Alumni Dr. Cody Miller attended three different colleges before he transferred to the University of North Florida in 2010 to pursue his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering - and he's glad he did. 

Today, the 36-year-old who graduated from UNF in 2012 is a scientist with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico. He credits his mentor and friend, Dr. Paul Eason, who at the time was an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Materials Science and Engineering Research Facility (MSERF), for helping him get to where he is now. 

During his two years at UNF, Miller said, "showing up" and making the most of his undergraduate experience, both in and out of the classroom, paid off for him. 

Indeed, it did. He received several scholarships while at UNF from specialty organizations such as the Northeast Florida Engineers Week Committee, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Transformation Learning Opportunity Scholarship. He was named Interdisciplinary Senior Design of the Year and earned a spot on both the Dean's List and President's Honor Roll. 

And while he admits the recognitions and scholarships were helpful, one student club he was involved in, Engineers Without Borders, made a lasting impression on him. He worked in Ghana for two years with guidance from Eason, who is now UNF's Vice President of Strategy and Innovation, and Marcia Ladendorff, a communication associate instructor who retired in 2021. 

"I was heavily involved in the Engineers Without Borders club while at UNF," Miller explained. "It was an incredible experience that every person should take advantage of, regardless of if you are an engineer or not. During the two trips I made, I felt I was making an impact and helping the community, but in hindsight, I was the one who was truly benefiting," he said. "That experience really molded me - lending perspective - and helped me realize how lucky I am." 

Eason, too, recalled the study abroad experience. 

"A study abroad experience can be memorable in general, but the scope of the Ghana project, the adverse conditions in sub-Saharan Africa and the ambitious scope of the project, made for a life changing experience for many students," Eason said. "It changed me as a professor too. I will never forget the students I worked with over those years." 

Although Miller said he always knew he wanted to work in the field of metallurgy, the field of science and engineering that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, there was a time soon after graduation when he felt uncertain about his next steps.  

"When I reached the end of my time at UNF, I didn't know what I wanted to do or really understand where I could apply my skills and be excited about it," Miller said. "I was a research assistant for Dr. Eason, and I remembered how fascinated I was after taking his Introduction to Materials Science course. He asked me if I was interested in learning more about materials science and that's all it took to set me forth - I genuinely wanted to learn more." 

Soon after, Miller decided to enroll in the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) to study metallurgy and materials engineering, where he earned his doctorate. 

"Taking that Materials Science course and talking to Dr. Eason was the deciding factor why I continued on to graduate school as a metallurgist and ultimately how I landed a job at Los Alamos," said Miller. "There are only a few times in your life where your decisions at a fork in the road have a lifelong lasting impact, and this was one of them."  

Eason recalled Cody as someone who stood out among his peers - who took the initiative without being prompted. 

"Cody has a rare mix of intelligence and work ethic," Eason said. "So many times, smart kids don't have to work as hard, but Cody is smart and hardworking, which sets him above and beyond many in his field. It's no accident he's now a Ph.D. working in a premier lab." 

Miller has been with LANL for eight years, starting off as a postdoctoral researcher before transitioning to a staff member 14 months later. He says his responsibilities run the gamut which he enjoys. 

"Essentially, I'm what I like to describe as a modern-day blacksmith," explained Miller. "We fill the gap between the laboratory scale and the industrial scale, working with forging presses, heat treatment furnaces, rolling mills, etc. There's a lot that goes into my work at LANL and many opportunities to partner with industry, universities and other institutions within the Department of Energy and Department of Defense complex, mentoring students and coworkers. I'm constantly learning things entirely unrelated to my degree daily." 

Even though Miller is thousands of miles away from UNF, he still stays in close contact with Eason. "I still keep in touch with Paul, while he's still a great mentor, at this point, we are friends and colleagues, too."