In the early 2000’s, research in nanoscience and related fields at UF was growing in multiple colleges and departments across campus. Increasingly UF researchers found their collaborations broadening to take advantage of the research opportunities arising at the interfaces of the traditional disciplines. Early planning by key faculty identified a need to establish a new research infrastructure for nanoscience that would not only create new, state-of-the-art research facilities; but would markedly strengthen and coalesce the existing nanotechnology research.

In 2004, the NIMET Planning Committeewas formed to develop plans to address these opportunities. It included faculty and administrators from the Colleges of Engineering, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Medicine; the NIMET Director; representatives from the Office of Research; and members of the Facilities Planning & Construction organization from the University. The NIMET Committee helped justify ~$35M in funding from the State of Florida for construction of the new Nanoscale Research Facility (NRF), and worked actively with the design/construction team throughout the design phase to ensure that the future research needs were incorporated into the design of the new building.

Dr. Bill Appleton served as the founding NIMET Director from 2005 to 2012, Dr. David P. Arnold served as Interim Director from 2012 to 2013, and Dr. Jack W. Judy has served as NIMET Director since 2013.