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 ProgramResearch 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 ProgramWhy 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 ProgramFaculty 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 ProgramNuclear Engineering Faculty
Michael Tonks
Interim Department Chair, Professor, Alumni Professor of Materials Science & EngineeringMaterials Science & Engineering / Nuclear Engineering
Work 100B Rhines Hall Work Phone: (352) 846-3779Work Email: michael.tonks@ufl.eduWebsite: Tonks Research Group
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
Other Nuclear Engineering Program News
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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 ... -
LEGO-loving UF researcher helps fuel Mars mission
07/31/2024
LEGO-loving UF researcher helps fuel Mars mission -
Promotions and Awards – Summer 2024
07/09/2024
The Department of Materials Science & Engineering is pleased to announce the following promotions and awards -
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 ... -
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 ... -
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!
FellowshipsWeslee Kersey – DoD SMART Graduate Fellowship
Society Award
Kyle S. Latty – Society for Applied ... -
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 ... -
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 -
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 ... -
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 ...