Drones and decisions: UF optimizing communication among autonomous units
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 drone…
UF Solar Gators unveil sleeker sun racer to go the distance
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 step…
From steam engines to solar solutions: Meet UF distinguished engineering alumnus Anil Rajvanshi
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 guy…
SA Sherif Earns UF Mentoring Honors and ASME Dedicated Service Award
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 academic…
Inventing the Future of Flight: Chuck Jackson’s Journey from UF to GE Aerospace
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 to…
Subhash Selected for Prestigious Society of Engineering Science Fellowship
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 around…
Florida Rocket Lab Achieves First-Ever Liquid Rocket Engine Hotfire in UF History
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 history….
Engineering the Future, Mentoring the Next: Yong Huang Ph.D.
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 real-world…
MAE Faculty Recognized with NASA Group Achievement Award for LISA Mission
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 achieving…
Chase Hartquist Awarded Prestigious Haythornthwaite Foundation Grant for Early-Career Faculty
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 leads…