Faculty
Dr. Ravit Silverstein
Ravit Silverstein, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Florida. Prior to joining UF, she spent three years as a research scientist in the Materials department at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where she also managed the Microscopy and Microanalysis suite. Silverstein earned her doctorate in Materials Engineering from Ben-Gurion University, concurrently holding the position of research associate at the Applied Physics Division of the Soreq Nuclear Research Center, Israel. Following that, from 2018-2021, she completed two prestigious international postdoctoral fellowships in the Materials Department at UCSB, focusing on ceramic matrix composites, refractory alloy design, processing of refractories, and microstructural evolution during laser welding. Her current research focuses on metastability-driven alloy design and the development of processing approaches through metastability pathways. She integrates techniques such as spectroscopy, 4D-STEM, and in-situ SEM/TEM experiments with artificial intelligence tools to probe chemical short-range ordering, twining modes, orientation relationships, and misfit strains across complex datasets.
Professional Profiles: ORCID, Google Scholar, LinkedIn
Graduate REsearchers
Israel Reimer
Israel earned a dual major degree, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.A. in Physics, from the University of West Florida. Now, he is a Ph.D. student focusing on the design and characterization of refractory multi-principal element alloys (RMPEAs), with an emphasis on induced metastability and high-temperature deformation mechanisms. He combines advanced electron microscopy techniques, including site-specific FIB lift-outs guided by EBSD with 4D-STEM imaging, to understand phase evolution and mechanical behavior in extreme environments.
Outside the lab, he enjoys spending time at the beach, surfing, and exploring nature whenever possible. He’s also an active volunteer at his church and values building community both inside and outside of academia. Whether he’s analyzing diffraction patterns or catching waves, Israel approaches every challenge with curiosity and a deep appreciation for how things work.
Current Projects: Alloy Design, Microscopy
Daniel Bolden
Daniel graduated from the University of Florida in 2025 with a BS in MSE and a certificate in Metallurgical Engineering. He did his undergraduate research with the MONSTER Research Group (hitting metals with lasers), then moved over to the ME2 group to be a Ph.D. student (hitting more metals with more lasers). While he is primarily focused on metallurgy and manufacturing, Daniel is also very interested in microscopy and characterization. If you are around him for long enough, you will probably see him tapping a random object (particularly if it is metallic) to figure out what it is made of. In his free time, Daniel enjoys blacksmithing, woodworking, disc golf, and anything that lets him get outdoors.
Psalm 127:1
Current Projects: Additive Manufacturing, Refractory Rolling, Microscopy
Undergraduate Researchers
Louis Katz
Louis is in his second year of MSE undergrad here at UF. He works on the post-processing of large 4D-STEM data sets, helps the lab run experiments, and is very interested in microscopy. Louis is a huge gator sports fan, and in his free time enjoys pick-up basketball, playing intramurals, and debating college football.
Professional Profiles: LinkedIn
Arturo Zuniga-Hernandez
Arturo is a third-year Aerospace Engineering undergraduate at the University of Florida. He is currently working on the oxidation of refractory multi-principal element alloys (RMPEAs) while also helping in the lab. Outside of his studies, Arturo has a passion for the gym, motorcycle riding, planes, martial arts, music festivals, travelling, and the wilderness.
Professional Profiles: LinkedIn