Category: Feature

UF holds its place among U.S. News top public universities

The University of Florida has ranked No. 7 among public universities in the country, marking the eighth consecutive year UF has placed among the nation’s top 10 public institutions, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings released earlier this week.

“UF’s ranking among the very best public universities in the country reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff and students and the strong support we receive from the state of Florida, for which we are grateful,” said Mori Hosseini, chair of UF’s Board of Trustees.

Tracking the fiery path of particles: UF leads combustion research

Armed with a $11 million cooperative agreement award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, researchers from UF’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Purdue University and Georgia Tech are examining the physics of how particles and droplets burn as a group, a study that may lead to more efficient engines, better combustion in power plants and improved safety measures.

Superior Accomplishment Awards nominations due Oct. 24

The Superior Accomplishment Awards, or SAA, program recognizes UF faculty and staff who have contributed exceptional service in their fields during the previous fiscal year. The deadline to submit nominations is Oct. 24.

Watch this video to learn more about the impact the SAA program has on our employees, and read our latest spotlights to get to know a few of last year’s University-Level SAA recipients.

AI detects hidden movement clues linked to brain disorders, UF study shows

Early detection of even the slightest motor function changes can be critical to slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease. UF researcher Diego L. Guarín, Ph.D., is harnessing AI to spot these subtle changes from video recordings before clinical symptoms become evident to the clinician’s eyes.

Graham Center celebrates 20th anniversary with $5 million gift

The family of former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham has made a $5 million gift to UF to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service.

UF scientist reflects on historic space flight and the future of biology beyond Earth

One year after his pioneering flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, University of Florida space biologist Rob Ferl, Ph.D., is still processing what it meant — not just for his career, but for science itself. This September, Ferl and longtime collaborator Anna-Lisa Paul, Ph.D., will be back at Blue Origin’s West Texas launch site, continuing their work with a new series of plant experiments. 

Gators Give: Join the 2025 UF Campaign for Charities!

The UF Campaign for Charities (UFCC) is now underway and will continue through the end of November. Supporting 101 charitable organizations, the UFCC gives you the opportunity to make a lasting impact within your community.

Want to learn more about the UFCC? Watch interim Provost Joe Glover, Ph.D., interview the champions of UF’s charities as the WUFT Fall Fundraising Drive and UF Campaign for Charities kick into gear. Watch money get funny for a good cause in the Cup o’ Joe Season 2 opener.

Explore UF Engaged resources for supervisors and staff

UF supervisors and staff will receive an email today notifying them they need to complete their semi-annual UF Engaged check-ins by Oct. 31. Providing meaningful feedback plays a crucial role in employee engagement, performance and retention, and check-ins are expected to be completed by all employees.

Supervisors and staff are encouraged to explore the UF Engaged Toolkit for instruction guides, job aids, answers to frequently asked questions and suggested courses.

Congratulations to our August UF at Play winners!

We received over 600 submissions to our UF at Play photo contest this summer — Thank you to all who participated!

New semester, new opportunities: Helping employees thrive at work

The return of our students each fall brings with it a special kind of energy—a sense of renewal, possibility and purpose that is hard to match. The start of a new academic year is always a reminder of why our work matters and the collective impact we make as part of the University of Florida community.