Jennifer Miller, professor of pediatric endocrinology in the Department of Pediatrics, is an endocrinologist studying the role hormones play in regulating body functions such as appetite, growth and fertility. Developing new long-term treatments for patients with hormonal imbalances is central to her work.

Prabhat Mishra is a professor of computer and information science and engineering at UF’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. Mishra develops secure sets of instructions for computer systems that can range from dime-sized home sensors to two-ton satellites. These instructions, called algorithms, are designed to be attack-resistant, energy-efficient and trustworthy.

Cynthia Morton, associate professor at the College of Journalism and Communications, studies persuasion. She specializes in developing new ways to communicate important information about health and social issues to diverse audiences, including how an advertisement’s source and message influence the way it’s received.

Leslie Murray, associate professor of chemistry, and his team design molecules that contain abundant metal ions to use in chemical reactions, hoping to harness the energy released by the splitting of certain chemical bonds to fuel new discoveries in food production, renewable resource technology and other key industries.

Rolf Renne, a molecular virologist and professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, studies viruses associated with cancer. Renne is a basic scientist, meaning that his work centers on understanding the lifecycle and growth of a virus in a host, rather than on developing new treatments for diseases. His research has helped lay the groundwork for key breakthroughs in virology by zooming in on specific genes that influence how viruses infect cells and cause tumors, focusing on viruses linked to patients infected with HIV, in the hopes of developing more targeted cancer therapies.

Tara Sabo-Attwood is an environmental toxicologist studying how pollutants impact people and ecosystems. Her research helps scientists identify potentially harmful toxins, enabling experts to protect consumers from microscopic pollutants and develop treatments for conditions associated with exposure.

Ghatu Subhash, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at UF, studies how materials such as ceramics, metals and industrial-strength glass react to extreme conditions, including pressures rivaling those at the Earth’s center and temperatures higher than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Gary Vallad, professor of plant pathology at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, studies microscopic organisms that cause diseases on plants. He focuses on pathogens that affect key Florida vegetable crops, especially tomatoes, and certain alternative crops, such as pomegranates and hops. His findings help growers identify diseases in their fields and control them with fungicides and other naturally occurring substances, such as plant extracts or microbes that feed on pathogens. Helping plant breeders develop new disease-resistant crop varieties is also central to Vallad’s work.

Diana Wilkie, a professor at the UF College of Nursing, is an international expert on pain management and patient care. She specializes in palliative care, which is a type of medical care for people living with serious conditions that emphasizes relief from its symptoms and stresses. But although palliative care is typically associated with end-of-life care, Wilkie’s work highlights the role it can play in all patient care.

Hui Zou, a professor of architecture in UF’s College of Design, Construction and Planning, studies how architecture around the world has changed over time. He specializes in garden history, theory and philosophy, comparative cultural studies and East Asian aesthetics.