Florida Engineer | 2025

Amid a year of national change and uncertainty, the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering has not only persevered but set new records, forging ahead with unwavering momentum.

From record-breaking undergraduate enrollment in the fall to unprecedented research awards and major infrastructure investments, 2024 demonstrated that it was just the beginning. We marked the one-year anniversary of the state-of-the-art, 263,000-square-foot Malachowsky Hall for Data Science & Information Technology while launching transformative, cross-college partnerships in generative AI, AI-powered athletics, digital twins, semiconductors, industrialized construction engineering (in partnership with Autodesk), quantum computing and space exploration.

Our student teams dominated national competitions, from Steel Bridge and Concrete Canoe to Solar Gators and iGEM. Meanwhile, our Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers earned top national honors. We successfully completed ABET accreditation for 12 degree programs while pushing forward new initiatives to enhance the student experience — including two new degree programs in AI Systems and Applied Data Science, seven remote Ph.D. programs and the launch of the Experiential Learning Center.

In this issue, you’ll discover the remarkable ways our students and faculty are driving innovation in global health and safety. From pioneering HIV prevention and testing to tracking the spread of cholera worldwide and ensuring a secure food supply, our college is making a tangible impact. We’re also tackling critical challenges in cybersafety, public health and the future of smart manufacturing — advancing solutions that shape industries and improve lives.

My journey will continue at Oregon State University as I take on the role as the Kearney Dean of Engineering this summer. But my heart will remain with the University of Florida. Once a Gator, always a Gator. And as the search for a permanent dean nears its conclusion, I am deeply honored to have served this college for the past two and a half years. The vision and foundation set by those before me have propelled us to new heights — an extraordinary journey I first experienced as a student. This full-circle moment reaffirms our commitment to excellence, resilience and the pursuit of groundbreaking discoveries that empower our students, faculty and staff.

Now, as we move into the second half of 2025, the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering is on an unstoppable rise. The momentum is building, and we can’t wait to share what’s next!

Forrest J. Masters, Ph.D., P.E. (FL)
Professor and Interim Dean of Engineering