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Drones and decisions: UF optimizing communication among autonomous units

May 1, 2026

Imagine a cluster of drones swarming above a dense thicket of trees, eyeing its way through unfamiliar topography to locate a missing person amid unpredictable weather.   Each drone has its own complex communication and computing capabilities. But as that weather starts to sour against the clock, the rescue mission requires group optimization, not a single […]

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Solar car in front of brightly colored screen with large black letters "FLARE".

UF Solar Gators unveil sleeker sun racer to go the distance

April 30, 2026

With a black cloth draped over months of work, anticipation built earlier this month as the University of Florida’s Solar Gators prepared to reveal the next evolution of their solar-powered race car.  When the cover finally dropped, applause and possibility filled the room as Flare — sleeker, larger and reengineered — marked the team’s latest […]

Read more: UF Solar Gators unveil sleeker sun racer to go the distance »
Anil Rajvanshi is presented with an award by another professor

From steam engines to solar solutions: Meet UF distinguished engineering alumnus Anil Rajvanshi

April 30, 2026

As a boy in India, Anil Rajvanshi often found himself at the train station intently observing locomotives and dreaming.  “I just would stand in front of this huge steam engine and be mesmerized,” recalled Rajvanshi, Ph.D. “I thought that the best thing in the world would be an engine driver. And then I found this […]

Read more: From steam engines to solar solutions: Meet UF distinguished engineering alumnus Anil Rajvanshi »
headshot of SA Sherif smiling incorporated into a bright blue design featuring a fluid‑dynamics–style swirl pattern in red and blue. At the center-left of the image is the University of Florida’s orange-and-white “UF” logo above the text “Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering” and large white letters reading “MAE.”

SA Sherif Earns UF Mentoring Honors and ASME Dedicated Service Award

April 15, 2026

Many of us remember a mentor whose influence stayed with us long after the lessons ended. Someone whose guidance continues to shape how we think, work and lead. For many doctoral students in the department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida, SA Sherif, Ph.D., has been that steady voice throughout their […]

Read more: SA Sherif Earns UF Mentoring Honors and ASME Dedicated Service Award »
Banner featuring Chuck Jackson and Albert the Gator doing the gator chomp

Inventing the Future of Flight: Chuck Jackson’s Journey from UF to GE Aerospace

April 6, 2026

Chuck Jackson has dedicated his career at GE Aerospace to advancing technological programs in the commercial aviation industry. Jackson graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1995. Soon after Chuck continued his schooling at the University of Cincinnati where he received his master’s degree and then went on […]

Read more: Inventing the Future of Flight: Chuck Jackson’s Journey from UF to GE Aerospace »
Ghatu Subash Headshot next to UF MAE logo on blue gator skin pattern background.

Subhash Selected for Prestigious Society of Engineering Science Fellowship

March 30, 2026

Ghatu Subhash, Ph.D., was selected for fellowship at the prestigious Society of Engineering Science (SES). This society sets itself apart because of its acute focus on engineering theory rather than practical applications. Small but mighty, SES boasts members from the National Academy of Science (NAS) and of Engineering (NES) as well as top researchers from […]

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Members of Florida Rocket Lab Student Team work with equipment.

Florida Rocket Lab Achieves First-Ever Liquid Rocket Engine Hotfire in UF History

March 20, 2026

Florida Rocket Lab, a student team at the University of Florida Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering has successfully designed, built and hotfired “Sparrow,” a proven 550 lbf bipropellant rocket engine. The result marks a historic milestone for the university, as it completed a series of full-duration hotfires with zero failures, the first in UF […]

Read more: Florida Rocket Lab Achieves First-Ever Liquid Rocket Engine Hotfire in UF History »
Headshot of Dr. Yong Huang, UF Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering professor, with a blue and orange banner with UF MAE graphic element.

Engineering the Future, Mentoring the Next: Yong Huang Ph.D.

March 12, 2026

Dr. Yong Huang is a professor in the departments of mechanical and aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, and electrical and computer Engineering at the University of Florida. A passionate researcher and mentor, Huang focuses on advanced manufacturing, particularly how materials behave during processing and how innovative manufacturing methods can be used to tackle […]

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Portraits of University of Florida mechanical and aerospace engineering faculty members John Conklin and Peter Wass against a galaxy-themed background.

MAE Faculty Recognized with NASA Group Achievement Award for LISA Mission

March 12, 2026

Faculty members John Conklin and Peter Wass in the University of Florida’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering have been recognized with a NASA Group Achievement Award for their contributions to the **Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission Study Team. The award, issued in July 2025, recognizes the team “for exceptional performance and success in […]

Read more: MAE Faculty Recognized with NASA Group Achievement Award for LISA Mission »
Banner with UF logo and picture of 2026 Haythornthwaite grant winners (from left to right: Junsoo Kim (Northwestern University), Angkur JD Shaikeea (California Institute of Technology), Vatsa Gandhi (University of California Los Angeles), Chase Hartquist (University of Florida)) on dark blue background with orange accent lines.

Chase Hartquist Awarded Prestigious Haythornthwaite Foundation Grant for Early-Career Faculty

March 5, 2026

Chase Hartquist, Ph.D., was presented with the Haythornthwaite Foundation Research Initiation Grant by the Applied Mechanics Division of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). This award is for early-career faculty that engage in theoretical and applied mechanics research; recipients are expected to present their progress on their proposed project by the next year. Hartquist […]

Read more: Chase Hartquist Awarded Prestigious Haythornthwaite Foundation Grant for Early-Career Faculty »