Award Description
Launched in Fall 2024, the Future Faculty Laureates (FFL) program is designed to enhance the academic career readiness of UCF ECE Ph.D. students. The program aims to increase the visibility of our department and expand the long-term impact of our doctoral program by preparing students for successful careers in academia.
FFL awardees will receive the distinguished title of “UCF ECE Future Faculty Laureate” and gain access to advanced academic and professional development opportunities, including:
- Gaining teaching experience as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), supported by formal pedagogical training
- Enhancing UCF ECE courses through curriculum development and instructional innovation
- Publishing and presenting in STEM education venues
- Mentoring undergraduate students
- Teaching a UCF ECE course as Instructor of Record
- Participating in research proposal development and funding activities
Each awardee will be provided with a $6,000 discretionary budget per year for two years, supporting travel, publishing, training, and other activities that strengthen their academic portfolio.
Eligibility
- Applicant must be a currently enrolled Ph.D. student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UCF.
Please note that applicant eligibility will be verified by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering before any award can be made.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit a single PDF file that includes the following:
- A nomination letter from their advisor, highlighting the student’s potential to succeed in a future academic career
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Up to three pieces of evidence demonstrating readiness and potential for a faculty role. Examples include: GTA awards or recognition, instructional materials developed by the applicant, STEM-related publications, evidence of mentoring, outreach, or leadership in academic settings (multiple items of each type may be included.)
Interested students are encouraged to submit all required documents as one PDF file to ecescholarships@ucf.edu with “FFL Program Application” in the subject line. Applications for Fall 2025 must be submitted by 5:00 PM ET on September 18, 2025.
Evaluation Process
The ECE Development Committee and the Graduate Coordinator will review all applications and recommend selected candidates to the ECE Department Chair for final approval. Incomplete and non-qualifying applications will not be considered. All applicants will be notified via email whether they are awarded a scholarship or not.
Helpful Resources
- Build Your Resume and Cover Letter
- Using ChatGPT for Developing Your Resume
- Getting Help Clarifying Your Career Goals – Schedule a Career Advising Appointment in Handshake
- Scholarship Tips Checklist
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
The College of Engineering and Computer Science offers various scholarships to support undergraduate and graduate students. CECS students are encouraged to apply for scholarships using A2O: Access to Opportunities, , a system that gives you access to scholarships funded by donors specifically for students studying areas related to your major. Using this site, you can also gain access to hundreds of scholarships open to all majors across campus and external scholarships that have been validated by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. You will need to complete A2O’s application once a year to automatically match with scholarships for which you qualify. Be sure to check the system periodically as scholarships may be added throughout the year.
Access 2 Opportunities (A2O)
Be considered for over 200 scholarships by completing a one-time application.
Have Questions?
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact ECEscholarships@ucf.edu.