Tori

Generally in charge of things around here

Education: Ph.D., 2016, University of California Santa Barbara

Research Interests: Fundamentals of Structural Evolution in Crystalline Materials, Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques, Recovery and Recrystallization, Deformation Mechanisms and Texture Development

Associate 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.

Links: LinkedIn, ORCID, Google Scholar

Dorkus

The MONSTER

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.

Begley

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, and graduated with his PhD from UF after a very long time in 2025. Begley researches microstructural evolution in thermomechanical titanium processing and during laser forming of sheet metals. 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.

Links: LinkedIn, ORCID, GitHub, Google Scholar

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

Recent Publication: A Multiscale Model Predicting Site-Specific Texture Evolution: Application to Two-Phase Titanium Alloys

Tony

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.

Links: LinkedIn, ORCID, Google Scholar

Project(s): Hγγ’DRA, CHIMERA

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

Megan

Research: Heat-treating metals under high magnetic fields

Megan graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2021 with a B.S.E. in Materials Science and Engineering. Seeking new experiences beyond chilly New England, she chose to pursue her PhD at the University of Florida. This has, in recent years, put her between a rock and a hard place when it comes to choosing who to root for in men’s basketball… Her research interests can be summed up as “Metals, Magnets, Microscopy, Yeah!”. Outside of research, she likes to keep things cozy—usually with a cup of tea in one hand and some sort of crafting project in the other.

Links: LinkedIn, ORCID, Google Scholar

Project(s): MANTICORE, CHIMERA, PHOENIX

Recent Publication: “Microstructural Evolution of Steel During Magnetic Field-Assisted Processing“

Kimi

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”!

Links: LinkedIn, ORCID, Google Scholar

Project: ARACHNE

Recent Publication: “Laser Bending Behavior of Austenitic Stainless Steels and Characterization of the Resultant Microstructures“

Nathan

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.

Links: LinkedIn, ORCID, Google Scholar

Project(s): ARACHNE, KOBOLD

June

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.

Links: LinkedIn, ORCID, Google Scholar

Project: SLIME

Partha

Research: Bending stuff in space, but even more different than the last two

Partha completed his BS in Mechanical Engineering at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Bangladesh. He then stepped outside his comfort zone (and across an ocean) to pursue an MS in Materials Science at Missouri State University. In Fall 2025, he started his PhD in UF MSE in the MONSTER group, studying laser forming of metals and the transition between two competing mechanisms that govern how metals bend. If you catch him watching a Real Madrid match, don’t assume he’s a supporter-he’s probably hate-watching as a die-hard FC Barcelona fan.

Links: LinkedIn, ORCID, Google Scholar

Project: ARACHNE