Our group’s mission is to advance optical and laser-based sensing with complementary radiation detection, achieve deterrence through capability in verification and forensics, and develop the next generation of leaders via experiential learning, cross-disciplinary training, and sustained collaborations with national labs and security partners.
Highlighted News
We’re proud to share that Paige Anderson and Eric Realmuto have been selected for the 2025 NSSC Summer School hosted at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)—a highly competitive program focused on nuclear forensics, detection technologies, and global security challenges. Their selection reflects both their outstanding contributions at UF and the growing national recognition of our group’s high-impact research. Please join us in congratulating Paige and Eric on this well-deserved opportunity to collaborate with LLNL scientists and deepen their technical expertise.
The UF Optical Science and Nonproliferation Group traveled to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, for the MARC XIII conference, joining an international community advancing radioanalytical chemistry. Under Prof. Kyle C. Hartig’s mentorship, the team contributed across multiple tracks, sparking conversations, new collaborations, and broader visibility for the group’s research. Beyond the sessions, students connected with DOE lab mentors and peers, returning with fresh insight, motivation, and invitations to collaborate.
We’re thrilled to share that Enrique Medici (B.S. Nuclear Engineering) has been awarded a highly competitive DoD SMART Fellowship. The award provides full tuition, a generous stipend, and guaranteed summer internships with his sponsor, the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC), with a transition to a full-time role at AFTAC after his Ph.D. Enrique’s selection reflects his outstanding promise in nuclear engineering and national security, as well as our group’s strong mentorship culture and UF’s commitment to developing future leaders.
Our vision
A world where agile, precision photonic and quantum-enhanced systems make the unseen measurable and the ambiguous attributable—closing verification gaps and strengthening nonproliferation through deterrence through capability. Our group will be a recognized nexus linking optical science, nuclear security technology, and policy, shaping the next generation of tools and talent that keep society safer.