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.
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Spring 2026 message from the chair
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 —…
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Nuclear engineering alum named to UF’s 40 Under 40 list
Jacob DeWitte, a UF nuclear engineering alum and CEO of Oklo Inc., was named to the 40 Under 40 list for his work developing innovative, small-scale nuclear reactors for clean, reliable energy.
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MSE alumnus, tech executive Jason Gibson makes Forbes 30 Under 30 list
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 using AI to build reliable…
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UF materials science professor earns National Early Career Award from TMS
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.
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UF researchers using machine learning to pursue fusion power
University of Florida researchers are using machine learning on the HiPerGator supercomputer to tame the extreme plasma inside tokamaks. Their work aims to make fusion energy—a carbon-free, sun-powered source—safer and more attainable.
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Three UF nuclear engineering Ph.D. students earn international fellowship
Enrique Medici and Hannah Patz were selected for the highly competitive Training in Radiological and International Nuclear Security (TRAINS) Fellowship, a program connecting top graduate students with leading institutions and national laboratories in the United States and Europe to advance nuclear security and nonproliferation efforts.
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Meet UF’s Nicholas Rudawski: YouTube star in electron microscopy education
UF engineer and electron microscopy expert Nicholas Rudawski uses YouTube to help others learn to operate electron microscopes and understand electron microscopy concepts and fundamentals.
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MSE mourns passing of beloved materials science professor and department co-founder
Long-time, beloved University of Florida engineering professor Robert Thomas Dehoff, Ph.D., died on Jan. 7, 2026 in Gainesville.
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UF engineering colleagues remember beloved MSE distinguished professor emeritus Stephen J. Pearton
The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering is mourning the loss of Stephen J. Pearton, Ph.D., a distinguished professor emeritus in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), who died on Dec. 7.