Category: Faculty

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.

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.

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.

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.  

Long-time, beloved University of Florida engineering professor Robert Thomas Dehoff, Ph.D., died on Jan. 7, 2026 in Gainesville. 

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.  

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. […]