Robert and Jill Peterson Associate Professor

Alison C. Dunn returned to UF in January 2024 after launching her faculty career at the University of Illinois (UIUC).

Researcher and M.S. Graduate

Abrar started in the Bio/Materials Tribology Laboratory in January 2024. He is studying how surface texture from fracture events affects surface friction of soft materials.

Graduate Research Assistant and PhD student

Nabin earned his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Miami (Ohio), and he started Ph.D. work in August 2024 at UF. He is working on understand how friction controls conformal mechanical latches.

Graduate Research Assistant and M.S. Student

Tommy started his graduate work in August 2024, and is working on theory and experiments of mechanics of metallic composite interfaces.

Undergrad Researcher

Adam started in the Bio/Materials Tribology Laboratory in January 2024.

Undergrad Researcher

Alexander started in August 2024.

Undergrad Researcher

Sebastian started in January 2025.

Undergrad Researcher

Gabriela started in January 2025.

Ph.D. 2024 "Gradient-stiffness Hydrogel Surface Layers Control Contact Mechanics and Adhesion"

M.S. 2023 "Design and performance evaluation of railway sleeper baseplate hold-down system for timber sleeper elastic fasteners"

M.S. 2023 "Surface morphology of hydrogels and silicones correlates with conditions of controlled fracture"

Nabila is pursuing her Ph.D. with Prof. Marie-Agathe Charpagne at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

M.S. 2023 "Structural property relation in improving chemically and physically crosslinked hydrogel surface properties"

Ph.D. 2022 "Tribological properties of gradient-density hydrogel surfaces"

Chris is a research engineer at a U.S. national lab.

M.S. 2021 "Numerical and experimental investigation of shakedown in evolving non-Hertzian rolling contact"

Ph.D. 2020 "Wear mechanisms of chemically crosslinked hydrogels under mild abrasion"

Shab is currently in medical school.

Ph.D. 2020 "Complex fluid lubrication mechanics of polyacrylamide surfaces"

M.S. 2019 "Beetle exoskeletal structure and surfaces determine specialized functions: Two case studies"

M.S. 2019 "A study of sliding wear behavior of heat treated 1060 steel with pure rolling pre-conditioning"

M.S. 2018 "Design and fabrication of a twin disc tribometer and a study of wear and friction of hardened 1060 steel under combined rolling and sliding"

M.S. 2018 "Surface mechanics of polyacrylamide hydrogels following wear"

M.S. 2016 "Surface friction and bulk properties of cortical gray and white matter in LE/Blu Gill rats"

M.S. 2016 "Polyacrylamide hydrogel friction controlled by time-dependent surface energy due to poroelastic relaxation"