UF Department of Materials Science & Engineering

UF Department of Materials Science & Engineering UF Department of Materials Science & Engineering (including Nuclear Engineering)

http://mse.ufl.edu

The UF Department of Materials Science and Engineering engages in research spurring innovations across a number of fields including: computing, energy, manufacturing, medicine and transportation. These innovations are brought about by ongoing research into the study of materials and engineering. Everything Americans use is composed of materials, from computer chips to flexible concrete skyscrapers

, from plastic bags to artificial hips, from optical cables to automobiles. Materials science and engineering involves making materials reliable and useful to mankind. This is accomplished through design, processing and analysis of materials having controlled compositions, microstructures and properties. The educational programs of the department deal with the scientific and engineering aspects of the structure, properties, synthesis/processing/manufacturing and application of materials. We are very involved in developing new materials that address critical issues facing society including energy, sustainability and health care. Because graduates in materials science and engineering are challenged to be general practitioners and specialists, the department provides the necessary balance between the fundamental and technical aspects of the field in all specialties. The department stands among the best materials, metallurgy and ceramics departments in the nation, with current research expenditures of over $10 million a year from external contracts and grants. With the firm belief that research is teaching, students are involved in almost every research and development project. The department currently has 39 active faculty members (and growing), with 72 Master’s Degree students, 111 Ph.D. students, over 300 undergraduates and nearly two dozen technical and support staff. Office hours: 8:30am- 4:30pm
Advising hours: 9:00am- 4:00pm

Join us for the next seminar in our Fall 2026 series, featuring Honggyu Kim, Ph.D.!🐊Dr. Kim is an associate professor in...
09/04/2026

Join us for the next seminar in our Fall 2026 series, featuring Honggyu Kim, Ph.D.!🐊

Dr. Kim is an associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Florida. He received his B.S. and M.S. from Hanyang University, South Korea and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, all in Materials Science and Engineering.

This session titled "4D-STEM: One Technique, Boundless Opportunities", will present Dr. Kim's recent approaches to 4D-STEM analysis, combining digital image processing, microscopy data simulation and machine learning. He will discuss their investigation of nanoscale fluorite-structured ferroelectric thin films, which exhibit multiple metastable phases with polycrystalline microstructure.

We look forward to seeing you there!

📆 Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026
🕐 3 p.m.
📍 Rhines Room 125

Hosted by Simon Phillpot, Ph.D.

Congratulations to Nathalie Wall, Ph.D., on receiving the 2026 W. Frank Kinard Distinguished Service Award from the ACS ...
09/03/2026

Congratulations to Nathalie Wall, Ph.D., on receiving the 2026 W. Frank Kinard Distinguished Service Award from the ACS Division of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology! 🎉

This award is a reflection of the exceptional contributions you've made to the field of nuclear science. We are so proud of your excellent work, leadership and dedicated service to the NUCL Division.

Hear from Camille Palmer, Ph.D., Oregon State University professor and head of the School of Nuclear Science & Engineeri...
09/01/2026

Hear from Camille Palmer, Ph.D., Oregon State University professor and head of the School of Nuclear Science & Engineering at our next Fall Seminar Series! ⚡

Palmer's session titled "Simulating the Signatures of Nuclear Security", surveys several research efforts at Oregon State University that share this common foundation while addressing distinct security missions. The talk will also highlight OSU's broader engagement with the NNSA, including the Center for Advancing the Radiation Resilience of Electronics (CARRE), and introduce efforts in safeguards through diversion detection for microreactors. Together, these projects illustrate how advances in radiation transport and signature prediction can strengthen security across the forensics, safeguards, and arms control domains.

📆 Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026
🕐 3 p.m.
📍 Rhines Room 125

Hosted by Nathalie Wall, Ph.D.

Congratulations to our team of students on being named finalists for the 2026 American Nuclear Society Student Design Co...
08/31/2026

Congratulations to our team of students on being named finalists for the 2026 American Nuclear Society Student Design Competition! 🎉

Evan Alder, Daniel Fernandez, Cade Finney, Colin Frazier, Bryan Huynh and William St. Peter will present their work "Compact Helium-cooled Universal Defense Reactor (CHUDR): A Prismatic HTGR Microreactor For U.S. Forward Operating Bases" at the ANS Winter Conference in Phoenix, AZ, in November.

We are so proud of all your hard work and collaboration!🐊

Upcoming Seminar with Kyle Brinkman, Ph.D., from Clemson University!⚡Kyle Brinkman is the chair of the Department of Mat...
08/28/2026

Upcoming Seminar with Kyle Brinkman, Ph.D., from Clemson University!⚡

Kyle Brinkman is the chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Clemson University in Clemson, SC. Brinkman received a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering and a Master of Science in materials science and engineering both from Clemson. He graduated from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland with a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering.

This presentation titled "Ceramics for a Sustainable Future: From Energy Conversion to Waste Immobilization", will explore how understanding stability and controlling transport phenomena in ceramics enables breakthroughs across diverse fields. Examples will include the development of next-generation materials for fuel cells and batteries, where rapid ionic transport is essential for device performance, alongside crystalline ceramic waste forms designed to safely contain hazardous elements by suppressing their mobility. Drawing from research spanning energy materials, electrochemistry, thermodynamics, and nuclear materials science, the talk will highlight how fundamental relationships among crystal structure, defect chemistry, and material stability can provide powerful design principles for engineering advanced functional materials.

📆 Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026
🕐 3 p.m.
📍 Rhines 125

Hosted by Michael Tonks, Ph.D.

We hope to see you there!

Congratulations to Richard Hennig, Ph.D., on his promotion to associate dean for Strategic Initiatives! 🐊As an endowed p...
08/27/2026

Congratulations to Richard Hennig, Ph.D., on his promotion to associate dean for Strategic Initiatives! 🐊

As an endowed professor and alumni professor, Hennig brings more than 20 years of collaborative research experience to this newly established role. He will help identify high-impact opportunities, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and advance the college's innovation.

We’re excited to see the impact of your leadership in this new role! 🎉

🔗 Read the full announcement here: https://www.eng.ufl.edu/news/stories/dean-announces-new-leadership-team/

Engineering graduate Tommy Pashuck, Ph.D., returns to the University of Florida’s Department of Materials Science & Engi...
08/26/2026

Engineering graduate Tommy Pashuck, Ph.D., returns to the University of Florida’s Department of Materials Science & Engineering this fall, this time as an associate professor.

“Undergrad was really enjoyable,” said Pashuck. “Camping out for basketball games, going to football games, making lots of friends, meeting my wife, learning from the great faculty members at the university and the materials science and engineering department. I got to learn a lot of exciting things that set me on my career path.”

After completing his doctoral degree and eight years as an assistant professor at Lehigh University, Pashuck moved back to Florida with his wife, Lesley Chow, Ph.D., who joined the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering as associate professor. Pashuck and Chow met as MSE undergrads and now return to the College of Engineering as faculty members.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Tommy Pashuck to our faculty, as his expertise in cell-responsive hydrogels is a perfect match for our department’s vision,” said MSE Chair Michael Tonks, Ph.D. “His multi-disciplinary approach will be critical in advancing our biomaterials research and expanding our capabilities in regenerative medicine.”

📰 Read the full story here: https://mse.ufl.edu/tommy-pashuck-returns-to-his-beloved-gator-nation-as-a-new-mse-associate-professor/

Join us this Thursday for our next NE Fall Seminar Series with Jim Reuss, Field Services Supervisor PWR Reactor Services...
08/25/2026

Join us this Thursday for our next NE Fall Seminar Series with Jim Reuss, Field Services Supervisor PWR Reactor Services & Varesha Maurney, Director, Operating Plant Services Marketing!⚡

Hear from Westinghouse Field Engineer, Jim Reuss, for a discussion about the different engineering opportunities in the nuclear sector, the difference between desk engineers and field engineers, and his career path at Westinghouse. He’ll share information about a day in the life of an engineer, his career milestones, as well as opportunities in the industry overall. Jim will also discuss the Westinghouse Field Engineering Leadership Program available to graduating seniors.

📆 Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026
🕐 1:55 p.m.
📍 Rhines 125

Hosted by Yong Yang, Ph.D.

We look forward to seeing our students, faculty and staff!

Upcoming MSE Seminar!⚡Hear from Dr. Simon Phillpot, associate department chair and distinguished professor, & Dr. Kevin ...
08/21/2026

Upcoming MSE Seminar!⚡

Hear from Dr. Simon Phillpot, associate department chair and distinguished professor, & Dr. Kevin Jones, distinguished professor as they host the introductory seminar for the Fall 2026 semester.

Dr. Simon Phillpot received his Ph.D. in physics from UF in 1985 and spent 16 years at Argonne National Laboratory before returning to UF in 2003. His research focuses on using computational methods to address issues in the areas of nuclear materials, radionuclide sequestration, corrosion, solar-thermal energy, heat transport and methods development.

Dr. Kevin Jones received his B.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering at UF and he received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California Berkeley. He joined UF in 1987 and has spent the last 38 years as a professor studying electronic materials. His research focuses on semiconductor processing, electron microscopy characterization, Ion implantation of Si, Ge, and compound semiconductors; Li ion battery anode and cathode development.

📆Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026
🕐 3 p.m.
📍 Rhines Room 125

We look forward to seeing our students and faculty at the seminar!

Happy first day of classes! 📚 We can't wait to see what our students will learn, discover & create this semester. Here's...
08/20/2026

Happy first day of classes! 📚 We can't wait to see what our students will learn, discover & create this semester.

Here's to a successful Fall 2026. Go Gators! 🐊

Address

108 Rhines Hall P. O Box 116400
Gainesville, FL
32611

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+13528463312

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when UF Department of Materials Science & Engineering posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category