Category: Research Highlights

Recognition for Excellence The University of Florida Industrial Training and Assessment Center (UF-ITAC), housed in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and directed by S.A. Sherif, Ph.D., has been named the 2026 U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Training and Assessment Center of the Year, the highest recognition awarded among ITACs nationwide. The Center of […]

When astronauts travel deeper into space, every drop of fuel becomes critical, and keeping those fuels stable for months or even years is one of the biggest engineering challenges facing future missions. Now, University of Florida researchers have uncovered a surprising behavior in boiling liquids that could help solve that challenge. The findings, published July […]

A cross-disciplinary research team led by the University of Florida won a prestigious federal grant on Wednesday to develop an autonomous artificial intelligence platform that could fundamentally change how new materials are discovered.   Selected from more than 5,000 applications, the project is one of 278 chosen under the U.S. Department of Energy’s highly competitive Genesis Mission Request […]

Year after year, engineering students at the University of Florida face a similar challenge: internships can shape their future, but they’re unsure of which opportunities will match their goals, abilities and emerging sense of self as engineers. A new artificial intelligence system, developed by UF researchers, aims to make the decision easier. Pro-CaRE, created by […]

Looking Beyond the Surface Some engineering problems are easy to see. Others remain hidden deep within rocket engines, medical devices, and components so small that conventional tools cannot physically reach them. Those invisible challenges are exactly what fascinates Hitomi Yamaguchi Greenslet, Ph.D. “If I ask you to put your finger inside a hypodermic needle, you […]

Mechanical Engineering Experience If you are an engineer, there is a good chance that you still remember your Capstone project. Capstone is the culminating experience of an undergraduate engineer’s time in MAE – it is an opportunity for students to combine all of the practical and theoretical knowledge that they have accumulated to create a […]

Elementary school students across Florida are using robotic fish to learn one of science’s most fundamental skills: asking questions. A partnership between the University of Florida Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Thompson Earth Systems Institute at the Florida Museum of Natural History is developing hands-on classroom kits that help students investigate scientific concepts through […]

For Yu Wang, Ph.D., engineering has always been about more than technology. It’s about people. Long before receiving one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for early-career faculty, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, Wang was fascinated by a simple question: How can we teach autonomous systems to be safer, more reliable, and more beneficial […]

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 […]

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 […]

As we start the new calendar year and welcome the energy of the spring semester, I’m excited to share the remarkable accomplishments, innovations, and milestones from across UF MAE. Our department continues to thrive with the creativity, dedication, and collaboration of our faculty, staff, and students. Completing our hiring cycle from last year, we’re thrilled to fully welcome six […]

Malisa Sarntinoranont, Ph.D., Professor, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College, is a leading force in interdisciplinary engineering, integrating mechanical and biomedical research at the Soft Tissue Mechanics and Drug Delivery Laboratory. The Sarntinoranont group is developing exciting research tools for soft tissue mechanics associated with tumors and drug delivery in the body. Their […]

Backed by a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation, a University of Florida research team is combining living cells with solid-state materials to develop better tools for environmental monitoring. The idea revolves around biotechnology, which uses living organisms and biological processes to develop products and technologies. The UF engineering team plans to program […]

Longer-lasting phones, lighter drones, electric cars that drive farther. These are just some of the possibilities thanks to a new battery separator design from University of Florida researchers and their partners. Think of a tiny coffee filter, but this one works inside a battery. The team recently showed that a one-atom-thick filter can block sulfur […]

Proudly annoucing the release of MAE’s third annual magazine publication! We invite you to explore this edition of MAEmomentum, our most expansive yet, packed with stories showcasing the incredible work of our MAE community—students, student groups, faculty, staff, alumni, and development partners. These pages reflect the impact and ingenuity of our community as we continue to advance […]