2024
November 4th, 2024 - UF Optical Science and Nonproliferation Group Sweeps Awards at 2024 SciX Meeting
The University of Florida’s Optical Science and Nonproliferation Research Group made a stellar impression at the 2024 SciX Meeting, in Raleigh, NC bringing home multiple prestigious awards and highlighting the exceptional talent within our program.
At the Society for Applied Spectroscopy (SAS) reception opening night of the conference, Justin Borrero was honored with the Best Atomic Spectroscopy Poster award. His innovative research in atomic spectroscopy coupled with machine learning captured the attention of experts in the field, showcasing groundbreaking advancements in the characterization of nuclear materials using optical techniques.
In recognition of his superior research achievement and excellence as a graduate student in atomic spectroscopy, Kyle S. Latty received the Atomic Student Award from SAS. This award underscores Kyle’s dedication and significant contributions to the scientific community having published seven journal articles as a graduate student.
Adding to the accolades, Justin Borrero and Kyle Latty jointly secured the Second Place Overall Poster award at the conference from the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies (FACSS). Competing against over 200 other participants representing a global array of researchers, their collaborative work stood out for its innovation and impact along with Kyle’s exceptional presentation skills.
“We are incredibly proud of Justin and Kyle’s achievements at the SciX Meeting,” said Prof. Kyle C. Hartig, Director of the Optical Science and Nonproliferation Group at UF. “Their success reflects the high level of research and scholarship we strive for and serves as an inspiration to other students in our program.”
The SciX conference is renowned for bringing together leading minds in analytical chemistry and applied spectroscopy. The outstanding performance of our group members not only elevates their individual profiles but also enhances the University of Florida’s reputation in the scientific community.
Please join us in congratulating Justin and Kyle on their exceptional accomplishments!
Stay connected with us for more success stories from our group.
August 20th, 2024 - OSN PI Prof. Kyle C. Hartig Receives Tenure and Promotion
OSN PI Dr. Kyle C. Hartig was awarded tenure and promotion to Associate Professor as of August 16th, 2024.
August 20th, 2024 - Paige Anderson Receives AFRL Award
Paige Anderson (CISE 2025) an undergraduate OSN Group Member was awarded 1st place at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholar Research Symposium for her work during her summer internship as an AFRL Scholar at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM.
May 1st, 2024 - Undergraduate OSN Members Awarded ANS Scholarships
Enrique Medici and Caitlin Martin (OSN Group Members) were awarded American Nuclear Society Scholarships.
These awards come with a substantial monetary value along with national recognition of their achievements highlighting their merits and achievements in pursuit of their nuclear engineering education.
More informaiton can be found on the ANS website here: https://www.ans.org/scholarships/recipients/
Congrats to Enrique and Caitlin!
Of the three awards given to UF students by ANS, two are members of the OSN group and all three are mentored by Prof. Hartig.
April 19th, 2024 - Weslee Kersey Receives DoD SMART Fellowship
Congrats to first-year PhD Student Weslee Kersey on receiving the DoD SMART Fellowship that will start in Fall 2024.
Weslee’s DoD SMART Fellowship award makes the Optical Science and Nonproliferation group 4-0 for students in the group who have applied to the program.
Congrats Weslee!
April 8th, 2024 - Enrique Medici Awarded DOE UNLP Scholarship
I am thrilled to extend my congratulations to Enrique Medici for being awarded the prestigious DOE UNLP scholarship. This achievement stands as a testament to his unwavering dedication, exceptional academic prowess, and tireless commitment to excellence.
The DOE UNLP scholarship is a distinguished honor, recognizing Enrique Medici as an outstanding scholar with immense potential and promising future contributions. This accomplishment not only highlights his academic achievements but also underscores his passion for nuclear engineering and dedication to personal growth.
Congratulations once again, Enrique Medici, on this well-deserved recognition. Your achievements inspire us all, and we eagerly anticipate the great accomplishments that lie ahead in your academic journey.
Go Gators!
~H
April 4th, 2024 - Thiago Arnaud Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
We are thrilled to announce that Thiago Arnaud, an exceptional undergraduate member of the Optical Science and Nonproliferation Group, has been awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) award. This highly competitive and prestigious fellowship recognizes Thiago’s outstanding potential as a researcher and leader in materials science and engineering. He has demonstrated exceptional dedication and talent in laser-matter interactions, and we are proud to see him receive this well-deserved recognition. Thiago will undoubtedly make significant contributions to interdisciplinary materials science and engineering and continue to excel in his academic and research pursuits.
Congrats Thiago!
OSN Featured on Cover of Journal of Applied Spectroscopy
Congratulations to Dr. Emily Kwapis, a recent (defended Feb. 16) Ph.D. graduate of the OSN group and a DoD SMART Fellow, for her leadership alongside several SRNL colleagues as co-authors on an impactful article in the journal Applied Spectroscopy that has been selected by the editors to be featured as the cover article for the April issue, marking a significant achievement.
Eliel Villa-Aleman, Bryan J. Foley, Thomas C. Shehee, Don D. Dick, Jason R. Darvin, and Henry M. Ajo from SRNL are co-authors and contributed substantially to the impactful article and its selection to be featured on the cover of the journal.
March 5th, 2024 - Paige Anderson Selected for Two University Initiatives
Paige Anderson, OSN Undergraduate Researcher, has been selected for participation in the UF Undergraduate Research Scholars Program that is offered to the top 2% of students and was created to involve students in undergraduate research. Additionally, Paige was selected as an inaugural participant in the Florida Institute for National Security (FINS) Cleared Talent Student Pipeline Program.
Congrats Paige and keep up the amazing work!
January 5th, 2024 - OSN Group Featured in UF Research Article
The UF lead NNSA Consortium for Nuclear Forensics was featured in the Fall Semester UF Research Explore Magazine where the OSN group was featured along with the MANATEE group lead by Dr. Aitkaliyeva and the TARDIS group lead by Dr. Baciak.
January 4th, 2024 - Article Featured as Cover of Applied Spectroscopy Journal
Congrats to Emily, Kyle, and Justin (all OSN PhD students and DoD SMART Fellows) for leading the authorship of a nearly 50 page review article in the journal Applied Spectroscopy that was selected by the editors to be featured as the cover article for the January issue of the journal! Hunter Andrews from ORNL and Supy Phongikaroon from VCU both collaborators of the OSN group helped to co-author the article.
