Skip to main content
Michael Tonks, Ph.D.

Spring 2026 message from the chair

April 24, 2026

Dear MSE/NE friends, faculty, alumni and students, As we finish another successful semester, now is a great time to celebrate the people, projects and momentum that make both departments — Materials Science & Engineering and Nuclear Engineering — so remarkable. The stories in this newsletter reflect innovative work with direct human impacts, as well as the […]

Read more: Spring 2026 message from the chair »

Fall 2025 message from the chair

October 14, 2025

Dear alumni, colleagues and friends,      Welcome to the fall newsletter for the Department of Materials Science & Engineering. It has been a busy semester with compelling research, student activities and faculty honors.  In this newsletter, you’ll read about associate professor Victoria Miller, Ph.D., and her team’s exploration of manufacturing precision metal structures in orbit using laser […]

Read more: Fall 2025 message from the chair »
picture of oversized magnet in lab

UF develops breakthrough magnet that could transform metal production

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.  

Read more: UF develops breakthrough magnet that could transform metal production »

Spring 2025 Message from the Chair

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 […]

Read more: Spring 2025 Message from the Chair »

Fall 2024 Message from the Chair

December 10, 2024

Dear colleagues, alums, supporters and friends,      As the fall semester concludes, this newsletter offers a chance to highlight some of the remarkable accomplishments across our department. From our faculty’s innovative research to our students’ dedication and our alumni’s ongoing success, it’s clear that our community shows no signs of hibernating for the winter. I […]

Read more: Fall 2024 Message from the Chair »
UF Department of Materials Science & Engineering - News from the Front Office

New Leadership, Proven Expertise 

December 9, 2024

University of Florida’s Department of Materials Science & Engineering welcomes Michael Tonks and Josephine Allen to key leadership roles.  We are pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Tonks, Ph.D., as the interim chair of the Department of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) at UF. Tonks joined the MSE faculty in 2017 and has been […]

Read more: New Leadership, Proven Expertise  »

Tonks Appointed MSE Acting Chair

July 24, 2024

Michael Tonks, Ph.D., a professor, has been appointed as the acting chair of the Department of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE), effective immediately. Tonks, the associate chair since 2022, has been an integral member of MSE since joining in 2017. His dedication to excellence in teaching, research and service has significantly contributed to the department’s […]

Read more: Tonks Appointed MSE Acting Chair »
Michael Tonks, Ph.D., and Assel Aitkaliyeva, Ph.D.

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

December 7, 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: Next-Generation Nuclear Energy: Crafting the Future with Innovative Fuel Designs  »
Michael Tonks, Ph.D., Donald Wall, Ph.D., and Justin Watson, Ph.D., faculty members

UF Nuclear Engineering Program Secures Nearly $1.8 million in NEUP Awards

March 14, 2022

The Department of Materials Science & Engineering’s Nuclear Engineering (NE) Program received three separate awards totaling approximately $1.8 million from the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), part of the U.S. Department of Energy. NEUP awards fund research and development, scholarships, infrastructure upgrades and integrated research projects at universities and colleges nationwide. Yellowjacket Upgrades  Michael Tonks, […]

Read more: UF Nuclear Engineering Program Secures Nearly $1.8 million in NEUP Awards »