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The School of Modeling, Simulation & Training
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Updates, publications, recognitions, conference participation, and research stories from the OptiSim Lab.
News Highlights
- Research publications
- Conference participation
- Lab milestones
- Faculty and student recognition
Featured Story
Faculty Recognition • October 2026
Dr. Ghaith Rabadi Receives Outstanding Faculty Service Award
Dr. Ghaith Rabadi, professor and director of UCF’s School of Modeling, Simulation and Training and director of the Optimization and Simulation (OptiSim) Lab, received the Outstanding Faculty Service Award at the 2026 UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) Honors reception.
The OptiSim Lab congratulates Dr. Rabadi on this recognition of his faculty service and contributions to the UCF community.
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Student Success • July 2026
Undergraduate Honors Student and OptiSim Lab Member Joins NASA’s Artemis Mission
Mariana Ramirez, an undergraduate Honors student in Computer Engineering with a minor in Digital Media (Game Design), participated in the Optimization and Simulation Laboratory at UCF’s School of Modeling, Simulation and Training. Under the supervision of Dr. Muradha and Dr. Ghaith Rabadi, she contributed to research on decision-making and safety in robotic simulation environments while gaining valuable experience in simulation, programming, and technical writing.
Mariana will begin the next chapter of her career as an Orion Test Operations Engineer with Lockheed Martin, supporting NASA’s Artemis missions at Kennedy Space Center. The OptiSim Lab congratulates Mariana on this outstanding achievement and wishes her continued success as she helps advance the effort to return astronauts to the Moon.
Faculty • March 9, 2026
UCF Researchers Author Guide on Digital Twin Technology for Supply Chains
UCF researchers developed a new resource that explains how digital twin technology can improve supply chain processes, decision-making, and operational performance. The book was co-authored by Ghaith Rabadi and Bulent Soykan and highlights practical implementation strategies for industry and academia.
Conference • ANNSIM 2026
OptiSim Lab Participates in the Annual Modeling and Simulation Conference
The OptiSim Lab participated in the Annual Modeling and Simulation Conference (ANNSIM), held May 4–7, 2026 at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. The conference brings together researchers and professionals working across modeling, simulation, digital twins, artificial intelligence, and related areas.
ANNSIM 2026 featured keynote speeches, technical sessions, tutorials, and opportunities for the modeling and simulation community to exchange research ideas and emerging applications. The organizing committee includes Prof. Ghaith Rabadi as General Chair and Ahmad Bany Abdelnabi as a Proceedings Chair.
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