Eisty's Software Analytics and Intelligence Lab aims to leverage AI in scientific software pipeline while maintaining reproducibility, correctness, and long-term utility. The team will evaluate AI-generated tests for scientific relevance and develop guidelines for responsible AI-assisted software testing across diverse research domains.
The Peninsula Innovation District, a collaboration between the University of Tennessee and UT Medical, has received the 2026 Emerging Community of Innovation award. The award recognizes the district's potential for continued growth and its commitment to building sustainable ecosystems that move technology from early-stage ideas toward ...
University of Tennessee researchers are part of a nearly $1 million project to build a smart food production network, optimizing locally grown food distribution. The project, called DFARM, employs a user-centered software platform to connect community gardens, indoor hydroponic systems, and local food hubs.
University of Tennessee MSE faculty members Sergei Kalinin and Mahshid Ahmadi contribute to the DOE's Genesis Mission, a $5 billion program developing AI tools for energy and scientific research. Kalinin's research accelerates materials discovery, while Ahmadi works on defending agentic AIs from adversarial attacks.
Researchers have made breakthroughs in deleting yeast DNA using CRISPR, with potential to save lives from fatal candidiasis infections. The team is expanding the technology to diverse fungi and using AI models to predict its success.
Researchers Ahmedullah Aziz and Sai Swaminathan received NSF CAREER Awards for their projects in superconducting logic systems and AI for community impact. Aziz will develop superconducting electronics for high-performance computing, while Swaminathan is creating low-cost AI devices for local problem-solving.
Jack Dongarra, Yilu Liu, and Parans Paranthaman receive R&D 100 Awards for their work on innovations in large-scale computing and power grid resilience. Dongarra's team developed Fenix, an open-source software that detects and repairs hardware failures in supercomputing applications.
The University of Tennessee has been awarded a $25 million grant by the US Department of Energy to advance nuclear science and security research. The grant will support the development of new scintillators and collaboration with leading experts in nuclear non-proliferation.
The University of Tennessee is part of the NuCAMP initiative to advance nuclear manufacturing and construction in East Tennessee. The partnership aims to develop new manufacturing and construction methods for nuclear applications, as well as vocational training to support advanced nuclear reactors.
The University of Tennessee is expanding its research excellence with the addition of eight exceptional researchers, tackling pressing challenges in fields like precision health, advanced computing, and sustainable materials. The new faculty members bring expertise that builds on the university's strengths and solidifies its standing a...
Researchers discovered lupus-associated inflammatory signals reprogram white blood cells to produce less effective antibacterial response. Hydroxychloroquine and anifrolumab therapies restore neutrophil function in killing bacteria.
A project led by Michela Taufer aims to accelerate AI-driven scientific discovery by enabling secure data sharing across the nation's research infrastructure. The National Science Data Fabric (NSDF) will connect researchers, computing resources, and data repositories, making advanced AI-driven science accessible to all.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has signed a new six-year master research agreement with Eastman, investing $3 million to support sponsored research and university-industry initiatives. The partnership aims to advance materials innovation, develop talent, and create solutions that benefit communities.
The University of Tennessee has appointed Carolyn J. Anderson as a UT-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor's Chair for Nuclear Medicine. She will focus on researching radioisotopes produced at ORNL for targeted alpha-emitting radiotherapy, which can precisely kill cancer cells with minimal side effects.
The University of Tennessee has received a $20 million NSF grant to establish ATHENA, a national network of AI-powered laboratories for accelerating scientific discovery. The initiative aims to revolutionize materials discovery by accelerating design, synthesis, characterization and autonomous optimization of advanced materials.
Damiano Baccarella received a $750,000 NASA award to study the extreme environments encountered by hypersonic spacecraft during atmospheric re-entry. He aims to develop novel strategies for experimental characterization of chemical and vibrational non-equilibrium in high-enthalpy hypersonic wind tunnels.
Researchers Cong Trinh and Seunghyun Ryu receive US Department of War funding to analyze fungal genes and develop new synthetic biology tools for mitigating fungal contamination in critical systems. The grant focuses on Candida species, which can degrade materials used in electronics, vehicles, and fuel systems.
The University of Tennessee has won up to $160 million for the BRIDGES Engine, a collaborative initiative driving rural economic development in Tennessee and Alabama. The project aims to generate millions of dollars in additional annual income for farmers and create thousands of jobs across the state.
Andrew Monteith, a microbiology professor at the University of Tennessee, has been awarded a four-year funding to explore the role of heat in infection and inflammation. His team aims to develop new models that incorporate temperature signals to better understand immune cell behavior and develop potential treatments.
A research project led by University of Tennessee at Knoxville associate professor Candace Brakewood aims to evaluate the impact of congestion pricing on public transit systems. The study will focus on New York City's recent implementation, analyzing how it increased transit ridership across subway, bus, and regional rail systems.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is launching the Knoxville Quantum Accelerator, a collaborative effort to develop and commercialize quantum technologies. The initiative will support the development of an ecosystem that advances both fundamental discovery and applications.
Two UT microbiology researchers, Steven Wilhelm and Brittany N. Zepernick, received the 2026 Daylight Award for their research on phytoplankton thriving under ice. Their work provides novel mechanistic insights into how diatoms respond to ice loss and has major implications for planetary health and biodiversity.
Kondapa Naidu Bobba, a nuclear engineering professor, has been awarded the PCF-SNMMI Young Investigator Award to advance prostate cancer research. The award will support his research on radiopharmaceutical therapies to improve treatment outcomes for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Wayde Marsh, a political science professor at the University of Tennessee, has been awarded a $200,000 stipend to study the role of religious institutions in supporting communities after trauma. His research aims to build a database of historical events and explore how leaders' rhetoric affects political behavior.
Scientists have found evidence of chiral superconductivity, a long-sought form of superconductivity where electron pairs twist into a signature left or right 'handedness.' Quasiparticle interference imaging revealed distinctive patterns around point defects in the tin layer.
The Chancellor’s Innovation Fund Awards support cutting-edge research and development projects across various fields. Faculty recipients will use the funding to refine their technologies, build prototypes, and assess market opportunities. The awards aim to bridge publicly funded academic research with private financing, fostering entre...
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has received a $300,000 NSF grant to develop quantum computing-based tools for two-step uncertainty optimization problems. This will enable researchers and industry engineers to quickly determine the potential benefits of quantum computing in solving complex decisions.
University of Tennessee Knoxville professor Frank Loeffler and his team discovered that bacteria can covalently incorporate polyfluoroalkyl carboxylates into their membrane lipids. This finding may contribute to cleaning up environmental PFAS contamination, although final disposal is still an unsolved issue.
Researchers found that the ICM's mathematical predictions are due to a flaw in standardization and lack of evidence supporting inhibitory growth processes. The model was applied to non-sequential traits, contradicting its sequence-based development claim.
UT's latest AAAS Fellows are Brad Binder, Jennifer DeBruyn, and Elisabeth Schussler, recognized for their contributions to biochemistry, environmental microbiology, and ecology. Their work addresses pressing issues like plant stress, decomposition, and sustainability.
Kalinin's work is reshaping how new materials are designed, tested, and studied, enabling researchers to predict promising new materials computationally. He has developed machine learning-driven systems that can synthesize and characterize new materials at unprecedented speed.
Scientists discovered a 4-meter-long Polycotylus fossil with a huge tooth embedded in its neck vertebrae, suggesting a violent attack by an enormous bony fish called Xiphactinus. The fossil's internal structure was analyzed using CT scanning, revealing a three-dimensional model of the tooth and its attacker.
Tova Holmes and Larry Lee will work on the CMS upgrade and search for new particles at Fermilab, while also promoting the laboratory's Distinguished Researcher program. They aim to strengthen connections between the university and the national lab, bringing students and postdocs to the lab for hands-on learning opportunities.
The University of Tennessee has launched the Center for Pet Family Well-Being, reflecting its national recognition for advancing research and community-based solutions for pet-inclusive families. The center aims to integrate systems in ways that recognize pets as part of the family and essential to family and community resilience.
A $1 million Sloan Foundation grant will track and monitor data center development in Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia, exploring its impact on rural communities. The research aims to understand how different policies and regulations shape data center development and its effects on communities.
The University of Tennessee and UCOR have strengthened their partnership to provide training and educational opportunities for students and workforce development in nuclear and criticality safety. The MOU renewal will include projects, research, and curriculum focused on these areas.
The Bai lab has developed two patented technologies to improve electric vehicle (EV) charging and power conversion, in collaboration with FORVIA HELLA and Volkswagen Group of America. These innovations enable more efficient energy transfer between the AC grid, high-voltage car battery, and low-voltage car battery.
Assistant Professor Nguyen's research focuses on understanding the fundamental structure of matter by studying the spin of nucleons. Her work aims to fill the gap in knowledge about neutron spin and its influence on material arrangement.
Direct-ink writing (DIW) technology faces unique physics puzzles, requiring a balance between liquid-like and solid-like behavior. The review aims to stimulate fundamental work on the central challenges of DIW, enabling more reliable and precise processes.
A new study by the University of Tennessee shows that virus infection of cyanobacteria releases nutrients, fueling microbial growth and contributing to enhanced oxygen levels in the ocean. The findings suggest a direct link between viral activity and ecosystem functioning below the surface.
The Tennessee Valley Authority has invested $3 million to establish a nuclear engineering chair at the University of Tennessee, advancing academic excellence and workforce development. The partnership aims to drive innovation and strengthen East Tennessee's role in nuclear energy.
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has received a $251,650 DOE award to establish an in-situ scanning electron microscopy platform for irradiated materials. The high-resolution microscope will enhance the university's research capabilities in extreme environments.
Researchers from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville developed a new statistical method that improves analysis in single-molecule fluorescence experiments. The method combines theoretical work from mathematics with experimental work from molecular biology, allowing for more accurate and efficient data analysis.
Hua Bai and Sheng Dai, faculty members at the University of Tennessee, have been elected National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellows for their innovative research in power electronics and advanced materials. Their work has led to significant advancements in electrical vehicle technology and energy-related applications.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville researcher is investigating how microbial communities assemble and their metabolic interactions. This research aims to design novel therapeutic strategies leveraging these interactions to promote wound healing and prevent infection.
The University of Tennessee has six faculty members recognized as among the world's most highly cited researchers, including Sheng Dai and Xianzhi Meng. Their work focuses on developing advanced materials for energy-related applications, improving biomass use for renewable energy, and innovating microscopy techniques.
The University of Tennessee has received a $1 million NSF grant to build a semiconductor workforce pipeline. The Explorations program will train high school teachers in UT labs, equipping them to deliver classroom-ready modules in semiconductor design and manufacturing.
The University of Tennessee has earned the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities' 2025 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Award for its initiatives that promote innovation and regional development. Through programs like the UT Research Park, the university has created jobs, boosted the regional economy, and addressed commun...
The University of Tennessee will lead work in materials and models under a renewed $125M funding for the Quantum Science Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. UT's expertise in quantum spin systems will validate quantum-classical computations, while supporting students' involvement in materials science and neutron experiments.
Doowon Kim, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, received a prestigious award from ACM CCS for his decade-long study on Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). His research provides a comprehensive understanding of APT evolution and global patterns, shedding new light on these sophisticated cyberattacks.