UF Nuclear Engineering Program

At UF, we’re developing the next generation of nuclear engineering leaders by performing high-impact research and providing exceptional educational programs. We build on our unique strength as a department by combining the disciplines of both Nuclear Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering to benefit society locally, nationally and globally.

Faculty Research Areas

Nuclear technology and research contribute in multiple ways to our health, development and safety. You may not realize it, but it's utilized across nearly all aspects of our lives and community, from clean energy production to medicine to agriculture.

Find Out More Nuclear Engineering Program

Research Facilities

The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering’s Research Service Centers support and enhance the research, education, and public service missions of the University of Florida by providing access to characterization and process instrumentation.

Find Out More Nuclear Engineering Program

Why Nuclear Engineering at UF?

At UF, we’re developing the next generation of nuclear engineering leaders by performing high-impact research and providing exceptional educational programs.

Find Out More Nuclear Engineering Program

Faculty Research Areas

Nuclear technology and research contribute in multiple ways to our health, development and safety. You may not realize it, but it's utilized across nearly all aspects of our lives and community, from clean energy production to medicine to agriculture.

Find Out MoreNuclear Engineering Program

Nuclear Engineering Faculty

Photo of Assel Aitkaliyeva Assel AitkaliyevaAssociate Professor

Work 176 Rhines Hall (352) 846-3778

Ph.D., 2012, Texas A&M University

Research Interests: Nuclear Fuels and Materials, with emphasis on characterization and property evaluation; Mechanical and Thermal properties of materials; Reactor Irradiation; Radiation damage in materials; Ion Implantation; Kinetics; Composites; Nanostructured materials; Multi-Scale simulation of nuclear fuel.

Lab Website: MAterials for Nuclear Advancement and Technology in Extreme Environments (MANATEE) Group

Photo of James Baciak James BaciakProfessor, Florida Power and Light Professor

Work Nuclear Annex 113 (352) 273-2131

Research Interests: Applied aspects of cargo monitoring, detector testing and characterization for gamma-ray spectroscopy, as well as development and analysis of techniques for environmental sampling and surveys related to on-site inspections.

Photo of Andreas Enqvist Andreas EnqvistNuclear Engineering Program Director, Florida Power and Light Professor, Associate Professor

Work 156 Rhines Hall (352) 294-2177

Ph. D. Chalmers, University of Technology, Sweden

Research Interests: Nuclear safeguards, detection statistics of radiation from fissile materials, and the physics behind particle-detector interactions. Neutron physics & detectors. Neutron noise signals. Radiation signal analysis

Lab Website: Enqvist Research Group

Photo of Ira Harkness Ira HarknessInstructional Assistant Professor, Director of IT and Facilities

Work 116 Rhines Hall 352-846-3329

Ph.D., 2018, University of Florida

Research Interests: Monte Carlo methods; neutron transport; nuclear safeguards and nonproliferation

Photo of Kyle C. Hartig Kyle C. HartigAssociate Professor

Work 210 MAE (202) 270-4721

Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University

Research Interests: Remote Sensing, Nuclear Nonproliferation/counterproliferation, Nuclear Security, and Nuclear Policy

Lab Website: Hartig Research Group

Photo of Chris McDevitt Chris McDevittAssociate Professor

Work 174 Rhines Hall (352) 846-3785

Ph.D., 2008, University of California San Diego
Research Interests: Computational and Theoretical Plasma Physics, Magnetic and Inertial Confinement Fusion, Plasma Turbulence, Momentum Transport, Runaway Electrons, Monte Carlo Methods

Lab Website: McDevitt Lab

Photo of Jyothier Nimmagadda Jyothier NimmagaddaResearch Assistant Scientist

Work UFTR 557 (352) 294-2102

Ph.D., 2015, Idaho State University
 
Research Interests: Reactor Physics Experiments, Non-destructive radiation imaging, Monte-Carlo Methods, Pre and Post Irradiation Analysis, Medical Imaging, Radiation Detection

Photo of DuWayne Schubring DuWayne SchubringInstructional Professor

Work 317A MAE (352) 294-7870

Ph.D., 2009, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Interests: Two-phase flow, nuclear reactor thermal hydraulics, quantitative visualization, nuclear reactor safety, computational and numerical methods including coupled codes, advanced nuclear power systems

Photo of Michael Tonks Michael TonksInterim Department Chair, Professor, Alumni Professor of Materials Science & Engineering

Work 100B Rhines Hall (352) 846-3779

Ph.D., 2008, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Research Interests: Computational materials science, Computational mechanics, Coevolution of microstructure and properties, Materials in Harsh Environments, Mesoscale modeling and simulation, Nuclear materials, Numerical methods

Lab Website: Tonks Research Group

Photo of Don Wall Don WallDirector, UF Training Reactor (UFTR), Professor of Practice

Work 311 MAE Building (352) 273-2662

Ph.D. 2001, Florida State University

Photo of Nathalie Wall Nathalie WallNuclear Engineering Program Director

Work Rhines 100D (352) 273-0279

Ph.D., 1993, University of Paris, XI

Research Interests: Radiochemistry, Nuclear Wastes, Nuclear Forensics, Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Environmental Behavior of Radionuclides

Lab Website: Wall Research

Photo of Justin Watson Justin WatsonAssociate Professor

Work Rhines 178 (352) 273-0241

Ph.D., 2010, Penn State University

Research Interests: Reactor Kinetics and Dynamics, Neutronics, Thermal Hydraulics, Multiphysics Simulation, Advanced Numerical Methods, Applied Mathematics, Advanced Code Coupling Techniques, Scientific Software Development, High Performance Computing

Lab Website: Florida Advanced Multiphysics Modeling and Simulation (FAMMoS) Lab

Photo of Yong Yang Yong YangAssociate Professor

Work 202A Rhines Hall (352) 846-3791

Ph. D., 2005, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Interests: structural and fuel materials for nuclear energy systems; LWRs sustainability and aging management; advanced fabrication and joining technologies; used fuel dry storage and disposition.

Lab Website: MAterials for Nuclear Advancement and Technology in Extreme Environments (MANATEE) Group

 

Other Nuclear Engineering Program News

  • Shaping the Future of Nuclear Energy

    11/07/2024

    As the world shifts towards sustainable energy solutions, the University of Florida Training Reactor is emerging as a cornerstone for nuclear education, research and outreach.
    With growing support for nuclear energy driven by multiple federal initiatives, the Department of Energy anticipates a growing need for skilled workers to meet the demands of manufacturing, construction, and operation ...

    READ MORE

  • LEGO-loving UF researcher helps fuel Mars mission

    07/31/2024

    LEGO-loving UF researcher helps fuel Mars mission

    READ MORE

  • Promotions and Awards – Summer 2024

    07/09/2024

    The Department of Materials Science & Engineering is pleased to announce the following promotions and awards

    READ MORE

  • Continuing the Journey: The Brice Turner Memorial Fund

    06/04/2024

    With immense pride and gratitude, we are honored to announce the establishment of the Brice Turner Memorial Fund, a lasting tribute to the memory of a remarkable individual whose commitment to academic excellence and leadership continues to inspire us all. 
    A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Turner‘s diverse interests in athletics, F1 racing, outdoor adventures, and love ...

    READ MORE

  • Career Engineering: Insights from the Savannah River National Laboratory

    05/30/2024

    The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management research and development lab located in Aiken, South Carolina, with a history dating to the early Cold War. Established in the 1950s, SRNL has since evolved into a multidisciplinary research facility at the forefront of nuclear science, environmental stewardship ...

    READ MORE

  • Nuclear Engineering Student Shoutouts!

    05/28/2024

    We are pleased to highlight the accomplishments of nuclear engineering graduate students who recently received scholarships and internships. These individuals have shown outstanding dedication and skill in their studies and research. Join us in congratulating them on their hard work and dedication!
    Fellowships

    Weslee Kersey – DoD SMART Graduate Fellowship
     
    Society Award
    Kyle S. Latty – Society for Applied ...

    READ MORE

  • 2023-2024 Departmental Scholarship Winners

    04/16/2024

    There are countless reasons why a student may require financial assistance. Between textbooks, tuition, rent, and food, the costs can add up quickly. Now more than ever, scholarships and awards play a pivotal role in alleviating the financial strains for the deserving students fortunate enough to receive them.
    While academic awards come in various shapes and ...

    READ MORE

  • MSE Alumnus Ricardo Perez Elected to PSEG, Inc. Board of Directors

    01/26/2024

    MSE Alumnus Ricardo Perez Elected to PSEG, Inc. Board of Directors

    READ MORE

  • UF-led group develops new tools to track illicit nuclear materials

    12/12/2023

    A visibly nervous man is stopped at a border crossing in eastern Europe. Authorities find a glass tube filled with black powder inside a heavy lead container in his trunk. Geiger counters go crazy. The powder is radioactive.
    North Korea conducts a nuclear test and within hours U.S. “sniffer” planes scramble to gather air samples off ...

    READ MORE

  • Next-Generation Nuclear Energy: Crafting the Future with Innovative Fuel Designs 

    12/07/2023

    As the world grapples with the need for carbon-free power generation, advanced reactor designs are crucial to the transition. A Department of Energy (DOE) Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP)-funded investigation into the behavior of U-Zr annular fuel will not only address uncertainties in advanced reactor designs but also contribute to the broader goal of establishing ...

    READ MORE