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.
Enrique Medici, a Ph.D. candidate in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Florida, published his first first-author paper in the Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry. The work, completed in the Optical Science & Nonproliferation group under Prof. Kyle Hartig, showcases rigorous spectroscopic measurement and data-driven analysis to advance nuclear measurement science relevant to nonproliferation and security. This milestone highlights Enrique’s growing leadership as an independent researcher and strengthens UF’s profile in cutting-edge detection and forensics.
Enrique Medici, a Ph.D. candidate in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Florida, was selected as one of only five recipients of the U.S. Air Force SMART Fellowship. As a SMART Scholar, he will work with the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC)—including a June 2025 mission visit—gaining first-hand exposure to nuclear detection and treaty verification operations. Enrique, a member of UF’s Optical Science & Nonproliferation group under Prof. Kyle Hartig, brings a strong background in computational modeling and spectroscopy for post-detonation nuclear forensics, underscoring both his promise as a next-generation researcher and UF’s growing impact at the nexus of national defense and scientific innovation.
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.
Justin Borrero, a DoD SMART Fellow and Ph.D. candidate in Nuclear Engineering at the University of Florida, represented UF and the Consortium for Nuclear Forensics (CNF) at ITWG-28 in Bologna, Italy. He delivered an invited talk on his doctoral research—integrating high-resolution spectroscopy, data fusion, and isotopic modeling with machine learning to improve nuclear material characterization—and provided an overview of the DOE/NNSA-funded CNF. Justin’s participation underscores his leadership in the nuclear forensics community and highlights UF’s role in advancing international collaboration and technical innovation in nuclear security.
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.