Five University of Central Florida scientists and an internationally renowned musician were recognized as Pegasus Professors today, during the annual Founders’ Day ceremony in the Student Union.
The award is the most prestigious a faculty member can receive at UCF. The honor recognizes extraordinary contributions to the UCF community through teaching, research and service. Each recipient received a statue of the UCF Pegasus, a gold Pegasus Professor medallion and a check for $5,000.
This years winners are: Professor Donald C. Malocha from the College of Engineering and Computer Science; Physics Professor Talat Shahnaz Rahman from the College of Sciences; Martin Richardson, a professor in the College of Optics and Photonics and director of the Townes Laser Center; Sudipta Seal, an engineering professor and the director of the Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center; Stella Sung, director of CREATE and an internationally known musician, and biology professor and marine conservation expert Linda Walters.
Sudipta Seal joined UCF’s Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center and the Department of Engineering in 1997. Since then he has been a leader pioneering innovative research in the areas of materials sciences and nanotechnology, providing service through partnerships with high schools and universities around the world as well as inspiring future scientists.
Seal has a long list of accomplishments. Highlights include: the 2002 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award and being selected as the Alexander Von Humboldt Fellow and as a Visiting Professor Fellow at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London.
He has penned more than 200 academic articles in peer-reviewed journals and has received more than $12 million in grant funding for his work.
Seal was also one of the principal authors of the master’s and Ph.D. degree program in Materials Science and Engineering in Mechanical Materials and Aerospace engineering and was instrumental in initiating a graduate portfolio in nanoscience and technology through the Nanoscience and Technology Center.
“It is very hard nowadays, in an era where emphasis on specialization is rewarded, to find faculty members who excel in all the areas of teaching, research and service,” said M.J. Soileau, vice president for the Office of Research and Commercialization. “Dr. Seal is undoubtedly one of these individuals that are hard to find.”
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