Generally in charge of things around here

Assistant Professor Victoria (Tori) Miller has been in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Florida since September 2019. Prior to her appointment at UF, she was an assistant professor at NC State University from 2017 to 2019.  She received her B.S.E. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2011 and completed her Ph.D. in the Materials Department at the University of California Santa Barbara in 2016. After graduate school, she worked for a year at UES, Inc. as a Research Scientist onsite in the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton, OH. She had also previously worked at Ford Motor Company Research and Development, Toyota Engineering and Manufacturing North America, and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. Outside the lab, she trains for and competes in powerlifting.

Group Mascot

Dorkus: a derpy pink monster with a blank stare and incredible aptitude for metallurgy—the official mascot of the MONSTER group. With a mysterious origin and a Ph.D. from an undisclosed university, Dorkus brings a unique blend of charm and intellect to the team as a post-doctoral researcher. Known for their exceptional research capabilities, Dorkus seems to have a hand in every project undertaken by the group, demonstrating a remarkable breadth of knowledge and expertise. Their unwavering dedication make them an integral part of the MONSTER group’s collaborative and innovative research endeavors.

Research: Creating ICME tools

Begley graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BS in MSE in 2018. He originally went to NC State for graduate school, but was liberated from his previous research group by the MONSTER group when they moved to UF. Begley researches microstructural evolution in thermomechanical titanium processing and during laser forming of sheet metals, but much to the group’s horror, harbors a bit of residual interest in polymers from his previous research. Group subject matter expert in balloons. Outside of work, Begley really enjoys hitting and kicking things. While he is finally the only Ben in the research group, it’s too late; he’s largely forgotten that Ben is his name, and instead answers to Begley.

Project(s): GIαNT, CERBERUS, PIRATES, VAMPYR, VAMPYR-PIRATES, NINJA, ELM, ARACHNE

Recent Publication: “Prediction of relative globularization rates in α+β titanium alloys as a function of initial crystal orientation”

Research: Recrystallization in Ni-based superalloys

Yonguk Lee, who also goes by Tony, joined the MONSTER Group in Fall of 2021. Gainesville, Florida is the third place he has ever resided. He was born and raised in Seoul (South Korea) for 22 years and lived in Chicago for about 15 months. He got his first BS in MSE from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in December of 2020, and his second BS in MSE from Inha University in June of 2021. Yonguk studies recrystallization mechanism found in Ni-based superalloys (called heteroepitaxial recrystallization) to understand potential microstructure evolution resulted from it. Before he moved down to Gainesville, he only had been exposed to city life and was a city person. After he spent some time in Gainesville, he now becomes extreme city person, but he still loves his research members and people he has met in UF a lot.

Project: Hγγ’DRA

Recent Publication: “Prevalence of Heteroepitaxial Recrystallization in the Low Solvus High Refractory (LSHR) γ–γ′ Superalloy”

Research: thermomagnetic processing of steels

Megan graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2021, where she earned a B.S.E. in Materials Science and Engineering. Seeking new experiences outside of chilly New England, she chose to pursue her graduate studies at the University of Florida. Megan’s research interests can easily be encapsulated by: ‘Steel, Magnets, Yeah!’. In her free time, she is an avid tea drinker and enjoys immersing herself in the delightful world of Stardew Valley. Additionally, Megan cherishes spending her time with Zoey, a lively Golden Retriever who radiates youthful energy despite the passing years.

Project: MANTICORE

Research: Bending stuff in space with lasers

Kimi received his B.S. in MSE from the Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, China. He started his master’s program in Spring 2021. Because he is an enthusiast of formula racing, there is no surprise why he is now doing some research on laser forming of metals. He can play the accordion and it will be a useful skill if he begins his pirate life after graduation. By the way, this photo is the first step that he tries to communicate with a real “Pirate”!

Project: ARACHNE

Research: Bending stuff in space with lasers, but different

Nathan Fripp graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 2022 with a B.S in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. After a late June snowstorm, he decided he had enough of the cold and decided to head south to Florida where it stays warm. He enjoys long walks in the swamps and hopes to have a science related Florida Man headline at some point. He is currently working on the laser forming metals project to fulfill his lifelong dream of building a supervillain superweapon.

Project: ARACHNE

Research: Making micro-scale Zinc frisbees

June graduated from NC State University in 2023 with a B.S. in Materials Science Engineering. Following a positive experience working under Dr. Miller at NCSU as an undergraduate researcher, she decided to continue working with the group as a graduate student. Through pursuit of several personal hobbyist projects, including DIY inorganic pigment synthesis and audio engineering, June gained valuable lab skills, an obsession with lithium ion batteries, and a thorough understanding of just how little she knows. She is also a pioneer in the use and development of soda tab based chainmail, including their use in modeling crystallographic defects.

Project: SLIME