Justin Watson, Ph.D., Chris McDevitt, Ph.D.

A New Era of Nuclear? The Potential of Gas Core Reactors 

April 11, 2025

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 […]

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Nancy Ruzycki, Ph.D.

Powering the Community Contests Spark Early Interest in Energy, Innovation and AI

April 11, 2025

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 […]

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UF 2025 TMS Materials Bowl Winning Team

UF Takes First Place at 2025 TMS Materials Bowl

April 2, 2025

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, […]

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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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