Category: News

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 […]

Dr. Jie Fu (PI) has been awarded $1.3 million in funding from the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory for the project titled “Strategic Planning in Hierarchical Games: Achieving Rapid Dominance in the Uncertain World of Conflict (Shadow),” under Cooperative Agreement #W911NF-25-2-0045. Distinguished Professor Warren Dixon, chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University […]

For Josh Ehrlich, a University of Florida Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering alumnus, a passion for space has fueled a career with some of the most prestigious names in aerospace, including NASA, SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, and Blue Origin. His journey, from designing space systems to an eight-month Mars analog mission, proves that success isn’t about flawless […]

As the school year ends and engineering seniors bid a fond farewell, it would not be complete without the honor of bestowing superstar seniors with the Attributes of a Gator Engineer Award. These awards are presented to six undergraduate seniors who exemplify the highest ideals of the engineering community. The award categories are: Creativity, Leadership, […]

MAE Students Awarded Prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships The University of Florida’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is proud to announce that two of its brightest students have been named recipients of the highly competitive 2025 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. This prestigious honor recognizes outstanding students who are pursuing advanced degrees […]

The University of Florida’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is proud to announce that two of its brightest students have been named recipients of the highly competitive 2025 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. This prestigious honor recognizes outstanding students who are pursuing advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and it […]

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 […]

MOOchanics LLC, a startup born from a University of Florida senior design team project, is making notable progress as it prepares for the Big Idea Gator Business Plan Competition. The company was recently selected as an inaugural member of the F-300 AgFoodTech Startup Accelerator, a pioneering agricultural development initiative aimed at strengthening Newberry’s agri-food tech […]

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., 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 recognizes […]

Congratulations to our exceptional MAE staff for receiving recognition through the Division Three Superior Accomplishment Awards! These prestigious University-wide honors highlight faculty and staff for their outstanding contributions to their workplaces and their ability to foster collaboration. Team Collaboration – MAE Facilities The MAE facilities team plays an essential role in running department activities and […]

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 […]

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is a vibrant and dynamic community of Black scientists, engineers, and students from a wide array of disciplines and backgrounds. For students in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida, as well as other engineering disciplines across campus, NSBE serves as an invaluable […]