Speaker/Lecture/Seminar

Our [Colloquium series](https://sciences.ucf.edu/math/colloquium/) offers a vibrant platform for faculty, students, research scholars, and industry experts to share and exchange ideas, fostering discussion and networking across mathematics, statistics, and data science.This week, our own professor [Xin Li](https://sciences.ucf.edu/math/person/xin-li/) will present a talk on "Dynamic Inertial Newton Inspired Algorithms And Their Applications to Non-Smooth and Non-Convex Optimizations."Abstract: Dynamic Inertial Newton (DIN) systems have been used to motivate or explain several accelerated algorithms to solve a wide range of optimization problems. In this presentation, we propose new algorithms inspired by DIN and establish their convergence analysis. Furthermore, we discuss how to apply these algorithms to the applications in deep learning via a smoothing approximation approach. The motivation for our study is two-folds: we give a direct approach to find a critical point of the objective functions, and we want to cover most problems in machine learning whose objective functions are known to be non-smooth and non-convex.Speaker Bio: Xin Li is a professor of mathematics at UCF, where he has served since 1990, including a decade as department chair. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in 1989 under professor E.B. Saff. His research spans approximation theory, orthogonal polynomials, stochastic processes, computer vision, and machine learning, with numerous publications and international presentations. He has led or co-led major research and education projects funded by the NSF, industry, and government agencies, and is affiliated with UCF's Center for Research in Computer Vision. An award-winning educator, Li has guided Ph.D. and master's students and received multiple teaching honors, reflecting his commitment to advancing mathematics and STEM education.

In-Person Event: This presentation provides an understanding of the various certifications impacted by SBA; will discuss eligibility criteria and the application process. To aid your business to make effective connections with the government your business should obtain the proper certifications, if able to do so. SBA small business certifications document a special capability or status that will help your small business compete in the federal marketplace. Certifying your small business concern can help you successfully compete for government contracts. This workshop will provide an overview of:* the 8(a) Business Development Program.* HUBZONE Contracting Program.* WOSB Contracting Program.* SDVOSB Contracting ProgramAttendees will be briefed by the University of Central Florida APEX Accelerator regarding free technical assistance available to all small businesses in the government contracting arena.This event is sponsored by the Florida SBDC at UCF. Registration Link: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/g/x4W8BcsAj4/sba-workshop-programs-for-underserved-markets-5a1eVO8Unmf

* Vous voulez ameliorer votre français oral? (Would you like to improve your French speaking skills?) * Vous aimeriez connaitre des etudiant.e.s qui ont la meme passion que vous pour la langue française?(Would you like to meet students who share your passion for the French language?)Bienvenu.e.s au cafe francophone! Venez echanger avec vos collegues etudiant.e.s dans une ambiance decontractee. (Welcome to the French cafe! Come and chat with your colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere.)Pour qui? Les etudiant.e.s de niveau 2000 (intermediaire) et +, ou etudiant.e.s francophones. (For students at the 2000 level (intermediate) or higher, or French speakers)

Have you ever wondered how traditional medicine, rooted in nature, holds clues for modern drug discovery? Are you curious about the scientific basis behind the therapeutic power of plants, fungi and other natural sources?Join The India Center for a discussion and interactive Q&A session on the book, "Nature Cures: Trusting the Biomolecules". Featuring the book's editor, Swati Save, Ph.D., and Senior Lecturer in the UCF Department of Biology, Rani Vajravelu, Ph.D., this event will explore the potential of naturally occurring biomolecules for healing and well-being.Free food provided. Registration Link: https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dhZjLLG2aFy8vIy

CAB'S NEWEST ISSUE: Pegasus Palooza Speaker Knight ft. Karan Brar!Coming all the way from Camp Kikiwaka, please welcome actor and storyteller @karanbrar to UCF as he shares his journey with us!Doors open at 7 PM, show starts at 8 PM in the Pegasus Ballroom, located in the Student UnionThis event is FREE to UCF students with a valid UCF ID

Title: The development of AlGaN ultrawide bandgap (UWBG) semiconductors on native AlN substrates for UVC and far UVC device applicationsAbstract: Ultrawide bandgap semiconductors (bandgaps greater than 4.5 eV) have attracted recent attention for new applications in high power switches (EV and smart grid) and high-power rf. UWBG semiconductors are also being used to make novel light emitters at wavelengths shorter than 280nm. However, the UWBG semiconductors still present big challenges in growth and doping. One of the best examples are the pseudomorphic AlGaN alloys gown on high quality AlN substrates where 2-inch diameter is now widely available and 100mm are being sampled. These single-crystal AlN substrates have enabled growth of high quality Al1-xGaxN alloys that are pseudomorphically strained to match the lattice of the underlying AlN substrate. The low extended defect density has made it possible to take advantage of a new kind of conductivity (distributed polarization doping) made possible in materials that have a spontaneous polarization. Most significantly, p-type Al1-xGaxN has now been demonstrated in Al1-xGaxN without the use of impurity doping. This breakthrough solved the critical problem of unacceptable resistivities in the doped layers with increasing band gap (particularly for p-type dopants).Pseudomorphic growth and distributed polarization doping have made the achievement of new devices possible, such as the UVC laser diode. These laser diodes open new possibilities for optical instruments which will benefit from very compact sources of radiation which are coherent and nearly monochromatic. It is also possible to precisely direct laser radiation in ways that simply are not possible for LEDs. As this technology develops, it may even be possible to achieve higher wall plug efficiencies than are achievable with UVC LEDs due to improved photon extraction efficiencies. However, the lifetime of these diodes (which operate at much higher current densities than LEDs) is still an important issue that needs to be addressed.In this talk, I will give an introduction to the societal issues that can be addressed by UWBG semiconductors as well as explaining why there are still issues with these special materials. I will explain so-called "distributed polarization doping" and how we used this phenomena to make the world's first UVC laser diode. I will also introduce our new effort at the Visium UltraLabs in the Cornell Tech Park to develop far UVC (shorter than 235nm) LEDs.About the Speaker: Leo Schowalter was employed by the GE Global Research Center after receiving his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Illinois in 1981. He was a professor in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Physics Department from 1987 until 2006 and was Department Chair from 1997 to 2000. In 1997, he co-founded Crystal IS where he was the first CEO and later CTO until he retired in 2021. Schowalter continues the collaboration with Prof. Amano as a Visiting Professor but has also now joined the Florida-based startup company Lit Thinking which is developing cost-effective far UVC for safe disinfection of shared spaces. Schowalter is also leading the effort to found the Visium Ultralabs in the Cornell Tech Park, with support from Lit Thinking, to develop the AlGaN ultrawide bandgap semiconductors including for far-UVC light emitters for human safe disinfection.Virtual Location URL: https://ucf.zoom.us/j/96065292638#success

2025 Lecture SeriesSponsored by the Eurasia Foundation (From Asia)With 60 percent of the world's population, Asia is not only home to the world's oldest civilizations, it also represents cultural and economic vitality. Asia has a major role in manufacturing, technology and investment markets. Non-governmental organizations specializing in economic development, healthcare and environmental protection are also active throughout Asia. This series will provide a rare opportunity for students and the community to develop a better understanding of the cultural, political and economic forces that have shaped modern Asia by hearing from esteemed international scholars.Opening Remark: Asia and Global History in American Higher EducationPeter Larson Professor of History and Associate Dean for Research & Creative Activity, University of Central FloridaThe Necessity and Possibility of the Asian CommunityChung Joon-Kon Chief Researcher, Eurasia Foundation (from Asia), JapanVirtual Location URL: https://cah.ucf.edu/eurasia-lectures-2025/

2025 Lecture SeriesSponsored by the Eurasia Foundation (From Asia)With 60 percent of the world's population, Asia is not only home to the world's oldest civilizations, it also represents cultural and economic vitality. Asia has a major role in manufacturing, technology and investment markets. Non-governmental organizations specializing in economic development, healthcare and environmental protection are also active throughout Asia. This series will provide a rare opportunity for students and the community to develop a better understanding of the cultural, political and economic forces that have shaped modern Asia by hearing from esteemed international scholars.India and the Global South: Beyond BinariesYogesh Joshi Indian Community Endowed Assistant Professor and Director, India CenterVirtual Location URL: https://cah.ucf.edu/eurasia-lectures-2025/

Politics and Memory: Civil War Monuments in Gilded Age New York examines the stories behind New York City's Civil War soldiers' monuments. Although historians have suggested that Union commemoration was largely uncontested, New York's monuments reveal a much more fractious story. My book argues, through a careful exploration of the machinations of multiple stakeholders, that New York's Union monuments were products of Gilded Age New York's notoriously bruising municipal politics. Indeed, many of these monuments were riddled with corruption, fraud, and spoils system patronage. The book traces the political and aesthetic conflicts that shaped the city's Civil War monuments, as well as notable opportunities, some realized and some not, to address the contributions of African American servicemen in public sculpture.Akela Reason is Associate Professor of History and Director of Museum Studies at the University of Georgia, where she teaches American material and visual culture. Her first book, Thomas Eakins and the Uses of History (U. Penn Press, 2010), won the 2011 Southeastern College Art Conference Award for Excellence in Scholarly Research and Publication.

This is a 2.5 to 3 hour virtual training session designed to help two groups of business: (1) those just exploring or brand new to government contracting and (2) those down the path a bit looking to backfill some gaps. You can join late or leave early and still learn something about government contracting, but those that stick around for the whole program will receive a practical, frank, overview of the government contracting process.This webinar covers the following areas:* Introduction to the Government Contracting Process * Components of a "GIB Ready" Business * Suggestions for an Initial Marketing Tool Kit * Reactive Business Development Strategies * Proactive Business Development Strategies * Introduction to the SBA's Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) database * Potential Next StepsIn addition to the instruction, attendees will have the opportunity to receive handouts that are practical tools in helping develop your government contracting programs. The handouts will also include the slide deck of the presentation which will include a number of live links to research resources, registration sites, and certification programs.This class will be delivered by one of the Florida APEX Accelerator Consultants at UCF. The Florida APEX Accelerator provides no cost government contracting consulting to small businesses.This event is sponsored by the Florida SBDC at UCF.Virtual Location URL: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/g/x4W8BcsAj4/government-contracting-overview-5a1eVO8T8s2 Registration Link: https://sbdcorlando.com/upcoming-seminars/

Title: Meta structure designs for device applicationsAbstract: Metasurfaces are extensively used to manipulate the light and increase light-matter interaction. Owing to strong plasmonic resonances, sub wavelength metal elements have been successfully used in several applications. To avoid the associated ohmic loss, we choose non-absorbing dielectrics and Mie resonance in our designs to enhance the performance in areas including single and biphoton emitters used in quantum optics application, THz source and detector used in screening application, reflective optical limiting, and photo conducting devices used in sensing applications. In this talk, I will outline the basic principles of Mie-based metasurface design and then briefly walk you through several topics we pursued/published in the last couple of years and the work in progress.About the Speaker: Dr. Srini Krishnamurthy worked for over 35 years in various positions at SRI International, Menlo Park, CA until 2019. He then worked for over 6 years as Senior Principal Scientist at Sivananthan Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois. He is an Adjunct Professor of Physics at University of Illinois-Chicago (from 2014). He has worked on various areas including first-principles band structure, electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of semiconductors, linear and nonlinear optical transmission in solids, photonics, metamaterials and metasurfaces, infrared materials and device designs, and inverse scattering methods. He received a Doctorate in Physics from University in Cincinnati in 1984, awarded Alexander von Humboldt fellowship, has been visiting professor of Physics at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and University of Illinois-Chicago. As a Humboldt Fellow, he worked at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart and Paul Drude Institute for Solid State Electronics, Berlin.Virtual Location URL: https://ucf.zoom.us/j/92964652706?from=addon

Title: Terahertz metasurface quantum-cascade vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting-lasers (VECSELs)Abstract: The terahertz frequency range lies at the junction of the electronic and photonic regimes, which means that it is fertile ground for exploring hybrid systems which combine laser gain with microwave electromagnetic design. The terahertz quantum-cascade (QC) laser is an excellent example, which produces gain via intersubband electronic transitions within heterostructure quantum wells, but typically uses sub-wavelength waveguides that have a strong resemblance to microstrip transmission lines and patch antennas. I will discuss the development and recent advances to do with amplifying reflectarray metasurfaces based upon sub-wavelength arrays of such antennas loaded with QC-gain material, and their use in implementing vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting-lasers (VECSELs).In the QC-VECSEL scheme, the amplifying metasurface is used as one reflector in an external cavity, which supports a well-shaped circulating THz beam. The QC-VECSEL architecture offers a solution to many problems that have plagued THz QC-lasers - namely their low emission powers and efficiencies (especially above 77 K), their limited beam quality (especially at high powers), and their limited range of continuous single-mode tunability. I will discuss several advances in the field of VECSELs in the past few years. First is the development of QC-VECSELs as stable, single-moded local oscillators for heterodyne receivers. Such lasers are in demand for future astrophysical instruments for mapping of molecular and atomic species within the interstellar medium - particularly at high frequencies above 2 THz which are difficult to access using electronic sources. We have recently shown that QC-VECSELs can provide mW to tens of mW continuous-wave power, in a near-diffraction limited beam, with large fractional tunability (up to 20% of the center wavelength). Second, is the extension of QCLs and QC-VECSELs to higher frequencies above 5 THz and approaching the lossy Reststrahlen band in GaAs. We have recently demonstrated QC-laser gain material operating up to 6.5 THz (46 μm wavelength), and tunable QC-VECSELs operating between 5.2-5.7 THz. Third is the initial demonstration of QC-VECSELs as frequency combs. Since every longitudinal mode in a QC-VECSEL interacts with the gain medium through the same metasurface resonance, there is no-spatial hole burning per se. As a result QC-VECSELs prefer to lase in single-mode, unlike waveguide QC-lasers which will spontaneously lase in multi-mode and frequency comb operation. However, we have shown that THz QC-VECSELs can be forced into a fundamental or harmonic frequency-comb regime via strong microwave modulation of the metasurface gain. About the Speaker: Benjamin Williams is Professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). He received his B.S. in Physics from Haverford College in 1996, and his M.S. in 1998 and Ph.D. in 2003 both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Electrical Engineering. He is currently Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions in Terahertz Science and Technology. He has received the APS Apker Award (1996), the DARPA Young Faculty Award (2008), the NSF CAREER Award (2012), and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) (2016). His research interests lie in photonic materials, devices, and applications for the terahertz and mid-infrared frequency ranges, including low-dimensional semiconductors, quantum-cascade lasers, and plasmonics and metamaterials.Virtual Location URL: https://ucf.zoom.us/j/92584023013?from=addon

If you're thinking of starting a business, it's important to take the right steps. This two-and-a-half-hour virtual webinar will give you an overview of what to know, important actions to take, and best practices on how to avoid common missteps to give your company its greatest chance of success.Learn about the journey from pre-venture to start-up to opening your business as this training covers:* Business legal entity selection * Registration and licensing * Market research and planning * Financial planning and sources of capital * And more…Register today!Virtual Location URL: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/how-to-start-your-business-5a1eVO8PgVh/overview Registration Link: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/how-to-start-your-business-5a1eVO8PgVh/overview

* Vous voulez ameliorer votre français oral? (Would you like to improve your French speaking skills?) * Vous aimeriez connaitre des etudiant.e.s qui ont la meme passion que vous pour la langue française?(Would you like to meet students who share your passion for the French language?)Bienvenu.e.s au cafe francophone! Venez echanger avec vos collegues etudiant.e.s dans une ambiance decontractee. (Welcome to the French cafe! Come and chat with your colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere.)Pour qui? Les etudiant.e.s de niveau 2000 (intermediaire) et +, ou etudiant.e.s francophones. (For students at the 2000 level (intermediate) or higher, or French speakers)

Virtual eventYour business needs a roadmap for every stage of its growth. We'll remove the mystery of how to create a business plan, the information that should be included and how to use it as a tool to keep your company on track for long term growth.Virtual Location URL: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/business-plan-writing-made-easier-webinar-5a1eVO8Pi7h/overview Registration Link: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/business-plan-writing-made-easier-webinar-5a1eVO8Pi7h/overview

Title: Quantum Optics and Confinement Control in Engineered Photonic NanomaterialsAbstract: Naturally abundant materials--such as silicon, metals and van der Waals (vdW) materials--exhibit excellent optical properties, making them well-suited for use in both classical and quantum photonic integrated circuits. By sculpting these materials under extreme conditions, including high pressure, mechanical strain and intense light fields, one can unlock vast opportunities for on-demand engineering of their photonic properties. In the first part of the talk, we will employ thermomechanical processing under carefully controlled pressures and temperatures, allowing for record-rate manipulation of 1D and 2D vdW materials, as well as modulation of phonon-polariton dispersion by more than 10% through stoichiometric control. We will proceed to show that engineered photonic integrated circuits enable multimodal addressing of tightly spaced trapped-ion chains. Finally, we will demonstrate that bright single-photon sources can be realized through the use of tailored nanophotonic resonators and atomic-scale material design. Such extreme-engineered materials open new frontiers in nanophotonics, offering powerful modalities for creating optoelectronic devices with tunable properties for telecommunications and quantum information technologies.About the Speaker: Maxim Shcherbakov is an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine, with joint appointments in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Materials Science and Engineering. His research is at the intersection of quantum photonics, nonlinear optics and nanostructures, with a particular focus on quantum-engineered materials for next-generation optical technologies. Before joining UCI, Shcherbakov was a postdoctoral associate at Cornell University, following his Ph.D. in Physics from Lomonosov Moscow State University. His work has been recognized with major honors, including the NSF CAREER Award, the DARPA Young Faculty Award, Director's Award and a Blavatnik Postdoctoral Finalist distinction. He has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and leads multiple nationally and internationally funded research efforts in quantum and nonlinear optics.Virtual Location URL: https://ucf.zoom.us/j/93442937025?from=addon

In-Person Seminar! This presentation provides an overview of programs available from SBA to support the establishment and growth of small businesses, including loan guaranty and venture capital programs to enhance small business access to capital; contracting programs to increase small business opportunities in federal contracting; direct loan programs for businesses, homeowners, and renters to assist their recovery from natural disasters; and small business management and technical assistance training programs to assist business formation and expansion. Congressional interest in these programs has increased in recent years, primarily because small businesses are viewed to stimulate economic activity and create jobs. SBA programs could be the ticket to your achievement of the American Dream. Attendees will be briefed by the University of Central Florida APEX Accelerator regarding free technical assistance available to all small businesses in the government contracting arena. Registration Link: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/g/x4W8BcsAj4/sba-workshop-how-sba-can-help-your-small-business-achieve-the-american-dream-5a1eVO93HAR

2025 Lecture SeriesSponsored by the Eurasia Foundation (From Asia)With 60 percent of the world's population, Asia is not only home to the world's oldest civilizations, it also represents cultural and economic vitality. Asia has a major role in manufacturing, technology and investment markets. Non-governmental organizations specializing in economic development, healthcare and environmental protection are also active throughout Asia. This series will provide a rare opportunity for students and the community to develop a better understanding of the cultural, political and economic forces that have shaped modern Asia by hearing from esteemed international scholars.The Challenge of Being A Global Citizen: The Journey of the Post-Ottoman TurkeyArzu Özturkmen Director & Professor of History, Bogaziçi UniversityVirtual Location URL: https://cah.ucf.edu/eurasia-lectures-2025/

Title: Probing light-matter interactions in nano-structured layered van der Waals materials for advanced nanophotonicsAbstract: Nanophotonic devices, relying on strong interaction between light and the underlying materials, play a vital role in modern technology facilitating communication, sensing, imaging, and energy conversion across various disciplines. In my research, I examine the use of novel layered van der Waals materials in creating more advanced nanophotonic devices to meet the growing demands imposed by newly emerging technologies. Specifically, I probe the coupling between light and the intrinsic excitations living within different types of van der Waals materials, which strongly modifies materials' optical responses and thus have profound implications on the photonic nano-structures performances. By utilizing the unique properties of this novel material platform, I find that nanophotonic devices and systems with reduced footprint, stronger light-matter interactions, and potentially higher energy efficiency can be achieved. These findings can provide a guideline for designing, fabricating, and characterizing advanced optical systems made of novel van der Waals materials.About the Speaker: Dr. Haonan Ling is an assistant professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at UCF starting in Jan 2025. His research interest lies at the intersection of material science, applied physics, and optics and photonics. His PhD dissertation focuses on probing light-matter interactions in nano-structured layered van der Waals materials for advanced nanophotonic applications. He is the recipient of the Dimitris N. Chorafas Foundation Prize (2024) and Dissertation Year Fellowship at UCLA (2023).Virtual Location URL: https://ucf.zoom.us/j/93129384570?from=addon

This virtual event is sponsored by Orange County Government as part of the Florida SBDC at UCF's Orange County Strategic Series.Get Started with the Most Effective Advertising Tool for Local Businesses: Google AdsLearn how to use Google Ads to drive more revenue for your business.Whether you are considering Google Ads for your marketing or are currently managing an account, this is a can't miss session.Google Ads is a powerful, measurable advertising tool that should be in nearly every local business' marketing plan. See how to use it with less risk and more success.• Learn how Google ranks ads• Learn whether you are a candidate for the new automation in Google Ads• Learn how to reap the rewards of a properly structured Ads accountPresented by Google Partner and National Trainer Matt Weber, President, ROAR! Internet MarketingVirtual Location URL: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/grow-with-google-google-ads-webinar-5a1eVO8PnSL/overview Registration Link: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/grow-with-google-google-ads-webinar-5a1eVO8PnSL/overview