UF Department of Materials Science & Engineering - News from the Front Office

Welcoming the Newest Members of Our Faculty – Spring 2025

July 16, 2025

The Department of Materials Science & Engineering is thrilled to welcome three new faculty members: Renato S. Navarro, Ph.D., Ravit Silverstein, Ph.D., and Yijia Gu, Ph.D. They have joined the department as assistant professors in Spring 2025. These new hires bring exceptional expertise and diverse experiences, which will enhance the department’s research and educational mission. […]

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New lens into atomic structures of ultra-thin films 

July 7, 2025

“We are pushing the boundaries of what you can measure.” – Prof. Megan Butala

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In Memoriam: Rolf Hummel, Ph.D.

April 16, 2025

Dr. Rolf Erich Hummel, a distinguished materials scientist and professor emeritus of the department, passed away on March 24, 2025, at age 90. Born in Stuttgart, Germany, he earned his doctorate in solid-state physics from the Max Planck Institute in 1963. Soon after he graduated, he was hired at the University of Florida to take […]

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Richard Hennig, Ph.D.

How Richard Hennig and AI are Accelerating the Superconductor Revolution 

March 25, 2025

Researchers at the University of Florida’s Department of Materials Science & Engineering have developed a machine-learning framework that could revolutionize the way high-temperature superconductors are discovered.  Superconductors are materials capable of conducting electricity without resistance, a property that could transform energy transmission, transportation, and medical technologies. However, finding new superconductors has been a slow, expensive […]

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Aitkaliyeva Selected as ARPA-E Program Director

February 25, 2025

Assel Aitkaliyeva, Ph.D., a faculty member in our Nuclear Engineering program, has begun a three-year rotation as a Program Director at ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy). During this time, she will be based in Washington, D.C., where she will play a key role in shaping and advancing cutting-edge energy research. Despite her new responsibilities, Dr. […]

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Megan Butala, Ph.D.

Megan Butala Tackles Pivotal Battery Challenge to Support a Sustainable Energy Future 

February 24, 2025

As demand for cleaner energy grows, so does the need for sustainable battery technologies. At the University of Florida, Megan Butala, Ph.D., an assistant professor of materials science and engineering, is exploring a promising alternative to today’s lithium-ion batteries. Her research focuses on disordered rocksalt oxides (DRXs), which could reduce reliance on scarce and environmentally […]

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Tori Miller, Ph.D., NOM4D Project

Tori Miller Awarded Grodsky Professorship

February 18, 2025

We are pleased to announce that Tori Miller, Ph.D., has been awarded the Vladimir A. Grodsky Professorship in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering. This prestigious recognition honors Dr. Miller’s sustained performance and excellence in research, teaching and service in materials science and engineering with a specialization in metals. Join us in congratulating Dr. […]

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Hartig Invited to IAEA Emerging Technologies Workshop

February 4, 2025

This past January, Dr. Kyle Hartig attended the IAEA Emerging Technologies Workshop in Vienna, Austria, as an invited observer. The workshop brought together a diverse group of experts—scientists, policymakers, and technical specialists—to explore how emerging technologies could enhance global nonproliferation efforts. As Chair of the INMM Cyber and Emerging Technologies Committee, he was at the […]

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2024 Consortium for Nuclear Forensics Workshop slide

Consortium for Nuclear Forensics Hosts Inaugural Workshop at UF 

December 9, 2024

The Consortium for Nuclear Forensics (CNF) recently held its first workshop, bringing together more than 100 attendees via livestream and in-person. The two-day event saw participants from 16 universities, seven national laboratories, and multiple government agencies and international collaborators, including the United Kingdom’s Atomic Weapons Establishment.  The workshop’s dynamic agenda featured presentations, networking opportunities, and […]

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