WARREN DIXON, PH.D.
Interim Dean, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
MICHAEL TONKS, PH.D.
Interim Chair, Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Simon Phillpot, Ph.D.
Associate Chair, Department of Materials Science & Engineering
NATHALIE WALL, PH.D.
Interim Director, Nuclear Engineering Program
ROYCE COPELAND, M.A.
Magazine Editor and Designer
Welcome to The Rhines Report, our annual magazine showcasing the pace, projects and people that make UF’s Materials Science & Engineering and Nuclear Engineering leaders in innovation and academics. This year, our faculty, students, and alumni continue to accomplish amazing and inspiring things.
We have much to celebrate in these pages.
For starters, we highlight our outstanding community outreach work led by Nancy Ruzycki, Ph.D. This summer, more than 20 University of Florida student mentors fanned out across 16 Florida counties to help lead 39 engineering summer camps for nearly 400 students. Our STEM work in the community — and state — makes a significant difference for students curious about engineering’s possibilities and rewards.
These outstanding outreach programs expose children to STEM and engineering concepts that may shape their futures, as well as the future of engineering.
We also provide a fascinating window on our work exploring gas core nuclear reactors led by Justin Watson, Ph.D., and Chris McDevitt, Ph.D. This next-generation reactor design may hold the key to safer and more efficient atomic power generation.
Also, this year, our nuclear engineering program hosted the 2025 National Nuclear Security Administration R&D University Program Review (UPR), bringing hundreds of students, professors, national laboratory scientists and industry experts to UF for three days, unveiling more than 150 breakthroughs in nuclear-security and nonproliferation science.
This year’s cover story chronicles the work of MSE Assistant Professor Megan Butala, Ph.D., a National Science Foundation CAREER Award winner. With an eye on sustainability, Butala is researching a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which could reduce reliance on materials like cobalt and nickel.
Additionally, Butala is leading research that examines the atomic structure of thin films on single-crystal substrates. This work may speed up the development of next-generation semiconductor devices, prompting faster smartphones,
energy-efficient computers and wearable tech.
In this issue, we also share impressive student wins, including a UF Hall of Fame inductee, an NSF Graduate Fellowship winner and a student team that claimed another national title for UF — first place at the 2025 TMS Materials Bowl in Las Vegas.
The 2025 Rhines Report closes with the riveting story of Sagid Salah, Ph.D., a triple Gator who arrived at UF in 1954 after four years as a POW during the Korean War. This story is truly a must-read.
We also bid farewell to Rolf Erich Hummel, Ph.D., a distinguished materials scientist and professor emeritus of the department who passed away this year at age 90. Born in Stuttgart, Germany, Hummel started at UF in the early 1960s. He mentored 32 graduate students and received 14 teaching and service awards, including being named the Pamphalon Professor for Electronic Materials in 2000.
As interim chair, I encourage you to stay connected with us through our social media platforms and website news. Your engagement and support help MSE and NE push boundaries, refine our vision and, certainly, inspire our faculty, students and alumni to make real-world impacts with innovation and leadership.
Yes, we have much to celebrate, but, make no mistake, the best is yet to come.
Have a wonderful semester and Go Gators.
Michael Tonks, Ph.D.
INTERIM CHAIR DEPARTMENT OF MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
Tori Miller, Ph.D.
Awarded the Vladimir Grodsky Professorship; Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure
Assel Aitkaliyeva, Ph.D., began a three-year rotation as a Program Director at ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy) where she will play a key role in shaping and advancing cutting-edge energy research.
While she will be based in Washington, D.C., during this appointment, Aitkaliyeva will continue to actively oversee her research group and remain engaged with the department.
In January 2025, Kyle Hartig, Ph.D., attended the IAEA Emerging Technologies Workshop in Vienna, Austria, as an invited observer.
As Chair of the INMM Cyber and Emerging Technologies Committee, he was at the forefront of discussions regarding the intersection of technology and nuclear security, including AI integration into nuclear safeguards and detection systems.
Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) established a joint appointment with University of Florida professor Nathalie Wall, Ph.D., interim director of UF’s Nuclear Engineering Program.
Wall will collaborate with SRNL on projects related to accelerating remediation and enabling net-generation nuclear material processing.
Aroba Saleem, Ph.D.
Promoted to Instructional Associate Professor
Nekia Jones Assistant to the Department Chair
Tahara Franklin Academic Advisor III
Yijia Gu, Ph.D. Assistant Professor
Prior to joining the University of Florida, Ravit Silverstein, Ph.D., spent three years as a research scientist in the Materials department at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where she also managed the Microscopy and Microanalysis suite.
Silverstein earned her doctorate in Materials Engineering from Ben-Gurion University, concurrently holding the position of research associate at the Applied Physics Division of the Soreq Nuclear Research Center, Israel. From 2018-2021, she completed two prestigious international postdoctoral fellowships in the Materials Department at UCSB, focusing on refractory alloy design, processing of refractories and microstructural evolution during laser welding.
Her current research focuses on metastability-driven alloy design and the development of processing approaches through metastability pathways.
Renato Navarro holds a Ph.D. in macromolecular science and engineering from the University of Michigan where his research focused on developing sustainable biomaterials for cardiovascular engineering.
Before joining UF, Navarro was an NIH postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University developing injectable hydrogels to deliver therapies after a heart attack.
Beyond research, Navarro also has a passion for mentorship and service. He mentored students from the Stanford BIO-X summer research program, Stanford Undergraduate Research Fellowship, and Foothill Community College, earning him the BIO-X Star Mentorship Award.
Ultimately, he aims to lead a research team that develops innovative, interdisciplinary solutions to cardiovascular clinical challenges via chemistry and materials engineering approaches.
From 2019-2025, Yijia Gu, Ph.D., served as an assistant professor in Materials Science and Engineering at Missouri S&T.
Prior to entering academia, he worked as a senior engineer and staff engineer for four years at Alcoa Technical Center. He obtained his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Penn State in 2014.
His research includes development of processing-structure-property relationhips emphasizing how processing can manipulate microstructure and influence material properties.
Motivated by lifelong learning and a desire to solve real-world problems, Gu bridges theory and practical application through computational modeling. He has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed articles in leading scientific journals and holds a distinguished teaching record.
This past summer, more than 20 University of Florida student mentors fanned out across 16 Florida counties to help lead 39 engineering summer camps for nearly 400 students.
As part of UF Engineering’s 2025 Engaged Quality Instruction Through Professional Development, or EQuIPD camps, high school and middle school students dived into design challenges incorporating artificial intelligence, programming and machine learning with engineering design thinking.
Alongside UF student mentors, middle school campers learned about electrical power in hands-on lessons about smart microgrids. In EQuIPD’s Rural Scholars Summer Program, students explored AI in agriculture, visited smart farms and built self-driving tractors.
High school students dug into machine learning through music and sports, as well as analyzed AI data to develop hurricane forecast models.
WITH HANDS-ON AI ACTIVITIES, UF’S EQUIPD CAMPS INSPIRE YOUNG ENGINEERS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.
BY DAVE SCHLENKER
Starting the first week of June, the free camps were designed to inspire early generations of engineers for a workforce already short on qualified professionals, especially in AI. The program has grown considerably since 2022’s inaugural Goldberg Gator Engineering Explorers camp, started with a $200,000 foundational donation from UF alumnus and tech executive Arnold Goldberg.
That year, more than 110 students in six counties attended eight camp sessions led by local teachers and UF student mentors. In 2023, attendance swelled to 319 middle and high school students in eight counties with 22 camps, 20 local teachers and 20 UF student mentors.
Then, in 2024, organizers expanded the Goldberg program and added three more camp programs: MathWorks High School AI, Powering the Community Energy Explorers and the Rural Scholars Program. In total, those camps served 370 students in 13 counties with 20 local teachers and 22 UF engineering student mentors.
In summer 2025, there were EQuIPD camps in Alachua, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Gilchrist, Hernando, Leon, Marion, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Orange, Palm Beach/Martin, Pinellas, Putnam, Sarasota and Sumter counties. The camps were led by 43 teachers from their respective districts trained by UF engineering faculty, and teaching alongside 20 student mentors throughout the state.
In all, EQuIPD provided free hands-on, cutting-edge engineering camps — in one- or two-week sessions — from the western Panhandle to South Florida led by one of the top university engineering programs in the country.
“As the premier land-grant Institution in the state, UF has a mission to serve the populace of Florida, and these camps serve our mission in supporting young students, teachers and districts,” noted Nancy Ruzycki, Ph.D., a master lecturer in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) and principal investigator on the EQuIPD grant.
There were six types of EQuIPD camps this past year. The Goldberg Gator Engineering Explorers programs, for example, continue to stress the basics of AI and machined learning. Students solved real-world problems with computational thinking practices.
“During the camps, they work with a microcontroller called a micro:bit. It’s tiny, but mighty,” said Krista Chisholm, Ph.D.,
a research assistant scientist with MSE who works with the camps. “It is easy to program and has a lot of builtin features like a programmable LED display, buttons and sensors to measure light, acceleration and sound. They are great tools for beginners to start with and can grow with students as they gain programming skills.”
Among the activities in EQuIPD camps, students make micro:bit pets programmed to be interactive. These microcontrollers can be used in engineering design projects, like programming a stop light to change status if an emergency vehicle nears or creating a gesturerecognition program through machine learning that knows what letter you are drawing in space.
In 2024, UF added more EQuIPD camps, including MathWorks for high school students, AI lessons and a Powering the Community Energy Explorers program through gifts from industry and foundational donors. In addition to the donors for the programs, the districts are equal partners, providing infrastructure support and, in some cases, purchasing technology and paying for teachers to facilitate the camp.
“We focus on a sustainability model,” Ruzycki, said. “And that’s why we like the districts to provide the teachers because then that teacher is trained and remains in that district. Our goal is that within three years, districts are able to build out their own ecosystem of donors and infrastructure to support their own district camps independently.”
It is a model that works well for Florida school districts.
“Through the EQuIPD Goldberg Gators Engineering Explorers Summer Program, our students explored realworld applications of engineering design and computer science in a way that was both challenging and inspiring. The experience was not only enriching for our learners but also energizing for me as an educator,” noted teacher Rene Barge of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Ruzycki said the growth of the camps speaks to a need for high-quality — and free — hands-on technologyfocused camps in the state.
“And then there is the UF brand, which is extremely important in why people want this,” she said. “Who doesn’t want to be a Gator engineer, right?”
Donors sponsored camps within certain districts to make them available to areas served through their foundational work.
“School districts are very interested in trying to support students in the summer through high-quality programs,” Ruzycki added, “but many vendors are so expensive, they can’t afford it. We provide everything basically for free in partnership with the district.”
As the demand for clean, high-efficiency energy grows, a research team led by Justin Watson, Ph.D., and Chris McDevitt, Ph.D., associate professors of nuclear engineering at the University of Florida, is exploring gas core nuclear reactors (GCRs). This next-generation reactor design could offer a safer and more efficient way to generate atomic power by replacing traditional solid fuel rods with gaseous uranium fuel.
Traditional nuclear power plants have long provided a non-CO2 emitting alternative to fossil fuels. They operate using solid uranium dioxide fuel encased in zirconium alloy rods and cooled by water. While this approach has been effective, it comes with challenges, particularly the risk of fuel melting in extreme conditions.
Gas core reactors take a different approach. Unlike conventional reactors that rely on water as both a coolant and neutron moderator, gas core reactors operate at temperatures high enough to cause the partial or complete ionization of the uranium fuel to form a plasma, enabling innovative confinement schemes to be deployed. This unique configuration allows for continuous fuel cycling, reducing nuclear waste and minimizing plutonium production. This has implications for nuclear security, as it reduces the amount of material that could be repurposed for weapons.
This concept also eliminates the risk of a core meltdown
and allows the reactor to operate at much higher temperatures than traditional designs. These higher operating temperatures allow for increased thermal efficiency when generating electricity, or higher temperature propellants for space applications.
If successfully developed and deployed, GCRs could have a broad range of applications beyond conventional electricity production:
Electric Grid Support: As the electricity demand grows, particularly with the expansion of electric vehicles and energy-intensive AI data centers, GCRs could provide a stable, high-output source of carbon-free energy.
Process Heat Production: The high operating temperatures of GCR’s make them a prime candidate to supply process heat for industrial applications such as hydrogen production, coal gasification, fertilizer production, etc.
Space Exploration: The ability to generate and control ultra-high-temperature plasmas makes GCR technology relevant for space propulsion. A nuclear-powered rocket using a gas core reactor could enable faster and more efficient space travel.
Tritium Production: GCR structures can be lined with materials to bread tritium, a fuel source for fusion reactors.
BY ROYCE COPELAND
“Gas core reactors represent a paradigm shift in how we approach nuclear power,” Watson said. “By harnessing the properties of high-temperature plasmas and improving material durability, we can create a safer and more sustainable energy system.”
One of the most significant advantages of GCRs is their potential for higher efficiency. Conventional light water reactors (LWRs) convert about 33% of their generated heat into electricity, with the rest lost as waste heat. GCRs, thanks to their high operating temperatures, could achieve efficiencies above 60%, making better use of the fuel and reducing the overall cost of energy production.
Another key benefit is their fuel cycle. Unlike solid-fuel reactors, which require refueling and produce spent fuel that must be managed, GCRs could operate with a continuous fuel cycle. This means they could burn nuclear fuel more completely, reducing long-term waste. Additionally, GCRs produce significantly less plutonium than conventional reactors, which has implications for nuclear security.
“These are areas we need to study in detail,” Watson said. “If gas core reactors can operate as efficiently as we expect, they could help address some of the major concerns surrounding nuclear energy.”
Despite their promise, GCRs face technical and regulatory
challenges. One major hurdle is ensuring the stability of the plasma, as maintaining the reaction within a magnetic field is complex. Material selection is another issue—reactor components must withstand extreme temperatures and radiation over long periods without degrading. Watson and his team are working to overcome these hurdles through advanced computational modeling and experimental validation.
There are also societal and regulatory challenges. Public perception of nuclear power remains mixed, and any new reactor design must undergo extensive testing to ensure safety and environmental responsibility.
“We are at the beginning stages of understanding how to control and optimize these factors,” added Watson. “With continued research and investment, we can help pave the way for a new era of nuclear energy.”
Funding from organizations like the John Hauck Foundation and collaborative efforts with interdisciplinary teams in physics, engineering, and material science are critical in advancing GCR technology. While commercialization remains years away, ongoing research at UF offers a glimpse of tomorrow’s nuclear energy technology
This Gas Core Reactor research was financially assisted by The John Hauck Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and John W. Hauck, Co-Trustees.Jennifer Hite, Ph.D., photographed in Rhines Hall
With a timely focus on global security and scientific collaboration, the University of Florida hosted hundreds of students, professors and national laboratory scientists and engineers earlier this summer for the 2025 National Nuclear Security Administration R&D University Program Review.
Held June 3–5, the University Program Review, or UPR, showcased five university consortia driving innovation in national nuclear security. UF leads the Consortium for Nuclear Forensics, or CNF. Funded by a $26.4 million award from the NNSA, the consortium comprises 16 universities and seven national laboratories to advance the United States’ nuclear forensics capabilities.
In just three days, UPR 2025 researchers unveiled more than 150 breakthroughs in nuclear-security and nonproliferation science — the largest single wave of discoveries in the meeting’s 16-year history, noted Kyle C. Hartig, Ph.D., associate professor
HUNDREDS OF ATTENDEES DESCEND ON UF TO ADVANCE NATIONAL SECURITY RESEARCH
BY DAVE SCHLENKER AND PARIS CARTER
of nuclear engineering and UF CNF associate director.
The surge came as diplomats in Vienna struggled to revive limits on Iran’s uranium-enrichment program.
“If negotiations falter, the laser systems, AI-driven algorithms, expanded isotope libraries and next-generation radiation detectors showcased at UF could become the forensic yardsticks inspectors will need to verify future treaties — or to expose covert violations when no agreement remains,” Hartig said.
Less than 20 days after the event, the United States bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran, prompting a ceasefire with Israel even as concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities remain. The time was right for serious discussions on future nuclear technology and security.
“By linking students, faculty and national-lab mentors around shared nonproliferation goals, we turn fresh ideas into transformational
technologies that sustain U.S. excellence in nuclear security,” Hartig said.
Serving as a technical symposium and a strategic oversight forum, UPR welcomed around 300 attendees to UF’s G. Edward Evans Champions Club over three days. Participants presented and evaluated research progress, aligned work with the NNSA mission priorities and highlighted university and national laboratory collaborations.
“Hosting UPR 2025 at UF underscored the transformative power of partnership,” said James Baciak, Ph.D., professor of nuclear engineering and the director of the CNF. “When academia and the national labs align with NNSA’s mission, we accelerate discovery, cultivate the next generation of experts and ensure the United States remains at the forefront of nuclear-security science.”
As global security threats become increasingly complex, participants
agreed that the UPR has evolved from a routine progress check into a catalyst for innovation and talent. The event connected students, scientists and national labs in a shared commitment to uphold America’s security, deter adversaries and promote global stability.
The event emphasized fundamental research and workforce development and supported the growth of the student talent pipeline through discussions and networking opportunities with national laboratory representatives. Through plenary talks, poster sessions and awards, the event encouraged cross-consortia exchanges, shaped future research and reinforced accountability for technologies that detect, deter and respond to nuclearproliferation threats.
“One of the great things about attending a conference like UPR is being able to meet other students who are doing similar work and have similar goals in terms of either going into the industry or even collaborating with national labs,” said Abby Robb, a graduate student at Georgia Institute of Technology who presented research on Advanced Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy. “It’s a great place for us to find national lab spokespersons who already have a pipeline for the students.”
Among the poster presentations was Josephine Hartmann, a Ph.D. student from North Carolina State University who showcased her research on coating strategies for nanoparticles.
“Conferences like these allow students, professors and researchers to collaborate, look at problems and help one another figure out the best ways of solving these challenges,” said Hartmann.
Baciak led the opening of each day’s activities and provided keynote presentations on research, teaching and student mentoring in nuclear and national security. He and Hartig said the event was a huge success, particularly for this year’s host — UF.
“Seeing the UPR come to life on our campus,” Hartig said, “showed how powerful the NNSA consortium model is.”
Rolf Erich Hummel, Ph.D., a distinguished materials scientist and professor emeritus of the department, passed away on March 24, 2025, at age 90.
Born in Stuttgart, Germany, he earned his doctorate in solid-state physics from the Max Planck Institute in 1963. Soon after he graduated, he was hired at the University of Florida to take part in the newly emerging space program. While here, where he played a pivotal role in establishing one of the first electronic materials programs in the U.S.
Over his career, Hummel published approximately 200 peer-reviewed research papers and authored 10 books, including Electronic Properties of Materials, widely adopted in universities worldwide. His research spanned optical and electrical properties of materials, semiconductor reliability, and explosives detection. He mentored 32 graduate students and received 14 teaching and service awards, including being named the Pamphalon Professor for Electronic Materials in 2000.
Hummel conducted research and taught internationally, fostering global collaboration. He also founded the Pamphalon Foundation, supporting education, science, and the arts. In retirement, he remained engaged in research, music, and woodworking. His legacy endures through his contributions to materials science and the many students he taught and inspired.
MEGAN BUTALA TACKLES A PIVOTAL BATTERY CHALLENGE TO SUPPORT A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE
BY ROYCE COPELAND
As demand for cleaner energy grows, so does the need for sustainable battery technologies. At the University of Florida, Megan Butala, Ph.D., an assistant professor of materials science and engineering, is exploring a promising alternative to today’s lithium-ion batteries. Her research focuses on disordered rocksalt oxides (DRXs), which could reduce reliance on scarce and environmentally problematic materials like cobalt and nickel.
Supported by a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, Butala’s work aims to better understand the chemistry behind DRXs, a class of materials that uses more abundant elements, such as manganese and iron. While DRXs hold the potential for making batteries more sustainable and less expensive, their energy storage performance still lags behind conventional lithium-ion batteries.
A primary challenge for DRXs is their ability to store and release lithium ions more efficiently. By determining how the types and ratios of atoms in DRX materials affect their atomic scale arrangement and energy storage, her team hopes to develop strategies to improve their storage capacity and long-term stability.
“By understanding the fundamental chemistry that governs atomic arrangements in these materials, we can develop strategies to design DRXs that compete with or surpass today’s battery technologies,” Butala said.
If successful, the research could have wide-ranging impacts. For instance, DRXs could make electric vehicle batteries cheaper, more sustainable, and longer lasting. Renewable energy storage systems, which currently rely heavily on lithium-ion batteries, could also benefit from the development of DRXs, helping to stabilize power grids and support the transition to cleaner energy sources.
“Energy storage is a critical part of building a sustainable future,” Butala explains. “Finding alternatives to cobalt and nickel is essential, not only to reduce costs but also to address the ethical and environmental concerns tied to their extraction.”
Butala’s research also goes beyond the lab, involving educational outreach and training. With that in mind, her team is developing innovative ways to make complex scientific concepts more accessible, including drawing from her dance background to explain ideas like lithium-ion transport and chemical structure.
“I will partner with UF College of the Arts faculty and use my affiliation with the UF Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship to connect the creative work happening across science, engineering, and the arts,” Butala said. “By combining science researchers and artists, we hope to inspire more people to connect with science in ways that feel approachable and meaningful.”
The program also supports hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate and high school students, helping inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
“Fundamental materials and chemistry were essential for developing current commercial battery technology, and my team and I look forward to establishing new foundational knowledge for nextgeneration Li-ion batteries,” she said.
By advancing DRX research and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, Butala’s work addresses a critical challenge in the energy transition: making sustainable, high-performing batteries a reality.
(L to R): Danielle Alverson (Ph.D.,2025), Kausturi Parui (Ph.D., 2025), Megan Butala, Ph.D., Marisa Kelley, John Langhout.
Imagine having a super-powered lens that reveals hidden details of ultra-thin materials in our gadgets. Research led by Megan Butala, Ph.D., enables a novel way to examine the atomic structure of thin films on single-crystal substrates.
This work could accelerate the development of next-generation semiconductor devices—faster smartphones, more energy-efficient computers, and powerful wearable tech. Semiconductors built with atomic-level precision can be smarter, faster, more compact, and more sustainable.
Butala developed IsoDAT2D, a machine-learning workflow for processing complex 2D X-ray total scattering data from thin film materials. IsoDAT2D isolates the unique “fingerprints” of ultra-thin films, which form the foundation of everyday electronics. Computer chips, for example, are built from stacked films thousands of times thinner than a human hair.
“If we understand what the atomic structure is, how to get that structure, and what properties it gives us, then we can design better materials from the start,” said Butala.
Studying thin films on single-crystal surfaces is challenging because signals from the thicker substrate often overwhelm the film’s atomic structure data. Butala’s method
BY PARIS CARTER
overcomes these signal-to-noise limitations, revealing subtle structural details crucial for understanding how materials behave.
“This could accelerate thin film materials development for energy storage, semiconductors, and electronics, enabling faster design and improved reproducibility of X-ray scattering data,” said Butala.
MSE Interim Chair Michael Tonks noted the approach could impact the semiconductor industry by enabling more precise chip design and lead to faster, more energy-efficient processors.
“By developing a cutting-edge data processing tool, Dr. Butala has paved the way for researchers to study a wider range of thin films, which could lead to breakthroughs in fields ranging from energy to electronics,” said Tonks.
Potential future applications include safer and smarter battery technologies, advanced AI chips and components for quantum computers.
Butala said the research would not be possible without access to the National Synchrotron Light Source-II at Brookhaven National Laboratory, noting that the collaboration was essential to managing data collection challenges and developing their machine learning data processing approach.
“We’re pushing the boundaries of what you can measure,” said Butala. “Part of the innovation is in how we combine data preprocessing, machine learning algorithms, and post-processing.”
Aligned with U.S. efforts to to be a leader in developing nextgeneration electronics, this research gives scientists a sharper look at the smallest building blocks of technology—paving the way for targeted material design that could redefine how we interact with devices.
This article has beem edited for space. Scan the QR code below to read the full article and explore the science behind IsoDAT2D.
Megan Butala, Ph.D.
MSE
HAVE DEVELOPED A MACHINE-LEARNING FRAMEWORK THAT COULD REVOLUTIONIZE THE DISCOVERY OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTORS.
Superconductors are materials capable of conducting electricity without resistance, a property that could transform energy transmission, transportation and medical technologies. However, finding new superconductors has been a slow, expensive process due to the complexities of analyzing their properties.
To address this challenge, Richard Hennig, Ph.D., a professor in the UF Department of Materials Science & Engineering, and two of his doctoral students, Jason Gibson and Ajinkya Hire, developed BETE-NET (Bootstrapped Ensemble of Tempered Equivariant Graph Neural Networks). This AI-driven model integrates physical principles with machine learning to predict superconducting properties, including the critical temperature (Tc) at which a material becomes superconducting.
In their study, “Accelerating Superconductor Discovery through Tempered Deep Learning of the ElectronPhonon Spectral Function,” published in Nature, the team demonstrated BETE-NET’s ability to outperform conventional methods in predicting key superconducting properties.
“BETE-NET stands out because it incorporates phonon interactions directly into its learning process,” Hennig said. “This approach enables high accuracy without requiring massive datasets, a common limitation in materials science.”
The team trained BETE-NET using data from 818 stable
materials, achieving predictions with remarkable precision while significantly reducing computational costs. Using UF’s high-performance computing system, HiPerGator, they applied the model to a large materials database, identifying six known superconductors and proposing 82 new candidates for experimental testing.
The potential impact is broad. Superconducting power grids could eliminate energy loss, reducing costs and improving efficiency. Magnetic levitation trains could become faster and more sustainable. Medical imaging technologies could see both performance improvements and cost reductions. The team also sees potential applications beyond superconductors, including quantum materials and topological insulators. Despite the initial promising results, conventional experimental validation remains essential to confirm BETE-NET’s predictions and identify any unforeseen limitations.
Hennig emphasized the collaborative nature of this breakthrough. “We’re combining expertise from physics, computer science, and materials engineering to address a problem that’s been a bottleneck for decades,” Hennig said. “Integrating AI with established physical principles is opening new doors in materials discovery.”
BETE-NET represents a notable step forward in materials science, demonstrating the power of AI to accelerate discoveries. As researchers refine this technology, its applications could drive progress across multiple industries, shaping a more efficient and sustainable future.
Aroba Saleem, Ph.D., assistant professor, recently led her students on a tour of Townley Engineering and Manufacturing in Candler, Florida, as part of a practical extension of her course, Process Metallurgy/Advanced Metals Processing.
Held in the spring semester, the visit gave students an in-depth view of how Townley leads the industry in providing innovative solutions for abrasion and corrosion problems in dredging, mining and power plant-process circuits. Students observed various molding and casting practices, from raw material preparation to finished metal components. They also got a first-hand look at machining operations, furnace systems, and how molten metals are cast and formed.
“Industry tours give students a chance to see classroom concepts come to life,” said Saleem. “When they engage directly with tools, processes, and professionals, it reinforces their learning and builds confidence in applying their knowledge.”
Located in southeast Marion County, Townley Manufacturing is a family-owned business that started in 1963. The tour of the facility offered a unique opportunity to see how a legacy manufacturer like Townley blends tradition with advanced materials science.
“It tied in so much to the concepts we learned in class,” said fourth-year materials science major Adriana LaVopa. “Seeing every part of the casting process — from mold design to sand selection, melting, pouring, cooling, heat treatments, and finishing operations — was highly informative. And they provided good context.”
Saleem emphasized the importance of industry tours in helping students explore potential career paths, gain exposure to professional standards, and build valuable networks that can lead to jobs and internships.
“This tour was a fantastic way to see process
metallurgy in action, and it provided insight into the workday of some industry professionals,” said LaVopa.
The Townley tour fostered strong student engagement and positive feedback. Students praised the Townley team’s hospitality and generosity, including a special souvenir: a cast-iron gator figurine for each attendee. LaVopa’s gator, named Pearl, now resides in the office of the UF Society of Women Engineers.
“The most memorable part for me has to be either watching molten metal being poured into molds from the observation deck or getting to use the spectrometer and Brinell hardness testers in the lab,” LaVopa said. “It was awe-inspiring to watch glowing orange metal flowing like water and watch the foundry employees handling the giant ladle.”
Committed to hands-on learning and the practical application of theoretical concepts in engineering education, Saleem plans to organize similar industry visits next semester. She hopes sophomores and juniors will take advantage of the opportunity to explore real-world industry standards, procedures, and innovation beyond the textbook.
Since 1921, the University of Florida Hall of Fame has recognized seniors and graduate students who have consistently demonstrated an outstanding commitment to improving UF through scholastic achievement and campus and community involvement. It is one of the most prestigious honors awarded to students by the Division of Student Life at the University of Florida.
Juan Valderrama majored in nuclear engineering and served as president of UF’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) chapter, which was named one of six Gold Chapters of the Year – out of more than 300 chapters and 15,000 attendees – in 2024.
As UF’s SHPE president, Valderrama served on the Golden Gator Council. He also was active in UF’s American Nuclear Society chapter and served as professional development chair for the student group PorColombia.
“Being involved in all of these clubs, organizations and spaces has made my student experience just that much richer,” said Colombia-born Valderrama, also a Reitz Scholar. “As I head out the door, seeing this next generation of students who will be leading these spaces is very fulfilling, very satisfying.”
Valderrama graduated in May 2025 with plans to attend graduate school to continue his studies in nuclear engineering, specifically developing new technologies for fusion energy.
This past spring, Meer Muhtasim Mahfuz, a senior majoring in materials science and engineering, was awarded the highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP).
While at UF, Mahfuz conducted research in the lab of Honggyu Kim, Ph.D., where he focused on the characterization of functional materials and semiconductor thin films using advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques.
“I was initially surprised, and then ecstatic to hear that I received the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship,” Mahfuz said. “This year’s fellowship cycle was particularly challenging, and I must thank my (many) mentors dearly for providing the resources that set me up to receive this honor.
“Through this program, I will have the flexibility to develop the scientific and technical skills that I need to become a successful researcher in the electronic materials field, and I hope to make the most of future opportunities afforded by the GRFP to communicate my scientific work and also mentor students along the way.”
The University of Florida recently took first place at the 2025 TMS Materials Bowl, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition.
The team—Brooke Lastinger, Adriana LaVopa, Morgan Congdon and Alexander Johnstone, coached by Jack Mayer—competed against top undergraduate teams from across the country in a Jeopardy-style quiz covering metallurgy, ceramics, polymers, electronic materials, and general materials science.
The TMS Materials Bowl is a knowledge competition that challenges students’ expertise and quick thinking in
materials science. After advancing through an elimination round, the UF team secured victory in the championship match, earning a cash prize and a big win for the department.
Winning the TMS Materials Bowl not only showcases UF’s excellence in materials science education but also provides the team members with valuable networking opportunities and recognition within the professional community.
Congratulations to Brooke, Adriana, Morgan, Alexander and Coach Jack Mayer for bringing home the title!
... 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.
F.N. Rhines and W.R. Tarr Scholarship
Jason Jaquith
Skye Sisco
Morgan Congdon Aris Graber
Jonathan Hack Memorial Scholarship for Materials Science Shornam Gandhi
Richard G. Connell Scholarship
Peter Mejia
Juan Echeverri
Robert David Adamson Scholarship
Jason Barfield
William Camp
Brooke Lastinger
Alexander Johnstone
Robert E. Reed-Hill Scholarship
Kyle Ferrante
Taylor Shields
Zoe Lipton
Vladimir Grodsky Memorial
Fund Scholarship
Adelyn Jetton
Adriana LaVopa
Benjamin Mellin
Daniel Bolden
Andrew Steiner
Maxwell David
N.L. Griesheimer Memorial Scholarship
William Adkins
Evan Adler
Alan M. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship
Lance Martin Allannah Dean
Isabella De Paola
Shenandoah Sedio
Audrey Norton Eden Thomas
Nathanael Burdzy
Phillip Meyer
James E. Swander Memorial Scholarship
Brandon Bohannon
Justin Borrero
Ohanian Scholarship
Joseph Kaminer
William St. Joseph
Enrique Medici
Paul McIntyre
Elijah Esther
Griffin West
Roberto Pagano Memorial Scholarship
Lazaro Fuentes-Alfonso
Jacob Wisienski
Fred Anduze
Benjamin David
Dylan Jurski
Rachel Wood
Emily Gunger
Ric Perez Scholarship
Rita Paredes
Ryan Rodriguez
Aileen Sarceno
UF NRC Undergraduate Scholarship
Lazaro Fuentes-Alfonso
Fred Anduze
Benjamin David
William St. Peter
Joseph Kaminer
Eden Thomas
Shenandoah Sedio
Associate Professor, Section Chief of Imaging Physics
Oregon Health & Science University
Lindsay DeWeese, Ph.D., is a medical physicist and associate professor in the Department of Radiology at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). She is a triple-degree Gator (B.S. and M.S. in Nuclear Engineering Sciences, Ph.D. in Medical Physics).
Teaching and mentoring are her life’s passions. She is the Assistant Director of the medical physics graduate program and Director of the residency program, which she founded in 2020. DeWeese was honored with the graduate program’s first Faculty Impact Award in 2017 (and again in 2020 and 2022), a student-chosen award that honors the faculty with the greatest impact on students.
This year, DeWeese became the Imaging Physics Section Chief. In the field of medical physics, women make up just 25% of the workforce but only 12% of clinical leadership roles. She seeks to improve access for other women in her field. She has been invited to presentations on breaking down barriers to leadership for women in medical physics and given talks on improving gender equity through the establishment of a women-focused faculty development program at OHSU.
She has prominent national leadership roles volunteering with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, the American Board of Radiology and the Society of Directors of Medical Physics Programs. She is an active participant in UF alumni events at national meetings annually. In 2023, she was featured in the Alumni Spotlight for the UF Medical Physics Graduate Program. DeWeese stays true to her orange and blue roots, especially on game days.
STORY: ROYCE COPELAND
When Sagid Salah, Ph.D., (B.S. ’58, M.S. ’60, Ph.D. ’64) first arrived in Gainesville in 1954, he was 21 years old, had just survived nearly four years as a prisoner during the Korean War, and was technically stateless. He spoke English thanks to a Catholic priest and a missionary who had tutored him in the prison camp but had no high school diploma. What he did have was persistence, curiosity and an unshakable belief that education could open the door to a new life.
The University of Florida opened that door.
Born in Seoul, Korea, in 1932 to parents who had fled the Russian Revolution, Salah grew up surrounded by cultural diversity and conflict. When the Korean War broke out, his entire family was captured and detained in a series of North Korean prison camps for nearly four years. He was just 17 years old. Held alongside American POWs, Salah faced brutal conditions, including a harrowing nine-day, 120-mile winter march through the mountains. Many around him didn’t survive. But during this time, amid unimaginable hardship, Salah developed the resilience and sense of responsibility that would guide him for the rest of his life.
While imprisoned, Salah quietly made a courageous move that helped secure the release of 19 refugees—including his own family—by negotiating with Russian agents under the guise of cooperation. It was a secret he kept for decades before revealing it in his memoir, Stateless.
“We were subjected to freezing temperatures, abuse and starvation,” Salah recalled. “Many didn’t make it out alive. But my experiences taught me never to lose hope, to keep working hard, and to look out for those around me.”
After his release, Salah applied for a U.S. visa and emigrated to the United States, settling in Gainesville with help from a sponsor. Though initially turned away by UF due to a lack of formal academic records,
Salah insisted he could handle it because in addition to attending boarding school when he was younger, he had also studied vocabulary and writing in the prison camps. UF Admissions suggested that he go to high school for a semester, and if he did well, they would accept him.
From that point on, he never looked back.
Salah earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering with an option for nuclear engineering in just three and a half years. He followed that with a master’s degree and went on to earn a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering. Along with scholarships, he supported himself by working in the school cafeteria, as a teaching assistant, and as an electrical contractor. He lived at the Cooperative Living Organization, forming lifelong friendships, and was moved to see a photo of himself still hanging in their kitchen decades later.
His career took him to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Westinghouse’s space nuclear program, and ultimately, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, where he spent decades helping ensure the safety of the country’s commercial nuclear power plants. He also taught nuclear engineering at the University of Maryland, passing on his passion for science to a new generation.
Now in his 90s, Salah lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Ravile. He’s still curious, still traveling, and still looking up — literally. As a longtime Northern Virginia Astronomy Club member, he’s traveled the globe chasing celestial events, from solar eclipses in Indonesia to the Aurora Borealis in Alaska.
Looking back on his life, Salah reflects with gratitude and perspective. “Being in a POW camp made me appreciate freedom in a way most people never have to,” he said. “Every day since then has felt like a gift.”
His message for today’s students?
“Appreciate what you have. Learn as much as you can. There’s so much potential to improve the world — and it’s brilliant students who will make it happen.”
He credits UF with more than just an education — it gave him a sense of place and possibility.
“I received an excellent education from the University of Florida and am so thankful for the career and life that my education made a reality for me,” he says. “Go Gators!”
DEPARTMENT OF MATERIALS
SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
P.O. BOX 116400
GAINESVILLE, FL 32611-6131
MSE.UFL.EDU
