News
Latest department stories
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Nuclear Engineering’s Justin Borrero earns international research award
Justin Borrero, a Ph.D. candidate in nuclear engineering, has won the 2026 Barbara Stull Graduate Student Award from the Society of Applied Spectroscopy, known as SAS.
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From Paris to Gainesville: Nathalie Wall’s unplanned leap into engineering excellence
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.
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MSE welcomes new assistant professor Heyi Liang
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.
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MSE and Orange County schools launch Smart City AI Contest
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.
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EQuIPD camps bring hands-on engineering to Florida students
UF’s EQuIPD program inspires students to see themselves as future engineers through summer camps, mentorship and real-world design challenges.
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Gators and gold: The whirlwind world of MSE graduate and Olympic champ Erin Jackson
UF alumna Erin Jackson reflects on balancing Olympic competition with engineering studies, carrying the U.S. flag in Milan and returning to the classroom to pursue a future in biomechanics.
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MSE Chair Tonks awarded American Nuclear Society Fellowship
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.
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How laser “origami” could build structures in space
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.
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MSE alumnus inducted into Florida Inventors Hall of Fame
Donald K. Jones, an accomplished inventor, patent agent and proud University of Florida alumnus, will be inducted into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame this year.
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Two MSE graduates and one doctoral student win NSF fellowships
Three of the 15 Gator engineers who won National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships this year are from the University of Florida’s Department of Materials Science & Engineering/Nuclear Engineering.
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An interim no more: Michael Tonks takes a seat as MSE’s new chair
After a national search, Michael Tonks, Ph.D., will shed his “interim” title to become the next chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, known as MSE, and home to the Nuclear Engineering Program. Prior to serving as interim chair in August of 2024, he served for two years as the associate department chair. He has been…
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How space-based sensors can detect nuclear activity
Researchers at the University of Florida are developing advanced technologies to detect nuclear activity from space.
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Nuclear engineering doctoral student named Rickover Fellow
Nuclear engineering doctoral student Rachel Rigsby recently became a fellow of the Rickover Fellowship Program in Nuclear Engineering, a program sponsored by the Naval Reactors Division of the U.S. Department of Energy.
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Back-to-back: UF Materials Bowl team snags another championship
The University of Florida’s Materials Science and Engineering students claimed back-to-back victories at the 2026 TMS Materials Bowl, showcasing their expertise in materials science and the strength of their teamwork in a high-speed, trivia-style competition.
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Nuclear engineering alum named to UF’s 40 Under 40 list
Jacob DeWitte, a UF nuclear engineering alum and CEO of Oklo Inc., was named to the 40 Under 40 list for his work developing innovative, small-scale nuclear reactors for clean, reliable energy.