Computer Science Researcher Recognized at ASEMFL Annual Meeting

Several UCF engineering and computer science researchers have been recognized by the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL). Assistant Professor Kevin Moran was named a Rising Star. Professors Ni-bin Chang and Roger Azevedo were inducted into the organization while 

The Rising Star award is given to select early-career professionals and academicians who demonstrate exception promise in the fields of science, engineering or medicine.

Inductees are selected for their outstanding industry contributions and potential for national impact. These individuals are scholars or professionals who work and/or reside in Florida and are recognized as distinguished leaders in their field.

Kevin Moran
Rising Star

Although Moran has worked at UCF for only two years, he’s already created a name for himself at the UCF Department of Computer Science. Since joining the faculty in Fall 2023, he has earned a National Science Foundation CAREER Award and received the SIGSOFT Early Career Researcher Award for his contributions to mobile app advancement. Now, he can add the ASEMFL Rising Star award to his laurels.

“I’m truly honored to receive the Rising Star Award from ASEMFL this year – particularly among such a distinguished group of scholars and professionals,” Moran says. “This is fantastic recognition and validation of the work that my students, collaborators and lab have conducted over the last five years. To be recognized by a group as interdisciplinary and well-regarded at the FL state level is particularly exciting.”

Moran’s research focuses on the intersection of software engineering and artificial intelligence (AI). His goal is to build AI-powered tools that can help engineers develop the digital services and products that consumers use every day. His research group has pioneered efforts in the area of user interface engineering (UI), or the software projects that implement the user-facing screens that make software easier to use. He says that building tools for engineering UIs has been a challenge for researchers, but it’s vital for the usability of digital products.

“Software is at a point where it is critical to everyday life, and the user interface is the fabric that connects users to the software,” Moran says. “Therefore, improving UIs stands to improve the usability and quality of software for the broader public. From local companies and government agencies that build user facing software, to the international software services used by billions around the world, we hope that our research will translate to improvements for all consumers.”