UF’S NUCLEAR ENGINEERING PROGRAM WILL LEAD A $26 MILLION RESEARCH CONSORTIUM SHAPING THE FUTURE OF NUCLEAR FORENSICS
Dear alumni, colleagues and friends,
As we look back on another transformative year in the department, it is with immense pride and excitement that we present the latest edition of our annual magazine, the Rhines Report. This publication is not just a chronicle of events but a testament to the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines our engineering community.
Our commitment to advancing nuclear forensics research has resulted in a monumental collaboration with the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. Under the guidance of Jim Baciak, Ph.D., the newly formed Consortium for Nuclear Forensics (CNF) comprises 16 universities and seven national laboratories in a groundbreaking $26.4 million research consortium poised to shape the future of the nuclear forensics field. Dr. Baciak’s leadership and expertise will guide a diverse team encompassing radio- and geochemistry, environmental sciences, nuclear engineering, physics, statistical analyses, machine learning and optical sciences.
Honggyu Kim, Ph.D., with support from the National Science Foundation, is spearheading research to unlock the secrets of shape memory performance through nano-sized particles called precipitates. These materials can revert to their original shape even after deformation. Dr. Kim’s effort will help reshape industries from biomedical devices and sensors to aerospace components.
Also aiding in enhancing global healthcare, an invention developed by Christopher Batich, Ph.D., and his student Nagarajan Rajagopal, Ph.D., offers protection against mosquitoes without the need for heat, electricity or skin contact. This innovation, funded by the Department of Defense Deployed Warfighter Protection program, promises a game-changing approach to mosquito control.
Josephine Allen, Ph.D., earned a National Institutes of Health R21 Award for her efforts using a DNA-based hydrogel platform to mirror the complex molecular network that sustains cells within the human body and help advance the research to unravel the fundamental principles governing cellular health and dysfunction.
In the pursuit of cleaner energy, alternative nuclear reactor designs are altering the landscape of power generation. Yong Yang, Ph.D., funded by the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, is leading research to optimize Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) design. Powered by advanced manufacturing techniques, his work aims to propel MSR technology to new heights.
Next, we address the fast-growing field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how one researcher is helping shape the leaders of tomorrow. Nancy Ruzycki, Ph.D., and her education initiatives are cultivating underrepresented talents around the state of Florida in both engineering and computer science with immersive student summer camps and strategic teacher training.
Finally, we extend heartfelt congratulations to Deepika Singh, Ph.D., (MS MSE ‘91) for her induction into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame. Dr. Singh’s pioneering research with materials used in the next generation of clean energy electronics underscores our commitment to transformative research with global impact. Her first corporation, Sinmat, provided manufacturing jobs and numerous paid internships to students, further boosting Florida’s economy.
This is the essence of our community—an unyielding commitment to exploration, discovery and progress. We remain grateful for your steadfast support and invite you to join us on our social media channels to stay connected with our journey.
Michele
Josephine Allen, Ph.D., professor and Genzyme Professor of Materials Science & Engineering, has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R21 Award to better understand the native behaviors of cells in the human body. Dr. Allen seeks to develop a DNA-based hydrogel platform that recreates the complex network of molecules and proteins that provide structure and support for cells in the human body. With that customizable framework in place, researchers can increase their understanding of the principles, mechanisms and processes that affect cell health or dysfunction.
differentiation,” Dr. Allen said. “So, the more closely the cell culture system replicates the native cellular environment, the more closely the cultured cells will model their native behaviors.”
As cell research has advanced, several different 3D culture replication strategies have emerged as significant advancements over their 2D predecessors. The most promising approaches include those that mimic the native extracellular matrix’s (ECM) architecture, mechanics and composition, thereby providing
THE ABILITY TO STUDY NATIVE BEHAVIORS OF CELLS IS CRITICAL TO BIOMEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES. UTILIZING CULTURE MATRICES THAT MIMIC THE SIGNALING THAT EXISTS WITHIN A NATIVE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX IS THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THAT.
An NIH R21 grant is designed to encourage exploratory and developmental research by supporting the early and conceptual stages of a project’s development.
“Within the biomedical field, there is a tremendous effort to study a multitude of cell processes, including cell-cell communication, cellmatrix interactions, cell signaling, pharmacological effects and
ideal biological signaling and cellular recognition sites that promote normal cell behavior.
DNA-based hydrogel platform technology is significant because it eliminates the need for complex chemical interactions. It also takes advantage of the rapid self-assembly and spontaneous fibril formation that occurs when DNA is combined with ECM protein collagen, providing the scaffold
for cell network formation. In addition, it utilizes functional DNA aptamers to render the hydrogel bioactive. In the end, this technology is poised to promote cellular functions that are more native and reproducible to a broad community of biomedical researchers.
“The ability to study native behaviors of cells is critical to biomedical and biological studies aimed at understanding cellular functions, particularly those in diseased states. Utilizing culture matrices that mimic the cellular recognition sites and signaling that exists within a native extracellular matrix is the best way to achieve that,” Dr. Allen said.
If successful, Dr. Allen expects the research to reveal the full breadth and potential of DNA-collagen-based materials to mimic a tissue-specific ECM and serve as a material platform for a wide array of biomedical studies.
“We intend to develop a library of DNA-collagen bulk matrices with welldefined synthesis conditions capable of tunable mechanical properties and bioactivity for a range of cell responses,” Dr. Allen said. “These would include cell-cell interactions, cell-matrix interactions, pharmacological studies, modeling healthy or diseased cells, stem cell research and an array of other fundamental studies of tissue-specific cell behaviors.”
A device developed at the University of Florida for the U.S. military provides protection from mosquitoes for an extended period and requires no heat, electricity or skin contact.
Funded by the Department of Defense Deployed Warfighter Protection program, the mosquito repellent device was designed by Christopher Batich, Ph.D., and Nagarajan (Neil) Rajagopal, Ph.D. It recently was tested successfully in a four-week semi-field study at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Gainesville, Fla., in a collaboration with Daniel Kline, Ph.D., Jerry Hogsette, ph.D., and Adam Bowman from the USDA’s Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology.
Results showed the controlled release of the repellent transfluthrin was effective in preventing multiple species of mosquitoes from entering the testing site. Transfluthrin is an organic insecticide considered to be safe for humans and animals.
“Our device eliminates the need for applying topical repellents and for
team attached 70 of the devices to the opening of a large military tent using fishing line and nothing to a similar control tent. Caged mosquitoes were released at various points along the exterior of the tent, and almost all were killed or repelled within 24 hours, Dr. Rajagopal said.
He explained that while the field test showed the team’s prototype created a protective space from mosquitoes for four weeks, the final product, which will be built through a 3D-printing process, could extend that period up to three months.
“We call our device passive because you don’t need to do anything to activate it,”
transfluthrin to expand its potential.
“It doesn’t stop with mosquitoes,” Dr. Rajagopal said. “We want to show that it will work with other insects, especially ticks, which pose a threat by causing Lyme disease.”
Chris Batich, Ph.D.
Neil Rajagopal, Ph.D.
Light Water Reactors (LWRs) are the most widely used type of nuclear reactor in the world. However, as alternative designs continue to emerge and gain traction, they may represent the future of clean power generation.
One of those designs, the Molten Salt Reactor (MSR), uses a liquid mixture of salts as both a coolant and fuel carrier. MSRs were first proposed in the 1950s and 1960s and, despite promising results, were eventually shelved due to multiple design and operational challenges. In recent years, however, their potential benefits have generated renewed interest. Compared with present-day nuclear reactors, the MSR is projected to be cheaper, safer and produce much less nuclear waste. With that in mind, major nuclear innovation companies and research institutions are now actively working on advancing the technology.
Yong Yang, Ph.D., associate professor of nuclear engineering, has received a grant from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to help optimize molten salt reactor design. Utilizing advanced manufacturing techniques, his research team aims to fill the knowledge gap in evaluating the materials used in MSRs and how they are fabricated.
“In United States, our current nuclear power plant standards were created specifically for LWRs, which differ from
MSRs in significant ways,” Dr. Yang said. “Materials selection is a crucial consideration when designing and manufacturing MSRs, and all materials issues, including joining and welding, must be thoroughly evaluated before licensing this innovative reactor design.”
The commercial production of MSRs presents several technological challenges, including developing materials that can withstand the reactor’s extreme temperatures and corrosive environment. While new and innovative alloys can aid in that aspect, integrating the wide variety of components in a nuclear reactor often requires joining those dissimilar metals. For example, in the heat exchanger of an MSR, which transfers heat from molten salt to a steam generator, different alloys are necessary to adapt to the diverse environments, often necessitating the use of dissimilar metal joints.
Engineers can use conventional fusion welding processes like diffusion bonding, brazing, friction stir welding, laser welding and electron beam welding for these joining. Nevertheless, these techniques may lead to considerable residual stress or abrupt changes in the composition and microstructure in the joint, making it vulnerable to poor creep performance and premature failures.
Dr. Yang pointed out that additive manufacturing (AM) has a distinguished advantage in fabricating parts with graded compositions due to its layerby-layer process. Rather than directly joining two dissimilar metals, an AM joint can facilitate a smooth transition between materials and reduce the likelihood of flaws by minimizing the carbon diffusion and depletion of alloying elements from one base metal into the other. Utilizing new manufacturing techniques such as AM, which can reduce production time and cost while improving reactor components’ quality and safety, deploying more complex reactor designs like MSRs can be expedited.
“Previous studies show that the AM process for a given pair of alloys needs to be specifically tailored, and each gradient system requires independent development to address alloy-specific concerns,” Dr. Yang said. “We aim to show how compositionally graded transition joints between two dissimilar alloys fabricated using additive manufacturing offer more efficient and cost-effective combined alloys with improved creep and creep-fatigue resistance.”
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly advancing technology with rapidly expanding applications in the workforce. Currently, however, there is a shortage of materials for both teaching and learning AI.
To address this gap, in 2022, Nancy Ruzycki, Ph.D., an instructional associate professor in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering and principal investigator on the UF Engaging Quality Instruction through Professional Development EQuIPD grant, initiated the Goldberg Gator Engineering Explorers (GGEE) Summer Program. Launched with the help of a $200,000 gift from alumnus Arnold Goldberg (BS CS ‘90), the GGEE Summer Program is geared to shine a spotlight on students’ potential as future engineers by enhancing their skills and providing a learning environment filled with role models. GGEE also focuses on training teachers to support these
students in their future STEM endeavors and careers.
With last year’s student summer camp in place as a foundation and this summer’s sessions now wrapped up, we caught up with Dr. Ruzycki and Krista Chisholm, Ph.D., EQuIPD program research assistant scientist, for an update on how well the two camp seasons went, what they’ve learned along the way, and what they are planning for the future.
in the right direction, and its positive influence was evident. In even bigger news, EQuIPD received an additional $300,000 from the State of Florida Pathways grant for the 2023 program.
“Last year, we held eight camp sessions in six school districts with over 100 students participating – all fully funded by Arnie Goldberg’s donation,” Dr. Chisholm said. “In their exit surveys, students responded with words like ‘confidence-building’ and ‘challenging,’
In addition to computational and systems thinking, the four-day camp was designed to teach students concepts such as coding and programming, process mapping, collaboration, troubleshooting/ debugging, constructive feedback, project management and real-world communication practices.
“Our program encourages students to think creatively and innovatively,” Dr. Ruzycki said. “Through our hands-on projects and experiments, students can explore ideas, make mistakes, and learn from failures, all essential for fostering a culture of innovation. STEM education is vital for young students as it not only equips them with valuable skills for the future but also inspires a sense of wonder, discovery and the potential to positively impact the world.”
Participant follow-up surveys from 2022 showed the programs were headed
and teachers noted how they were already planning to implement engineering design, system thinking and process mapping into their own curriculum.
“This year, we held 22 camp sessions for more than 300 rising 6th to 9th graders across the eight school districts of Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Sarasota, Alachua, Brevard, Santa Rosa, Pinellas and Orange counties. We also trained 20 teachers from those districts to lead the summer programs and 20 college students served as mentors to support those teachers – including seven students from the Department of Materials Science & Engineering.”
This year EQuIPD unveiled an advanced AI and machine learning program for students who participated last summer. In addition, the team implemented a weekly virtual after-school program via Zoom so participants could continue
working with their college mentors and expanding their engineering design thinking and programming skills into the fall and spring.
“The after-school programming also includes some items and science-related activities to introduce the students to materials design,” Dr. Chisholm said. “The fall session will include an introduction to micro:bits and also some of the more advanced techniques, including sensor use, machine learning and artificial intelligence.”
With another successful summer behind them, Dr. Ruzycki says their path to success is still clear.
What do mice, disc golf, and Tupac Shakur have in common with the future of engineering? From June 2123, the University of Florida’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering hosted the 46th annual Southeastern Conference for Minority Engineers (SECME) competition for middle and high school students from the Southeast region of the U.S. Participants from schools in Texas, Alabama, and Florida competed in the categories of mousetrap car racing, AI coding and ethics, and VEX robotics.
The students gathered on UF’s campus for SECME’s first in-person competition since 2019. On the first day the Orange and Blue room was full of the hopeful energy of 150 aspiring engineers hailing from Houston to Miami. UF’s Curtis Taylor, Ph.D., associate dean for student affairs at the College,
“Our goal from the beginning remains the same: we want to empower more students to pursue careers in computer science and engineering by showing them how to use computational thinking to solve real-world problems,” Dr. Ruzycki said. “From the very first class, it was great to see so many different faces in the same room learning about coding and engineering. From that standpoint, it’s exactly what we set out to accomplish.
“Technology is advancing at an incredible rate. We want to prepare young students to be adaptable and capable of learning new skills and enabling them to keep up with an ever-changing world.”
Dr. Chisholm notes they could not have accomplished this without working closely with the participating school districts.
“It’s absolutely a team effort to put these camps together,” she said. “While UF provides the teacher training, undergraduate student mentors and some class materials, the school districts are providing the teachers, the facilities, the technology tools and meals for the kids. It’s a huge undertaking for everyone involved, but we know it’s worth all of the effort. With that said, we are currently seeking donors to support camps in additional districts around the state.”
launched the opening ceremony, and his words inspired Houston Energized for Excellence student Motu Endrias.
“I was already interested in pursuing STEM, and at the orientation, Dr. Taylor’s talk was so inspiring,” Endrias said. “The more he said, the more I knew that I really wanted to do this. And I plan to come to UF for college, so it’s a good experience being here.”
The student competitions showcased expertise in mousetrap cars, VEX robotics, and a new pilot program focused on AI. All the projects, from the simple to the complex, involved the essential foundational understandings
of engineering. Students not only had to create cars, robots, and AI chatbots that functioned, they had to show their work, and the design decisions and strategy that shaped each project.
THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA NUCLEAR ENGINEERING PROGRAM WILL LEAD A $26 MILLION, 16-UNIVERSITY TEAM OF 31 SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF NUCLEAR FORENSICS
BY ROYCE COPELANDFor decades, the United States has been at the forefront of reducing the number of nuclear arms worldwide and curtailing the spread of illicit atomicbased technology. It has also led the way in developing the advanced nuclear forensics capabilities needed to bolster this effort. But to extend the U.S.’s ongoing nuclear nonproliferation and security capabilities, new, effective and adaptable nuclear forensics tools and the workforce to implement them are necessary.
To that end, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has taken a significant step toward advancing nuclear forensics research by establishing a $26.4 million research consortium led by the University of Florida. Jim Baciak, Ph.D., professor of nuclear engineering in the UF Department of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE), will lead the newly formed Consortium for Nuclear Forensics (CNF) comprised of 16 universities (including five institutions serving underrepresented groups) and seven national laboratories from across the United States.
The CNF will focus on educating and training the next generation of nuclear forensic scientists and engineers and spearhead groundbreaking research to enhance our nuclear forensic
capabilities, enabling us to track and attribute nuclear materials and events more effectively.
“I am honored that the NNSA entrusted us with developing the next generation of leaders and technology for the Department of Energy and other operational partners and end-users,” Dr. Baciak said. “Our team of faculty, research scientists and students from across the country represent a diverse array of technical areas required for this project, including radio- and geochemistry, environmental sciences, nuclear engineering, physics, statistical analyses, machine learning and optical sciences.”
Additional MSE faculty in the consortium include Kyle C. Hartig, Ph.D., assistant professor and CNF associate director, Assel Aitkaliyeva, Ph.D., associate professor, Juan Nino, Ph.D., professor, and Nathalie Wall, Ph.D., professor. Ryan Houim, Ph.D., associate professor from the UF Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is also a member.
The consortium’s unique strength lies in its ability to connect diverse expertise and foster collaboration between its members.
In addition to UF, other renowned higher education institutions making up the CNF include the University
of California Berkeley, University of Central Florida, City University of New York, Clemson University, George Washington University, Iowa State University, University of Michigan, University of Nevada - Las Vegas, North Carolina State University, University of Notre Dame, Oregon State University, Pennsylvania State University, South Carolina State University, University of Tennessee and Texas A&M University.
Partnering with Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory and Savannah River National Laboratory further strengthens the consortium’s capabilities and potential impact.
The CNF’s research will encompass five essential research thrust areas and two cross-cutting research areas in nuclear forensics:
Rapid Turnaround Forensics: Led by Brian Powell, Ph.D., of Clemson University, this research thrust aims to develop methods that can expedite chemical analysis techniques to achieve results within 24 hours or less.
Advanced Analytical Methods: Dr. Aitkaliyeva will spearhead efforts to enhance material characterization
and microscopy techniques, enabling more precise identification of nuclear materials.
Ultrasensitive Measurements: Led by Nicole Martinez, Ph.D., of Clemson, this area of research will focus on exploring methods in environmental sampling and instrumentation to detect low-level signals with heightened sensitivity.
Signature Discovery: Amanda Johnsen, Ph.D., of Penn State University, will lead efforts to investigate new signals and measurements that could lead to improved accuracy in determining material quantities.
Prompt Effects and Measurements: Dr. Hartig will head the research to understand and interpret the signals emitted following a nuclear detonation, which is critical for timely and accurate analysis.
chemistry. These professionals will occupy key roles as scientists, engineers, technicians, operational personnel, intelligence professionals and leaders in nuclear-related fields and at national laboratories, government laboratories and federal agencies around the country.
Dr. Baciak expressed his gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to shape the next generation of nuclear forensics leaders, emphasizing the team’s diverse array of technical areas crucial for robust nuclear forensics.
The team also plans to use its expertise in high-performance computing and data science to crosscut the thrust areas with artificial intelligence-driven capabilities to accelerate solutions within individual thrust areas.
Over the next five years, the CNF expects to prepare nearly 150 undergraduates and postgraduates with expertise in radiochemistry, geochemistry, nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, materials science, quantum science, shock physics, and analytical
“The next paradigm shift in nuclear forensics capabilities will not simply present itself overnight; it will first require the initial identification and shepherding of the research, plus the scientists and engineers capable of executing the forensics mission of the future,” Dr. Baciak said. “The CNF provides the path to that future.”
Forrest Masters, Ph.D., interim dean of UF’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, regarded the consortium as a valuable recognition of the university’s commitment to supporting research and workforce development to advance national security.
National Lab
“Overall, the establishment of this ambitious consortium represents a critical milestone in advancing nuclear forensics research, equipping future generations of experts to address nuclear security challenges and maintaining global safety for decades to come.”
What if airplanes could morph and dynamically change shape during flight, similar to birds?
It may sound too good to be true. Still, engineers at the University of Florida Department of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) are working toward a future that may allow that exact scenario to become commonplace.
Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are a unique class of metals that can recover their original shape after being deformed in some way. With unique properties such as thermal stability, corrosion resistance and high strength-to-weight ratio, SMAs are leading contenders for a vast array of future commercial and industrial technologies, such as biomedical devices, sensors, robotics, structural components for aerospace vehicles and nuclear reactors, and wearable smart technology.
Shape recovery relies on creating a reversible change at the atomic level. Scientists can already radically alter shape memory performance by designing and engineering an alloy’s atomic structure using nano-sized particles called precipitates. However, accurately correlating the characteristics and properties of nano-sized precipitates to shape memory performance remains challenging due to a lack of high-precision and real-time characterization methods, which creates a roadblock in establishing a systematic alloy design for a given application.
Honggyu Kim, Ph.D., assistant professor, received a National Science Foundation grant to devise new methods to better interpret precipitate influence and help bypass that roadblock.
Dr. Kim has been developing novel experimental techniques and automated data processing methods to perform quantitative analysis of experimental microscopy data. In particular, he has made a significant contribution to developing digital image processing tools that enable the measurement of strain and chemical intermixing as well as the detection of point defects in solid materials with picometer measurement precision and single-atom sensitivity.
“We’re addressing this challenge by developing atomicscale resolution, in situ electron microscopy techniques to measure the impacts of these precipitates,” Dr. Kim said. “The knowledge gained from this study can help us generate design rules for future SMAs for applications requiring high-temperature operations and improved mechanical properties.”
Dr. Kim will collaborate with Michele Manuel, Ph.D., MSE department chair, who is an internationally recognized expert in materials design.
For this research, they will focus their combined expertise in alloy design and advanced materials characterization on understanding the fundamental effects of precipitates on the phase transformation and mechanical properties of nickeltitanium (NiTi)-based SMAs.
“Although SMA’s are quite common in the medical and aerospace fields, commercial systems currently rely on the traditional binary NiTi alloy system,” Dr. Kim said. “The outcomes from this research will not only generate a new understanding of how precipitates influence phase transformations of these particular alloys but will also fundamentally advance the field of SMA study as a whole.”
Beyond the laboratory, the project will extend into Florida classrooms with educational programs and outreach activities through summer internships for underrepresented minority high school students from public schools in Alachua County, Florida, curriculum development targeting both on-campus students and distance-learning students, and research training of graduate and undergraduate students with a strong emphasis on alloy design and materials characterization. With this additional education strategy, Dr. Kim aims to help promote student awareness about critical materials needs for new technological developments and guide diverse groups of students to pursue future careers in STEM fields.
Kyle C. Hartig, Ph.D., assistant professor, continues to set the standard in the field of nuclear materials security.
The Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) recognized Dr. Hartig with its 2023 Early Career Award presented at its 53rd annual meeting in Vienna, Austria. Established to recognize outstanding professional achievements by INMM members in the early stages of their careers, this prestigious honor serves as a testament to Dr. Hartig’s efforts as both a researcher and an educator, as well as his dedication to advancing nuclear safety and security.
Dr. Hartig also received the first joint appointment between the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) and the University of Florida. Dr. Hartig’s position at SRNL, one of the nation’s foremost research institutions specializing in nuclear materials, allows him to work on cutting-edge research while maintaining close ties with academia.
Dr. Hartig’s research will advance SNRL’s core competency in sensing, characterizing, assessing and deterring nuclear proliferation while building a pipeline to the lab for student internships and post-graduate careers. His work not only contributes to national security, but also helps shape international policies and protocols.
“SRNL has long been a leader in the critical area of nuclear fuel cycle and forensics research,” Dr. Hartig said. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with them more closely as a joint appointee on fundamental research to support national capabilities while building a pipeline between the NNSA Consortium for Nuclear Forensics and SRNL for the next generation of nuclear forensics experts.”
Dr. Hartig is a member of the Florida Institute for National Security at UF and the associate director of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Consortium for Nuclear Forensics (CNF), where he is responsible for coordinating involvement with Department of Energy national laboratories, including student internships, postgraduate career opportunities and collaboration on consortium research projects.
BOOKS, TUITION, RENT, FOOD – THE EXPENSES OF HIGHER EDUCATION CAN ADD UP QUICKLY, AND SCHOLARSHIPS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS ON THEIR AWARDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
Nuclear Engineering
Alan M. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship
Steohanie Nathasingh
Weston Herman
James E. Swander Memorial Scholarship
Emily Kwapis
Kyle Latty
Brice Turner
Ohanian Scholarship
Seth Netterstrom
Claudia Tariche Fortes
Roberto Pagano Memorial Scholarship
Enrique Medici
Hannah Patz
Jacob Wisienski
Kervin Coss Flores
Virginia Lucas
Paul McIntyre
Caitlin Martin
Spencer Salminen
Ricard Perez Scholarship
Juan Valderrama
F.N. Rhines and W.R. Tarr Scholarship
Shornam Ghandi
Steph Meikle
Alexandra Barbosa
Alexandre Bordas
Justin Ma
Noah Caracuel
Jonathan Hack Memorial Scholarship for Materials Science
Neel Eswaran
Alison Veintimilla
Richard G. Connell Scholarship
Cameron Chan
Erin Volpe
Robert David Adamson Scholarship
Meer Mahfuz
Skye Sisco
Jason Jaquith
Aris Graber
Noah Molko
Robert E. Reed-Hill Scholarship
Peter Toma
Adrian Gonzalez-Socorro
Gavin Latham
Melody Morales Rojas
Vladimir Grodsky Memorial Fund Scholarship
Dominick Sylvia
Miles Kendall
Wolf Research Fund
Noah Ferson
Deepika Singh, Ph.D., (MS MSE ‘91) founder and CEO of R&D Investment Holdings, LLC, is among the 2023 class of inductees into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame. Dr. Singh is also the founder and former CEO of Sinmat- a company specializing in novel planarization processes for the semiconductor chip industry.
Dr. Singh was selected for her significant technical contributions, innovation, and entrepreneurship of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) technologies used to polish ultrahard materials such as silicon carbide, gallium nitride, diamond and sapphire. Power devices made from these
materials are used in the next generation of clean energy electronics, 5G and electric vehicles.
Ultra-hard materials are particularly challenging to work with due to their extreme hardness and chemical inertness, and polishing them without creating defects that can affect chip performance is a big challenge. Dr. Singh invented and commercialized CMP processes using novel chemistries and particles to enhance reactions while improving the finish and eliminating sub-surface damage is widely recognized as a seminal breakthrough.
Dr. Singh earned her master’s degree at the University of Florida and a doctorate at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, both in materials science and engineering (MSE).
“When I came to Gainesville after graduate school, I worked on patents for a local company and it really helped me to appreciate the importance of focusing on ideas that could be commercialized,” Singh said.
She said Sinmat’s first product “didn’t really take off, but we learned so much from that experience that we could apply to other products. Now, that technology is used on everything from smartwatches to wind turbines.”
Dr. Singh has received numerous
Deepika Singh, Ph.D.industry honors, including four R&D100 awards, a Manufacturing Business of the Year award and a commendation from President Obama praising her service to the nation for developing new ways to manufacture microchips that help power smarter energy systems. She has over 30 patents under her name.
“Dr. Singh’s inventorship, leadership and entrepreneurship make her an outstanding choice for the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame,” Michele Manuel, Ph.D., chair of the UF Department of Materials Science & Engineering said. “Through scientific discovery, she advanced research and commercialized technology which has significantly impacted the state of Florida and the nation. Her efforts can be directly and tangibly connected to the economic growth in the city of Gainesville, the state of Florida, and beyond.”
After Sinmat was acquired in 2020 by Entegris, a leading global supplier of chemicals and advanced materials to the chip industry, Dr. Singh founded R&D Investment Holdings to fund and mentor other start-up companies.
With her new company, Singh hopes to not only financially support start-ups but also mentor entrepreneurs. “We want to invest, but we also want to play an active role in helping a company to
succeed because we have faced many of the same hurdles in our careers,” said Dr. Singh.
In 2022, Dr. Singh was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Through this platform, she plans to continue promoting STEM education to underrepresented women and children and mentoring young entrepreneurs at local business incubators.
“Dr. Singh is one of the most accomplished leaders in the field of chemical mechanical planarization,” Sudipta Seal, Ph.D., chair of the University of Central Florida’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, said. “She has made and, in my view, will continue to make important contributions to advance microelectronics.”
Hall of Fame inductees, who must have at least one U.S. patent and a connection to Florida, are nominated through an open nomination process and elected by a selection committee composed of distinguished leaders in research and innovation throughout the state.
The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame was recognized by the Florida Senate in 2014 “for its commitment to honoring inventors and celebrating innovation, discovery, and excellence.”
Erin Jackson (BS MSE ‘15) is an Olympic gold medalist, a history maker and a Gator. Her story shows the type of grit, adaptability and steadfastness UF graduates should be known for.
Jackson won the women’s 500-meter race in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, becoming the first American to win that race since 1994 and the first Black American woman in history to win a winter Olympic gold medal in an individual sport.
And this past spring, she gave the commencement speech at the 2023 university-wide graduation ceremony in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
P.O. BOX 116400
GAINESVILLE, FL 32611-6131
MSE.UFL.EDU
The Department of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Florida invites applications for the following positions:
• Multiple full-time, tenure-track or tenured faculty positions at the rank of Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in the areas of Biomaterials or Metallurgy.
• Permanent, full-time instructional faculty in Soft Matter. The faculty will teach undergraduate courses in Polymer Science and Biomaterials, as well as MSE introductory courses.
• Director of the Nuclear Engineering (NE) Program. The Director supervises the program and bears the responsibility for upholding program excellence. Responsibilities will include crafting a forwardlooking vision for the program’s growth and advancement in every facet of academic and research excellence and elevating the program’s profile through strategic partnerships with industry.
