Craig Sloan, director of NNSA’s Office of Proliferation Detection, speaks during the 2025 National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation R&D University Program Review held at UF last week. Photo by SCAD Media

Hundreds descend on UF to advance national security research

June 12, 2025

With a focus on global security and scientific collaboration, the University of Florida hosted hundreds of students, professors, and national laboratory scientists and engineers last week for the 2025 National Nuclear Security Administration R&D University Program Review.  Held June 3-5, the event showcased five university consortia driving innovation in national nuclear security. UF leads the […]

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Sagid Salah family upon release from POW prison

From POW to Ph.D.: The Journey of Dr. Sagid Salah 

April 25, 2025

When Dr. Sagid Salah (B.S. ’58, M.S. ’60, Ph.D. ’64) first arrived in Gainesville in 1954, he was 21 years old, had just survived nearly four years as a prisoner during the Korean War, and was technically stateless. He spoke English thanks to a Catholic priest and a missionary who had tutored him in the […]

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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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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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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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Assel Aitkaliyeva, Ph.D.

Rising to the Top: Aitkaliyeva Among ANS’s 40 Under 40 Leaders

December 9, 2024

Assel Aitkaliyeva, Ph.D., has been named to the American Nuclear Society’s (ANS) inaugural NuclearNews 40 Under 40 list. This recognition celebrates her as one of the most innovative young professionals advancing the field of nuclear science and engineering.   The NuclearNews 40 Under 40 list highlights leaders who are driving innovation in nuclear energy and shaping […]

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