176 Rhines Hall
UF Nuclear Engineering Program
Nuclear Engineering at UF
At the University of Florida, 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.
Nuclear Engineering Faculty
Assel Aitkaliyeva
Associate Professor
Affiliations Advanced Materials Characterization, Ceramics, Faculty, , Nanomaterials, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Fuels and Materials
Nuclear Engineering Program
Biography
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
James Baciak
Professor, Florida Power and Light Professor
Nuclear Engineering ProgramBiography
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.
Nuclear Annex 113
Andreas Enqvist
Florida Power and Light Professor, Associate Professor
Nuclear Engineering ProgramBiography
Education: Ph.D., 2010, Chalmers, University of Technology, Sweden
Research Interests: Nuclear safeguards. Nuclear fuel cycle. Non-proliferation. Radiation detector characterization. Neutron physics & detectors. Neutron noise signals. Radiation signal analysis. Nuclear training. Radiation detection applications. and Materials Control and Accountability.
Lab Website: Enqvist Research Group
156 Rhines Hall
Ira Harkness
Instructional Assistant Professor
Nuclear Engineering ProgramBiography
Education: Ph.D., 2018, University of Florida
Research Interests: Engineering education; Monte Carlo methods; nuclear policy; workforce development
225 Rhines Hall
Kyle C. Hartig
NE Research Coordinator, Associate Professor
Nuclear Engineering ProgramBiography
Education: Ph.D., 2016, Pennsylvania State University
Research Interests: Remote Sensing, Machine Learning, Radiation Interaction and Detection, Nuclear Nonproliferation, Forensics, Security, and Policy.
210 MAE
Chris McDevitt
Associate Professor
Affiliations Faculty, Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence, Modeling and Simulation, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Engineering
Biography
Education: Ph.D., 2008, University of California San Diego
Research Interests: Computational plasma physics, magnetic fusion, tokamak disruptions, scientific machine learning, plasma-material interaction.
Lab Website: McDevitt Lab
174 Rhines Hall
Jyothier Nimmagadda
Research Assistant Scientist
Nuclear Engineering ProgramBiography
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
UFTR 557
DuWayne Schubring
NE Undergraduate Coordinator, Instructional Professor
Affiliations Faculty, NE Undergraduate Coordinator, Nuclear Engineering, Reactor Physics and Thermal Hydraulics
Nuclear Engineering Program
Biography
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
317A MAE
Michael Tonks
Interim Department Chair, Professor, Alumni Professor of Materials Science & Engineering
Affiliations Ceramics, Computational Materials Science, Department Chair, Faculty, Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence, Materials Science and Engineering, , Modeling and Simulation, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Fuels and Materials
Materials Science & Engineering / Nuclear Engineering
Biography
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
Notes
Researchgate
LinkedIn
GoogleScholar
Github
Experience
- 2021 – Present: Professor and Alumni Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Florida
- 2017 – 2021: Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Florida
- 2015 – 2017: Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Pennsylvania State University
- 2013 – 2015: Leader of the Microstructure Science and Engineering group at Idaho National Laboratory
- 2009 – 2013: Staff scientist at Idaho National Laboratory
- 2008 – 2009: Postdoctoral researcher at Idaho National Laboratory
Honors and Awards
- 2022: TMS Brimacombe Medalist
- 2020: University of Florida, Department of Materials Science Faculty Excellence Award
- 2019: Acta Materialia Outstanding Reviewer Award
- 2019: University of Florida, Department of Materials Science Faculty Excellence Award
- 2017: Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
- 2015: ANS Materials Science and Technology Division: Special Achievement Award
- 2014: INL Early Career Exceptional Achievement Award
- 2014: TMS SMD Young Leader Professional Development Award
- 2014: US DOE NE Advanced Modeling and Simulation Program Excellence Award
100B Rhines Hall
Don Wall
Director, UF Training Reactor (UFTR), Professor of Practice
Nuclear Engineering ProgramBiography
Ph.D. 2001, Florida State University
311 MAE Building
Nathalie Wall
Interim Nuclear Engineering Program Director, Faculty Advisor for the Women in Nuclear (WIN).
Affiliations Energy Materials, Faculty, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Program Director, Nuclear Fuels and Materials, Nuclear Security and Detection, Radiochemistry
Nuclear Engineering Program
Biography
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
Rhines 100D
Justin Watson
Associate Professor
Affiliations Computational Materials Science, Faculty, Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence, Modeling and Simulation, Nuclear Engineering, Reactor Physics and Thermal Hydraulics
Nuclear Engineering Program
Biography
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
Rhines 135A
Yong Yang
NE Graduate Coordinator, Associate Professor
Nuclear Engineering ProgramBiography
Education: 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: Nuclear Materials Degradation Research Group (NuMad)
202A Rhines Hall
Nuclear Engineering Program News
- UF researchers using machine learning to pursue fusion power
University of Florida researchers are using machine learning on the HiPerGator supercomputer to tame the extreme plasma inside tokamaks. Their work aims to make fusion energy—a carbon-free, sun-powered source—safer and more attainable. - UF nuclear engineering professor named 2025 ANS ‘40 Under 40’
University of Florida Associate Professor Kyle C. Hartig, Ph.D., has been named to the American Nuclear Society’s (ANS) Nuclear News 40 Under 40 list. This recognition celebrates innovative young professionals advancing the field of nuclear science and engineering. - Licensed to lead, UF students join elite ranks as nuclear reactor operators
Built in 1959 and operating out of the Nuclear Engineering program in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, the UF training reactor is one of fewer than 30 reactors still operating in the United States. The college uses the reactor to train students in nuclear science and reactor operations, and in lab courses. - Hundreds descend on UF to advance national security research
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… Read more: Hundreds descend on UF to advance national security research