Category: Feature

UF physicists celebrate prestigious Breakthrough Prize

A global research team led by six UF physics professors—Andrey Korytov, Ph.D., Guenakh Mitselmakher, Ph.D., Jacobo Konigsberg, Ph.D., Philip Chang, Ph.D., Yuta Takahashi, Ph.D., and Paul Avery, Ph.D.—has won the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, one of the world’s most prestigious science prizes. The $3 million award honors discoveries and measurements made at the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s biggest and most powerful international scientific experiment, located in Europe.

Spring commencement speakers announced

Two leaders celebrated for their achievements and warmth will be the commencement speakers at Spring Commencement at the University of Florida in May.

Unraveling the mysteries of dark energy at UF

Recently, groundbreaking data has brought new urgency to the study of dark energy. Zachary Slepian, Ph.D., an associate professor in the UF Department of Astronomy and a member of the Astraeus Space Institute, is at the forefront of this cosmic investigation.

UF Research Foundation names 2025 professors

The University of Florida Research Foundation has named 35 of the university’s most productive and promising faculty members as UFRF Professors for 2025. 

The UFRF Professors were recommended by their college deans based on nominations from their department chairs, a personal statement and an evaluation of their recent research accomplishments as evidenced by publications in scholarly journals, external funding, honors and awards, development of intellectual property and other measures appropriate to their field of expertise.

Discover exclusive summer savings for UF faculty and staff  

With summer right around the corner, now is the perfect time to explore savings opportunities available to you as UF faculty and staff! From theme parks and blueberry picking to pet sitting services, car rentals and more, we’ve curated a list of GatorPerks discounts to help you make the most of your summer vacation.

The sweet history of chocolate draws thousands to St. Augustine

Tourism in St. Augustine got a delicious boost last winter when UF researchers introduced a free exhibit about the history of chocolate, created thanks to a $14,000 Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History Grant.

UF professor Clarissa Carr, Ph.D., and UF Master of Historic Preservation student Anthea Grant, pictured above, were recently awarded an additional $17,000 to conduct further research on cultural traditions related to cocoa production.

UF’s Florida LAKEWATCH program saved State of Florida $5M in 2024

The University of Florida’s Florida LAKEWATCH program saved the state an estimated $5 million in water quality monitoring, according to a 2024 annual report released in March. Florida LAKEWATCH is a volunteer lake-monitoring program that facilitates hands-on participation in the management of Florida lakes, estuaries, rivers and springs through monthly monitoring activities. 

2025 Superior Accomplishment Awards recognize outstanding and meritorious service

Twenty staff and faculty members representing a wide range of experience and hailing from UF locations throughout Florida were recognized for their outstanding service in a ceremony held today at the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom.

Apply now for 2025–26 leadership development programs

Faculty and staff are invited to apply for the 2025–26 UF Academy and Advanced Leadership for Academics and Professionals programs now through May 2. Applications for the Managers Cohort will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Read on to learn more about each program.

Health challenges astronauts face after nine months in space

As part of the University of Florida’s ongoing research into astronaut health, Rachael Seidler, Ph.D., a leading expert in spaceflight-associated health changes, is studying the long-term effects of space travel on astronauts’ brains and bodies.

Seidler’s research, part of a broader collaboration with NASA to assess astronaut long-term health, focuses on understanding how the central nervous system and brain structure adapt to the challenges of space travel, as well as how these changes affect performance, balance and mobility once astronauts return to Earth.