UF Research Foundation names 2026 UFRF Professors

The University of Florida Research Foundation (UFRF) has recognized 34 faculty members as UFRF Professors for 2026, honoring them for work that advances discovery, creativity and innovation across the university.

UFRF Professorships are awarded to faculty members who have established a strong record of research excellence while demonstrating the capacity to shape their fields in meaningful and lasting ways. Since the program’s inception in 1997, the foundation has recognized over a thousand UF researchers whose scholarship contributes to the university’s national and international impact.

“UFRF Professors represent the depth and breadth of research excellence at the University of Florida,” said David Norton, UF’s vice president for research. “Their work reflects sustained scholarly achievement, leadership within their disciplines, and a commitment to pursuing new knowledge that benefits society.”

Recipients are selected through a peer‑driven process, with nominations submitted by department chairs and reviewed by college leadership. Evaluations consider recent research accomplishments, including publications, external funding, honors and awards; intellectual property development; and other indicators appropriate to each discipline.

Each professorship is for three years and includes a $5,000 annual salary supplement and a one‑time $3,000 research grant, funded through the university’s share of royalties and licensing revenue from UF‑generated innovations. UF Research will recognize the 2026 UFRF Professors at a university event later this year.

2026 UFRF Professors:

College of the Arts
Augusto Soledade
Professor of Theatre and Dance

Warrington College of Business
Jennifer Tucker
Professor of Accounting

College of Dentistry
Zsolt Toth
Associate Professor of Oral Biology

College of Education
F. Chris Curran
Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy

Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
Wesley Bolch
Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Saeed Moghaddam
William F. Powers Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Carlos Rinaldi‑Ramos
Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Shuo Wang
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

College of Health and Human Performance
Stephen Coombes
Professor of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology

College of Journalism and Communications
Kun Xu
Associate Professor of Emerging Technologies

Levin College of Law
Annie Brett
Professor of Law

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rebecca Butcher
Associate Professor of Chemistry

Paul Fulda
Associate Professor of Physics

Nicole Gravina
Associate Professor of Psychology

Rebecca Hanson
Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology & Law

Kshitij Khare
Professor of Statistics

Ange Mlinko
Professor of English

Desika Narayanan
Associate Professor of Astronomy

Florida Museum of Natural History
Nicoletta Cellinese
Curator of Herbarium and Informatics

Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology
Laura Solt
Associate Professor of Immunology and Microbiology

Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences (IFAS)
Ute Albrecht
Associate Professor of Horticultural Sciences

Fredy Altpeter
Professor of Agronomy

Daniel Carrillo
Associate Professor of Entomology and Nematology

Jasmeet Judge
Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Brett Scheffers
Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

College of Medicine
Paramita Chakrabarty
Associate Professor of Neuroscience

Brian Hoh
Professor and Chair of Neurological Surgery

Todd Manini
Professor of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics

Robert McKenna
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

College of Medicine – Jacksonville
Phyllis Hendry
Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics

College of Nursing
Staja Booker
Associate Professor of Biobehavioral Nursing Science

College of Pharmacy
Rodrigo Cristofoletti
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics

College of Public Health and Health Professions
Eric Porges
Associate Professor of Clinical and Health Psychology

College of Veterinary Medicine
Clayton Mathews
Professor and Chair of Infectious Diseases and Immunology