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Story by UCF

The University of Central Florida (UCF) was been ranked the No. 5 most innovative public university in the nation and the most innovative university in Florida for the 10th consecutive year, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings released Sept. 22.

UCF also earned national recognition for undergraduate research, teaching and value for in-state students, ranking among the top 10 public universities for Best Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects, the top 15 for Best Undergraduate Teaching and the top 30 for Best Value for In-State Students.

More than 2,000 UCF undergraduates conduct research each year, including computer science graduate student Eugenio Diaz, who began working with Mohsen Rakhshan, Ph.D., an electrical and computer engineering professor, director of the Laboratory for Interaction of Machine and Brain (LIMB) and Institute for Simulation & Training research faculty member, as an undergraduate.

Together, Diaz and Rakhshan explored whether technology could help a prosthetic hand recognize what it touches. Their project combines artificial intelligence, neuroscience and engineering to identify textures using tactile data and spiking neural networks, which mimic how biological neurons communicate. The research could eventually help prostheses restore a sense of touch.

After months of experimentation, Diaz helped redesign the data-collection system, train models and analyze results. The models eventually surpassed 80% accuracy, and Diaz went on to co-author a paper based on the research.

That hands-on approach extends beyond research. At UCF’s Helene Fuld Health Trust Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling (STIM) Center, nursing students use immersive technologies to prepare for clinical care, while students across the university gain experience with emerging technologies and work alongside faculty mentors.

For more on UCF’s rankings and the student experiences behind them, read the full article here.

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