- Michael Tonks will transition from interim to permanent chair of MSE.
- This month, he was also selected as a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society.
- Prior to serving as interim chair, he served for two years as MSE’s associate chair.
Chair, Materials Science and Engineering Department
After a national search, Michael Tonks, Ph.D., will shed his “interim” title to become the next chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, known as MSE, and home to the Nuclear Engineering Program.
Prior to serving as interim chair in August of 2024, he served for two years as the associate department chair. He has been at the University of Florida for 9 years.
“My vision is for the department to grow as a nationally recognized engine for discovery, education and technology translation, advancing materials and nuclear science in service of Florida’s economy and the nation’s energy and security needs,” Tonks said.
As interim dean and distinguished professor at the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Warren Dixon, Ph.D., knows Tonks will continue to propel MSE to new heights.
“Dr. Tonks plans to pursue this vision through strategic faculty growth, modernized educational programs and partnerships across UF, national laboratories and industry. Anchored in a culture of transparency, mentorship and shared governance, the department aims to become a Southeast leader in materials and nuclear science and engineering, graduating innovation-ready students and delivering research that makes a real difference.”
Tonks, Dixon added, has already made a tremendous impact on the college through his expertise in nuclear engineering and unwavering commitment to research and education.
“His leadership has created an environment that encourages innovation, collaboration and academic excellence across the college and beyond,” Dixon added.
Tonks’ research combines materials science and nuclear engineering, focusing on using mesoscale modeling and simulation results coupled with experimental data to investigate the co-evolution of microstructure and properties in materials in harsh environments.
“The UF MSE department has provided me with fertile ground for my research and career to grow, and I am excited for the opportunity to now help direct the growth of the department,” Tonks explained.
Tonks has won numerous awards, including the US DOE Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) Excellence Award and the Idaho National Laboratory Early Career Exceptional Achievement Award in 2014. Tonks also received the US Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2017.
Additionally, he received the Brimacombe Medal in 2022 from the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS). This is a mid-career professional development award recognizing individuals who have shown excellence in business, technology, education, public policy or science related to materials science and engineering.
Earlier this month, he was selected as a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society. Before coming to UF, Tonks served as an assistant professor of Nuclear Engineering at Pennsylvania State University and a staff scientist in the Fuels Modeling and Simulation Department at Idaho National Laboratory.
The search committee was led by Carlos Rinaldi-Ramos, Ph.D., a professor of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering and former chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering.