University of Florida Research

Ever heard of a ghost shark? 👻🦈 They’re not spirits or sharks, but @uf-clas.bsky.social Evolution Developmental Biologist, @garethjfraser.bsky.social says they could be key in unlocking some mysteries of human dentistry.

Multi-university AI research may revolutionize wildfire evacuation As wildfires grow wilder, the University of Florida and two other universities are developing large language models to make evacuations safer and more efficient.

As wildfires grow wilder, the University of Florida, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Utah are developing AI-based models to simulate human behavior during wildfire evacuations, aiming to improve safety and planning.

Designing Tomorrow, Today - Explore Magazine DCP's new 50,000–square–foot, $49 million facility is packed with thoughtful design elements and the latest technology.

With sustainable design, advanced visualization tools, and a lab for future building systems, the Collaboratory supports student needs and faculty goals for industry-ready education. To learn more about a bold space for building the future, visit: explore.research.ufl.edu/designing-to...

A portrait photo of Nancy Clark in a white hard hat standing confidently on a construction site, holding onto a metal railing. She is wearing a dark blue outfit and smiles directly at the camera. Construction materials and workers are visible in the background, indicating an active building environment.

A portrait photo of Ravi Srinivasan wearing a suit and a hard hat standing confidently at a construction site. He is positioned near structural beams, with greenery visible in the background.

Chimay Anumba; Nancy Clark, professor and director of the School of Architecture (pictured first); and Ravi Srinivasan, professor and associate dean for research and strategic initiatives (pictured second), are leading by example—creating and designing Florida's future.

An aerial rendering of the Ramos Collaboratory.

Designed as a student-centered, tech-forward hub, the Ramos Collaboratory includes advanced labs, a digital twin system and flexible spaces like the Creative Collisions Commons to foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

An aerial rendering of the Ramos Collaboratory.

Now, nearly a decade later, the college is unveiling the Bruno E. and Maritza F. Ramos Collaboratory, a $49 million, 50,000-square-foot facility, fully operational by Spring 2026.

A portrait photo of Chimay Anumba wearing a hard hat standing confidently on a construction site, holding a smartphone. He is wearing a blazer, white collared shirt and the background features construction materials and equipment.

"The building itself is going to be a living-learning lab.” When Chimay Anumba became dean of The University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning in 2016, he saw the urgent need for a new, collaborative space for students.

Drug Radar - Explore Magazine UF epidemiologist Linda Cottler and her team cast a wide net for fresh clues about emerging illicit drug use and accidental poisonings.

To learn more about drug radar, visit: explore.research.ufl.edu/drug-radar.h...

A photo of Linda Cottler with shoulder-length gray hair sits on a staircase. She wears a gray shirt and black pants, smiling while resting her arms on her knees. The staircase is modern, featuring glass railings and a bright, airy environment.

The National Drug Earlly Warning System (NDEWS) uses tools like Reddit scraping and emergency data to track emerging drug threats in real time. Led by University of Florida epidemiologist Linda Cottler, it helps communities respond quickly to dangers posed by fentanyl and other illicit drugs.

Watchdog journalism’s future may lie in the work of independent reporters like Pablo Torre Underground reporters could be among the last bulwarks against unchecked power.

Podcaster Pablo Torre’s probe into the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard raises concerns about possible NBA rule violations. UF graduate assistant Alex Volonté highlights in @us.theconversation.com the value of independent journalism as traditional media declines.

A photo of Dengjun Wang standing in a laboratory setting, wearing a blue and white checked shirt and glasses. Behind him are various scientific instruments related to agricultural research. The image features the text "THE NEXT GENERATION" prominently above his name. The design incorporates a bold color scheme with blue accents and a 60th-anniversary of Gatorade logo on the top left. The text on the right is " Dengjun Wang - Dengjun Wang, a UF professor in agricultural and biological engineering, is tackling PFAS contamination — harmful “forever chemicals” affecting soil and water. His research combines hydrological modeling with machine learning to track PFAS movement and guide cleanup efforts. Focused on protecting rural communities and agriculture, Wang’s systems-level approach examines how PFAS interact with farming practices. His work aims to develop decision tools for land managers and policymakers to reduce exposure while maintaining productivity."

Meet @ifas.ufl.edu professor Dengjun Wang, whose innovative use of hydrological modeling and machine learning is crucial in combating PFAS contamination — protecting soil, water, and our communities.

A photo of Nils Averesch standing in a laboratory filled with various scientific equipment and supplies. He is smiling and wearing a casual outfit, holding a container. The background features shelves packed with lab materials. The image features the text "THE NEXT GENERATION" prominently above his name. The design incorporates a bold color scheme with blue accents and a 60th-anniversary of Gatorade logo on the top left. The text on the right is "Nils Averesch - Synthetics biologist Nils Averesch is developing microbial systems to support long-term space missions. Formerly at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Averesch now works at UF’s Space Life Science Lab, engineering microbes to produce food, fuel and medicine from limited resources. His vision treats biology as a toolkit for exploration, creating “living factories” that function in space. Averesch’s work not only advances space sustainability but also offers solutions for Earth’s environmental challenges."

Researchers like Nils Averesch are engineering microbes at UF's Space Life Science Lab to create sustainable solutions for space missions and environmental challenges.

An image featuring Keri Hoadley, an aerospace engineer, stands in front of a blue and gray background with various space technology equipment. The image features the text "GATORADE 60 YEARS OF RESEARCH - THE NEXT GENERATION" prominently above her name. The design incorporates a bold color scheme with blue accents and a 60th-anniversary of Gatorade logo on the top left. The text on the right is "Keri Hoadley - UF astronomer Keri Hoadley, who specializes in ultraviolet space instrumentation, is building tools for future space missions, including NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory. The UV Space Lab she leads is outfitted with state-of-the-art tools to design and construct space-bound instruments, positioning UF as a national leader in space technology development. It also integrates with the university’s Astraeus Space Institute, creating a powerful interdisciplinary hub for space exploration."

Keri Hoadley is crafting future-ready technology to explore the cosmos. Hoadley's work on ultraviolet instruments promises to unlock mysteries beyond Earth and advance NASA's space missions.

A portrait of Christian Jobin, a distinguished professor of medicine, is featured. He has long hair and is wearing a white lab coat. The image features the text "GATORADE 60 YEARS OF RESEARCH - THE NEXT GENERATION" prominently above his name. The design incorporates a bold color scheme with blue accents and a 60th-anniversary of Gatorade logo on the top left. The text on the right is "Christian Jobin - Distinguished Professor of Medicine Christian Jobin’s lab has been at the forefront of microbiota research in recent years and has contributed valuable knowledge on how bacteria influence the development of colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer. His lab discovered the cancer-promoting effect of colibactin, a metabolite produced by some gut E. coli, and revealed how inflammation impacts DNA damage induced by microbes that can lead to mutations and diseases like cancer. Jobin is also co-leader of the UF Health Cancer Center’s new Immuno-Oncology and Microbiome (IOM) program."

Meet UF Medicine's Christian Jobin, a visionary in microbiota science. His work on gut bacteria’s role in cancer has advanced scientific understanding and opened new avenues for treatment.

A professional portrait of Jason Butler, standing in a laboratory setting filled with shelves of equipment. The image features the text "GATORADE 60 YEARS OF RESEARCH - THE NEXT GENERATION" prominently above his name. The design incorporates a bold color scheme with blue accents and a 60th-anniversary of Gatorade logo on the top left. The text on the right side is, "Jason Butler, a professor of hematology and oncology, leads a UF Health Cancer Center team that discovered how blocking a protein called thrombospondin-1 can reverse aging in blood stem cells. Their research showed that removing this protein in aged mice restored youthful blood function, improved bone and vascular health, and extended lifespan. The study opens doors to therapies that could enhance immune response and chemotherapy outcomes in older adults. With clinical trials ahead, Butler’s work represents a major step in combating age-related decline."

Meet UF Medicine's Jason Butler — his team found that blocking a protein called thrombospondin-1 can reverse aging in blood stem cells, resulting in restored, youthful blood and stronger bones.

The image features a stylized blue background with the text "GATORADE 60 YEARS OF RESEARCH" in an orange square logo and "THE NEXT GENERATION" in bold white typography. In the background, there are various lab equipment and shelves that appear to belong to a scientific or educational setting.

Gatorade’s 60-year journey — from Dr. Cade’s original tests to fueling athletic excellence — continues to inspire advancements across disciplines.

An infographic with a blue background with a central image of a basketball player in motion, wearing a Florida team jersey. To the left, there is a bottle of Gatorade. The top text highlights "GATORADE 60 YEARS OF RESEARCH," while surrounding timelines list key years from 1965 to 2025, each accompanied by brief descriptions related to Gatorade's development and milestones in sports science. In the lower section, a scientist in a lab coat is shown conducting research.

The University of Florida has received more than $500 million in Gatorade royalties, showcasing how research-driven innovation can fuel major funding and inspire cross-disciplinary progress.

Buzz Off - Explore Magazine UF researchers independently target mosquitoes through insecticide innovation, disease mapping, and species identification.

To learn more about a worldwide hunt, visit: explore.research.ufl.edu/buzz-off.html

A woman with long brown hair sits at a desk in an office, smiling at the camera. She wears a blue shirt and is positioned in front of dual computer monitors displaying maps. The office has yellow walls and features a window with natural light.

Medical geography Professor at @ufgeog.bsky.social, @sjryan3.bsky.social is leading efforts to predict disease risks and guide public health as mosquito habitats shift due to climate change, underscoring the vital link between planetary changes and future health.

Buzz Off - Explore Magazine UF researchers independently target mosquitoes through insecticide innovation, disease mapping, and species identification.

To learn more, visit: explore.research.ufl.edu/buzz-off.html

A scientist wearing a lab coat and blue gloves holds a syringe in one hand while pointing to a small white specimen on a table. The background features laboratory equipment with a soft red light.

A close-up image of a blue plastic cap sitting in a dark environment. Several thin wires are submerged in a dark liquid within the cap, while a pair of pliers grips the edge of the cap. A cloth is visible underneath, providing support.

A person holds a clear plastic plate with multiple wells, secured in a protective covering. The background shows a lab setting with equipment.

A researcher peers into a microscope in a laboratory setting, focusing on an experiment. The microscope is equipped with advanced optics, and the environment includes lab equipment and materials. The researcher appears concentrated, adjusting the device while maintaining attention to detail.

Mosquitoes claim over 1 million lives annually. At UF, Daniel Swale's work on chemical scaffolds is helping to shape how to stop them from feeding altogether. It's an approach that could protect humans while also being potentially useful against other pests like ticks and aphids.

When dinosaurs vanished, forests flourished and rivers calmed down The sudden disappearance of large herbivores transformed landscapes after the asteroid impact.

New research from a team including UF Geology Prof. Courtney Sprain published in @commsearth.nature.com shows that when the dinosaurs went extinct, the landscape responded to their absence, and quickly!
⚒️🧪

Engineering Peak Performance - Explore Magazine Artificial intelligence meets athletic excellence through a collaboration between UF engineering and athletics.

To learn more, visit: explore.research.ufl.edu/engineering-...

A photo of Celeste Wilkins posing for a photo leaning on a stairwell with a blue and orange colored wall in the background.

"Athletic teams are adding tools to their arsenal every day. So we’re building this data bank not just for now but for the future, to accommodate sports technology as it emerges.” —Research Assistant Scientist Celeste Wilkins.

A photo of Spencer Thomas, posing for a photo leaning on weight room equipment with and orange colored wall with the Florida Gators logo in the background.

“We’re looking for ways to optimize performance and win championships. How do we utilize this data to enrich our student athletes and to help us perform?” says Director of Sports Performance and Analytics, University Athletic Association Spencer Thomas.

A photo of an application collecting data points from an athlete.

UF’s HiPerGator supercomputer is a powerful tool for crunching all this data, This initiative enables the engineers, strength and conditioning coaches, athletic trainers and coaches to work together to figure out how to best use that tool.

A photo of Jennifer Nichols posing for a photo, leaning on an orange chair, with a blue and orange designed wall in the background.

“We have world-class AI and world-class athletics, and we’re trying to bring those together to fulfill research, educational and athletic goals.” says Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering @jennicholsphd.bsky.social.

A photo of a male athlete wearing an athletic outfit stretching to his right on a green platform while a female research assistant watches on. There is weight room equipment and an orange wall with a Florida Gators logo in the background.

A collaboration between UF’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and the University Athletic Association aims to unify athletes' data across all sports into a single AI-powered system to uncover performance and health insights that benefit athletes university-wide.

Explore, UF's research magazine Fall 2025 content is coming soon. Follow us to learn more about AI-powered athletics, fighting back against the world's deadliest animal, a bold space for building the future and much more!

UF lands $7.5 million grant to map treacherous tidal mudflats for faster rescues, military missions Led by UF, a five‑university team will deploy satellites, field sensors and a hovercraft to pinpoint when and where America’s shifting coastal mudflats can be safely crossed, reducing life‑threatening...

UF researchers are using drones and modeling tools to map dangerous mudflats along Florida’s Gulf Coast — work that supports both coastal resilience and military training safety.