Faculty Awards
Juan Guan Receives Grant to Study Molecules Involved in Key Cellular Processes
UF Physics Assistant Professor Juan Guan has been awarded a $1.9 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to explore the mechanisms behind the assembly and regulation of non-canonical biomolecular condensates. Guan and her team hope to accomplish two goals through their newly funded project. First, the team hopes to identify more alternative protein assembly structures. Second, the group hopes to uncover the physical principles that regulate composition and dynamics in multi-protein condensates.
Neil Sullivan Wins Jesse W. Beams Award of the American Physical Society
UF Physics Professor Neil Sullivan has been awarded the 2022 Jesse W. Beams Research Award of the American Physical Society. Since 1973, the Jesse Beams Award has been given annually by the Southeastern Section of the APS (SESAPS) to recognize especially significant or meritorious research carried out by a physicist in the southeastern United States. The award committee recognized Neilʼs work with this citation: “For distinction in NMR-based studies in quantum fluids and solids, in particular on solid hydrogen, and for his visionary leadership in advancing low-temperature techniques to the forefront of materials research in high magnetic fields and in the search for axion dark matter.”
Kathryn McGill Receives CLAS Teaching Award
UF Physics instructional assistant professor Dr. Kathryn McGill has been selected for a 2022-2023 Teaching Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. These awards encourage and reward excellence, innovation, and effectiveness in teaching. Although many excellent teachers are nominated, only about five or six faculty are selected for the CLAS Teaching Award each year. The most recent previous winner in Physics was Prof. Selman Hershfield in 2013. Dr. McGill joined the department as Lecturer in 2018.
Physics IDEA Wins CLAS Excellence Award 
The department is pleased to announce that the UF Physics IDEA (Inclusion Diversity & Equity Alliance) has won the 2023 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences CLAS Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Award. This CLAS award recognizes a department Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee that has made significant contributions to “enhance the CLAS commitment to diversity through promoting respect, building community, establishing effective cross-cultural initiatives, and advocating equity and inclusion within the university community.”
UF Physics IDEA was formed in 2020 and comprises a large circle of Physics students, postdocs, faculty, and staff. The group, currently led by Kathryn McGill, has been very active with various projects that raise awareness of DEI issues inside and outside the department, provide training and resources, and promote productive discussions and dialogues.
Mark Meisel Recognized as Physics Teacher of the Year
Professor Mark Meisel is the recipient of the UF Physics Teacher of the Year award for 2022. The award recognizes Prof Meisel’s commitment to engaging and inspiring his students and creating a positive and inclusive learning environment. In nominating Prof Meisel, students praised him for caring genuinely about their personal and career growth and success. One student wrote: “Dr. Meisel has played an important role in my development and learning as a physics student and undergraduate researcher. He is incredibly passionate about teaching students both in the classroom and laboratory setting and encouraging personal growth.”
