 winner of the college-level award
Students can only win the university award once.
Application Requirements
- An electronic one-page nomination letter from a faculty member that discusses the dissertation research of the nominee with particular attention paid to the content and quality of the dissertation. This letter should address the strength of the dissertation and its contributions to the field.
- An electronic copy of the student’s completed and approved dissertation.
- An electronic copy of the student’s complete curriculum vitae, highlighting any publication and/or recognition of the dissertation.
- A brief electronic (no more than one page) statement regarding the student’s experience in conducting the dissertation, their interpretation of the significance of the work, and how they benefited from the dissertation experience.
- Electronic copies of papers authored or co-authored by the student based on the dissertation.
- Applications must be submitted electronically to your Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in your academic college.
Nomination Process
Nominations must be submitted electronically to your College’s Associate Dean for Graduate Studies for consideration for the college award. The college associate dean will charge a committee to evaluate the documentation submitted by the nominees and select the person to receive the college award. The selected award winner for each college will then be forwarded to the Interim Dean of the College of Graduate Studies by email at gradawards@ucf.edu for consideration for the university award. Forwarded files must contain a letter of support from the college Dean/School Director or his/her designee.
Award
Each winner of the university awards will receive a certificate and a cash award of $1,500. For each university award, as many as two honorable mentions can be awarded and each will receive a certificate at Founders Day in early April.
Past Winners
2023
Engineering, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Science, and Life Sciences
Dr. Sabin Regmi, Physics PhD, College of Sciences
Dissertation: Observation of Novel Phases of Quantum Matter Beyond Topological Insulators
Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, Business, Fine Arts, and Health Sciences
Dr. Olivia Newton, Modeling and Simulation PhD, College of Graduate Studies
Dissertation: Modeling the Effects of Diversity and Corporations on Participation Dynamics in Free/Libre and Open Source Software Ecosystems
Honorable Mention: Dr. Terry Henley, Public Affairs PhD, Governance and Policy Research Track, College of Community Innovation and Education
Dissertation: Financial Sustainability of Florida Cities: Comparative, Retrospective Modeling for Prospective Municipal Financial Health
2022
Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences
Dr. Shraddha Nehate, Electrical Engineering PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Dissertation: Characterization of Hydrogenated Boron Carbide and Boron Carbon Nitride Thin Films and Applications
Social Science, Humanities, Education, Business, Fine Art and Health Sciences
Dr. David (Ariel) Boffey, Education PhD, Exercise Physiology Track, College of Health Professions and Sciences
Dissertation: Influence of Body Composition, Velocity Profiles, and Sex-Related Differences on Army Combat Fitness Test Performance
2021
Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences
Lin Hu, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Dissertation: Designing Metal Nanocatalysts and Tuning Their Microenvironment for Gas-Involving Electrocatalysis
Social Science, Humanities, Education, Business, Fine Art and Health Sciences
Jasara Hines, PhD, Text and Technology PhD, College of Arts and Humanities
Dissertation: The Ecology of “Sites” of Collective Memory: An Examination of Emergent Literacies and National Identity at Geographical and Virtual Sites of Memory
2020
Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences
Dr. Alireza Safaei, Physics PhD, College of Sciences
Dissertation: Nanoplasmonics in Two-Dimensional Dirac and Three-Dimensional Metallic Nanostructure Systems
Social Science, Humanities, Education, Business, Fine Art and Health Sciences
Dr. Saundra Tabet, Education PhD, College of Community Innovation and Education
Dissertation: Investigation of College Student-Athletes’ Mental Health Stigma, Help-Seeking Attitudes, Depression, Anxiety, and Life Stress Scores Using Structural Equation Modeling
2019
Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences
Jared Church, PhD, Civil Engineering PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Dissertation: Electrochemical Microsensors for In Situ Monitoring of Chemical Compounds in Engineered and Natural Aquatic Systems
Social Science, Humanities, Education, Business, Fine Art and Health Sciences
Michale LaMonica, PhD, Education PhD, Exercise Physiology Track, College of Community Innovation and Education
Dissertation: Examining Work-To-Rest Ratios To Optimize Upper Body Sprint Interval Training
2018
Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences
Ian Kutch, PhD, Conservation Biology PhD, College of Sciences
Dissertation: The Role of the Y-Chromosome in the Evolution of Autosomally Coded Traits
Social Science, Humanities, Education, Business, Fine Art and Health Sciences
Matthew Taylor, PhD, Education PhD, College of Community Innovation and Education
Dissertation: Computer Programming with Early Elementary Students with and without Intellectual Disabilities