Category: Faculty Highlights

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Young Investigator Program (YIP) is a highly competitive and prestigious award granted to early-career scientists and engineers who show exceptional promise. It provides three years of research funding totaling $450,000. Beyond the monetary support, being selected is a significant professional honor. Patrick Musgrave, mechanical and aerospace engineer […]

Patrick Musgrave, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Florida, has been awarded a CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation, one of the most prestigious honors given to early-career faculty in science and engineering. The award supports both groundbreaking research and educational outreach, and it includes federal funding for a five-year project aimed […]

Enzymes are nature’s tiny machines, responsible for everything from digesting food to breaking down environmental pollutants. But what if we could design custom-made enzymes to tackle real-world challenges—like neutralizing harmful chemicals or detecting diseases—more efficiently than ever before? Jing Pan Ph. D., a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the […]

As we welcome summer, I’m proud to reflect on another extraordinary season at MAE. This edition of our newsletter showcases the incredible breadth and depth of work happening across our department—from space biomanufacturing and award-winning research to student-driven innovation and alumni distinction. Each story speaks to the excellence that defines us. Our faculty continue to […]

The UF Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering gathered at the Wayne J. Reitz Union’s Rion Ballroom for a vibrant evening of celebration, honoring the outstanding achievements of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Dr. Warren Dixon warmly welcomed the crowd as guests enjoyed dinner, lively conversation, and a shared sense of pride in the […]

James A. Trainham James A. Trainham, Professor and Associate Chair for Industry Relations at the University of Florida’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, has retired after an illustrious career that seamlessly bridged academia and industry. His tenure at the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE) has been marked by significant contributions to advancing renewable […]

Douglas Spearot, Ph.D., the Newton C. Ebaugh Professor, has been recognized by The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), the largest professional society for materials science and engineering. TMS has more than 10,000 members worldwide, and only nine professionals were selected this year for the Brimacombe Medal. The Brimacombe Medal is a mid-career award that […]

A new experiment that launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on November 4th, 2024, and returned on December 17th, 2024, explored how microbes can help produce useful materials like medicines and plastics in space. The experiment was part of a larger project to see how microbes perform in the low-gravity environment, and to determine […]

Enhancing Heat Dissipation in Mobility Technologies As electric vehicles and other advanced mobility technologies continue to evolve, one of the biggest challenges remains efficient heat dissipation. Youngsup Song, Ph.D., a researcher in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida, is working on innovative thermal interface materials to address this issue. […]

Gator Engineers are Bringing Home Gold In the vibrant spirit of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida is basking in the glory of its own golden achievements. Just as Olympic athletes strive for the pinnacle of excellence, our esteemed faculty members are setting unparalleled standards […]