Jerrold A. Floro

Jerrold A. Floro is a Professor and Associate Chair for Academics in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on nanoscale self-assembly, pattern formation in inorganic materials, and advanced materials processing techniques such as additive manufacturing and rapid solidification. He earned a B.S. in Physics from Colorado State University (1983), a Ph.D. in Materials Science from MIT (1992), and conducted postdoctoral research at Sandia National Laboratories.

His research interests include magnetic materials, thermoelectric systems, and microstructure control in bulk and thin-film materials. Key projects involve developing eco-friendly thermoelectric alloys, exchange-coupled nanochessboard magnets, and additive manufacturing of optical reflectors using Invar-copper composites. He has received the Hartfield-Jefferson Scholars Teaching Prize (2012) and a DOE Materials Science Award (1994).

Grants include NSF-funded research on nanochessboard magnetism and laser-driven eutectic microstructure formation. Floro teaches courses on materials investigations and introductory engineering, emphasizing hands-on exploration of crystallography and electronic structure. His lab explores nanomaterials for energy, electronics, and aerospace applications, leveraging expertise in thin film growth, laser processing, and solid-state phase transformations.