The Grainger College of Engineering

Robert Eugene Uhrig

Robert Eugene Uhrig
Robert Eugene Uhrig
To Robert Eugene Uhrig, engineer, pioneer in nuclear engineering, and educator, for notable discoveries and developments in nuclear engineering and leadership in engineering education.

Dean of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

  • BS, Mechanical Engineering, 1948

Dr. Uhrig obtained his PhD degree from the University of Iowa and then earned an outstanding reputation for research and development in nuclear engineering. In 1961 he originated the idea of using "noise techniques" to measure reactivity in subcritical nuclear systems. He was the first person in the United States to carry out neutron wave propagation (1958) and the first to use an accelerator for that purpose (1961). In this country he pioneered the use of pseudorandom pulsing experiments and cross correlation to measure reactivity in nuclear systems (1962) and was the first to develop and publish work on spacially dependent transfer functions (1963).

In addition to publishing many widely acclaimed papers on nuclear engineering, Dr. Uhrig has served the nation in several important capacities. Notable among these was his position in 1967 as deputy assistant director of research for the Department of Defense. For his performance in that office he was awarded the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Medal.

Before becoming Dean of Engineering, Dr. Uhrig showed unusual ability as a teacher and educational administrator while chairman of the Department of Nuclear Engineering Sciences at the University of Florida.

Current as of 1970.