Department of Materials Science & Engineering

UF-led team wins a DOE Genesis Mission grant for an AI‑driven platform that accelerates materials discovery.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has named UF Ph.D. candidate Kaylee Cunningham to its 2026 Mechanical Engineering Watch List.

Justin Borrero, a Ph.D. candidate in nuclear engineering, has won the 2026 Barbara Stull Graduate Student Award from the Society of Applied Spectroscopy, known as SAS.

Nathalie Wall was raised in France and now serves as interim director of UF's Nuclear Engineering Program. Her research bridges fundamental radiochemistry with real-world challenges, from nuclear waste disposal to ecological studies.

After years of researching soft materials in the Northeast, Heyi Liang, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Materials Science & Engineering as an assistant professor.

A new partnership between Orange County Public Schools and UF's Department of Materials Science and Engineering introduced high school students to artificial intelligence through a Smart City design contest. Students built Python-based machine learning models to predict energy demand, gaining hands-on experience with AI while tackling real-world engineering challenges.

UF's EQuIPD program inspires students to see themselves as future engineers through summer camps, mentorship and real-world design challenges.

UF alumna Erin Jackson reflects on balancing Olympic competition with engineering studies, carrying the U.S. flag in Milan and returning to the classroom to pursue a future in biomechanics.

Materials science professor Michael Tonks was elected a fellow of the American Nuclear Society, one of the organization's highest honors recognizing significant contributions to nuclear science and technology.

Researchers are developing a laser-based manufacturing technique that could enable astronauts to build tools, structures and infrastructure on the moon using materials already available there.

Donald K. Jones, an accomplished inventor, patent agent and proud University of Florida alumnus, will be inducted into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame this year.

Welcome to the digital newsletter from the University of Florida Department of Materials Science & Engineering and Nuclear Engineering Program. Each semester, you will receive an email highlighting department updates and successes. We are excited to connect with you.

Researchers at the University of Florida are developing advanced technologies to detect nuclear activity from space.

Dear MSE/NE friends, faculty, alumni and students, As we finish another successful semester, now is a great time to celebrate the people, projects and momentum that make both departments — Materials Science & Engineering and Nuclear Engineering — so remarkable. The stories in this newsletter reflect innovative work with direct human impacts, as well as the […]

Nuclear engineering doctoral student Rachel Dorsett recently became a fellow of the Rickover Fellowship Program in Nuclear Engineering, a program sponsored by the Naval Reactors Division of the U.S. Department of Energy.   Dorsett is advised by Yong Yang, Ph.D., an associate professor in UF’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering.  …

The University of Florida’s Materials Science and Engineering students claimed back-to-back victories at the 2026 TMS Materials Bowl, showcasing their expertise in materials science and the strength of their teamwork in a high-speed, trivia-style competition.

When Jason Gibson received his doctorate from the University of Florida’s Department of Materials Science & Engineering, or MSE, in 2024, it was the culmination of years of work at the intersection of superconductors and artificial intelligence.   Perhaps it’s no surprise that he went on to co-found Quantum Formatics, a company focused on usin…

Ravit Silverstein, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Florida, received a national early career award from The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society. Her research focuses on designing stronger, more resilient materials for extreme environments using atomic-scale engineering and advanced microscopy techniques.