Category: News

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 […]

As the demand for clean, high-efficiency energy grows, a research team led by Justin Watson, Ph.D., and Chris McDevitt, Ph.D., associate professors of nuclear engineering at the University of Florida, is exploring gas core nuclear reactors (GCRs). This next-generation reactor design could offer a safer and more efficient way to generate atomic power by replacing […]

Developed through a collaboration between the EQuIPD Grant at the University of Florida and Duke Energy, the Powering the Community (PTC) outreach program has expanded since its inception in 2022 to bring an artificial intelligence and power distribution contest to middle school students throughout the Duke Energy service area. Spun off from the annual Powering […]

The University of Florida recently took first place at the 2025 TMS Materials Bowl, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition.  The team—Brooke Lastinger, Adriana LaVopa, Morgan Congdon, and Alexander Johnstone, coached by Jack Mayer—competed against top undergraduate teams from across the country in a Jeopardy-style quiz covering metallurgy, ceramics, […]

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. […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]