UF’s Enrique Medici one of five Air Force SMART Scholars

Friday September 19, 2025

Nuclear engineering doctoral candidate Enrique Medici was one of five selected college students this summer to attend the prestigious U.S. Air Force’s SMART Scholar Program.  

UF develops breakthrough magnet that could transform metal production

Monday September 15, 2025

In a groundbreaking collaboration backed by a nearly $11 million federal grant, UF researchers have developed a first-of-its kind superconducting magnet that could advance metal production and position the United States as a global leader in alloy production.  

UF Engineering Students Gain Firsthand Experience during an Industry Visit to Townley Engineering 

Tuesday July 22, 2025

Aroba Saleem, Ph.D., an assistant professor with Materials Science and Engineering, recently led her students on a tour of Townley Engineering and Manufacturing in Candler as part of a practical extension of her course, Process Metallurgy/Advanced Metals Processing at the University of Florida.   Held in the spring semester, the visit gave students an in-depth view […]

Welcoming the Newest Members of Our Faculty – Spring 2025

Wednesday July 16, 2025

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. […]

New lens into atomic structures of ultra-thin films 

Monday July 7, 2025

“We are pushing the boundaries of what you can measure.” – Prof. Megan Butala

From classroom to cosmos: Students aim to build big things in space

Thursday June 26, 2025

A University of Florida engineering team is exploring how to manufacture precision metal structures in orbit using laser technology.

Hundreds descend on UF to advance national security research

Thursday 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 […]

With hands-on AI activities, EQuIPD camps inspire young engineers across the state

Wednesday May 28, 2025

This summer, more than 20 University of Florida student mentors will fan out across 16 Florida counties to help lead 39 engineering summer camps for nearly 400 students.   As part of UF Engineering’s 2025 Engaged Quality Instruction Through Professional Development (EQuIPD) camps, high school and middle school students will delve into design challenges that incorporate […]

Celebration of the life of Rolf Hummel

Tuesday May 27, 2025

Please join us for a Celebration of the life of Rolf Hummel Wednesday, MAY 28, 2025, at 1 p.m.Trinity United Methodist Church: Chapel4000 NW 53rd Ave, Gainesville, FL We will share eulogies, memories, and unexpected joys of having had these truly unique individuals in our lives.What you leave behind is not what is engraved in […]

Meer Muhtasim Mahfuz Named NSF Graduate Research Fellow 

Thursday May 1, 2025

Meer Muhtasim Mahfuz, a senior majoring in materials science and engineering, has been awarded the highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP).  While at UF, Mahfuz conducted research in the lab of Honggyu Kim, Ph.D., where he focused on the characterization of functional materials and semiconductor thin films using advanced transmission electron […]

2025 Spring Newsletter

Tuesday April 29, 2025

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR I am pleased to share news and updates from the Department of Materials Science & Engineering and the Nuclear Engineering Program. >>> Michael Tonks, Ph.D. Interim Chair,Department of Materials Science & Engineering MEGAN BUTALA EARNS NSF CAREER AWARD Megan Butala, Ph.D., is tackling a pivotal battery challenge to support a sustainable energy future.  >>> UNLOCKING […]

Spring 2025 Message from the Chair

Friday April 25, 2025

Dear colleagues, alums, supporters and friends,      As the academic year wraps up, our newsletter provides me with another opportunity to highlight some of the important achievements within our department. From faculty research to student successes to alumni achievements, I’m pleased to share these updates with you once again.  Megan Butala, Ph.D., received an NSF […]

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

Friday 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 […]

In Memoriam: Rolf Hummel, Ph.D.

Wednesday April 16, 2025

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 […]

Valderrama Elected UF Hall of Fame

Monday April 14, 2025